tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87128324513947084822024-03-09T19:46:25.474-07:00The Diamond Mine of Christian FictionMining the Gemstones of Christian FictionSuzie Waltnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03089234812380461326noreply@blogger.comBlogger487125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8712832451394708482.post-7229685047198214522024-03-06T08:27:00.001-07:002024-03-06T10:39:10.491-07:00 Interview and Giveaway with Gay N. Lewis!!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdXADKkFvW-PxOcoJF3fBBk0tsbMsZTFIxhTbv00GFf9EkXSS7FljUQtsjfpz0Rku2o5IJa2WUiCfd7bsb5MkyEZ0fM8Tu05QEaScQrGePWXloTHv8SmHf9F9A1_rm1d2W2uuyOQ5GPTq_KcNooG5o-uZLtsq0Dfh5ZawwntLMRUFgiIV6EVIY-D9Ke-l/s991/Gay's%20Headshot.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="915" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdXADKkFvW-PxOcoJF3fBBk0tsbMsZTFIxhTbv00GFf9EkXSS7FljUQtsjfpz0Rku2o5IJa2WUiCfd7bsb5MkyEZ0fM8Tu05QEaScQrGePWXloTHv8SmHf9F9A1_rm1d2W2uuyOQ5GPTq_KcNooG5o-uZLtsq0Dfh5ZawwntLMRUFgiIV6EVIY-D9Ke-l/s320/Gay's%20Headshot.jpg" width="295" /></a></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>Hi there, readers!! Today we welcome author Gay N. Lewis to The Diamond Mine for an interview and a book giveaway. You can be entered in the drawing for the free book if you click on the "leave a comment" button at the end of the interview and social links, and leave a comment with your email address.</b></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>Her book is: <i>Sarah's First Mission to Earth</i>, which I know you will be delighted by! </b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>Sarah's motto is Faith, Humor and Red Stilettos!</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5BAuEGCJF8f5b8uheMnqe5EbJ7TBCl6LmeiYjcqL-FoiVL4J1PzT-eX9PdEmVDBmSVT41owbzYQcNzO2pqcwUhL6SrbJaPw_8flLvyGT9eVxqQ50HEoTUi8fUORwTQqIGWM-VwFD95qwmacmnzUmhOTAnmzXpVgPodx-KvsiVAxopY0QqtE4b11hgHUa/s2560/Sarah's%20First%20Mission%20to%20Earth%20copy%20(4).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5BAuEGCJF8f5b8uheMnqe5EbJ7TBCl6LmeiYjcqL-FoiVL4J1PzT-eX9PdEmVDBmSVT41owbzYQcNzO2pqcwUhL6SrbJaPw_8flLvyGT9eVxqQ50HEoTUi8fUORwTQqIGWM-VwFD95qwmacmnzUmhOTAnmzXpVgPodx-KvsiVAxopY0QqtE4b11hgHUa/s320/Sarah's%20First%20Mission%20to%20Earth%20copy%20(4).jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>Here we go with the interview! </b></span></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>Please</b></span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">t</span></b><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">ell us about Sarah’s First Mission to Earth.</span></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E147" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E147" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E148" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E148">Sarah</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E149" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E149"> </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E150" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E150">comes to Earth to help humans, but she’s lost and bumbles her way through adventures. God gifted me with a generous sense of humor, and Sarah makes my readers laugh aloud. My husband often hears me chuckle as I write of Sarah’s goofs and he says, “What’s Sarah done now?”</span></span></i></b></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E151" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E151" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E152" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E152">In her first mission</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E153" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E153"> to Earth</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E154" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E154">, Sarah</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E155" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E155">’s first assignment is to help</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E156" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E156"> Tom Shoemaker find a mate by valentine’s Day. Mercy me! How can an inexperienced angel do this in such a short time? Sarah accidentally dumps food on Tom in a restaurant</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E157" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E157">, and t</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E158" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E158">he accident causes him to meet Marcy Montgomery. Marcy is a military widow with a five-year-old, precocious child. Hope</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E159" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E159">, the daughter,</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E160" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E160"> wants a daddy, and Sarah decides Tom is the perfect candidate. But i</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E161" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E161">s</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E162" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E162"> Tom the wrong man for Marcy? Well, </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E163" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E163">“</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E164" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E164">Poopty doopty!”</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E165" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E165"> Sarah may have to go to Cloud Nine for a reprove.</span></span></i></b></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E166" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E166" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E167" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E167"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">Poopty doopty is one of Sarah’s favorite phrases. It’s a nicer phrase than a string of naughty expressions, don’t you think? I use it often.</span></i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E166" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E166" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E167"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">I love it! I'm chuckling already! Sounds like a charming story.</span></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E166" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E166" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E167"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">What do you like best about writing?</span></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E166" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E166" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E167"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span id="E224" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E224">The best part of writing for me is the creativity. I </span><span id="E225" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E225">invent a man and woman</span><span id="E226" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E226">, throw rocks at them, resolve their issues</span><span id="E227" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E227">, </span><span id="E228" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E228">and then they fall in love. Most of my books have been Christian romances with the genre of fantasy </span><span id="E229" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E229">or</span><span id="E230" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E230"> historical as part of the mix. I have one book that is Christian, but not romance. It</span><span id="E231" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E231"> is</span><span id="E232" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E232"> historical Women’s Fiction. In the book, </span><span id="E233" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E233">Mattie’s Choice,</span><span id="E234" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E234"> two women face abusive husbands and must decide how to handle their situations.</span><span id="E235" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E235"> This book is historical and was the hardest one </span><span id="E237" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E237">I’ve</span><span id="E239" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E239"> ever written.</span></i></b></span></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E166" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E166" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E167"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b><span is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E239">I know what you mean about writing historical books. Lots of research. I've grown to love the research part, though. I've learned a lot in that process.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E166" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E166" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E167"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>Do you write from an outline, just inspiration, or both?</b></span></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E166" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E166" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E167"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span id="E241" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E241">I </span><span id="E243" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E243">don’t</span><span id="E245" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E245"> write from an outline. I keep a general story-line in my head and go forth. Sometimes a chapter will surprise me and take me in a new direction. I love it when that happens.</span></i></b></span></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E166" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E166" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E167"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b><span is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E245">Me, too!! I love it when the characters surprise me, too!</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E166" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E166" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E167"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b><span is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E245">What do you want your readers to take away from your books?</span></b></span></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E166" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E166" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E167"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i>I want my readers to learn something about Christ. I am not preachy in my stories, but I install appropriate tidbits of theology. I hope readers find them inspirational.</i></b></span></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E166" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E166" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E167"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>I'm sure they will. Any chance we can get to learn more about Christ is a great thing!</b></span></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E166" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E166" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E167"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>Now I'd like to hear more about you personally.</b></span></span></p><div class="style-scope qowt-page" id="contentsContainer" style="padding-left: 72pt; padding-right: 72pt;"><div class="style-scope qowt-page" id="contents"><qowt-section id="E58" named-flow="FLOW-2" qowt-eid="E58" style="column-count: 1;"><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E64" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E64" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E65" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E65">Thanks</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E66" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E66">,</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E67" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E67"> Nancy for introducing me to your readers. I was born in Fort Worth, Texas</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E68" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E68">. My parents later</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E69" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E69"> moved</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E70" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E70"> us</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E71" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E71"> about thirty miles east to Irving, TX</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E72" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E72">.</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E73" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E73"> As a child, I thought it great fun to catch a bus and travel to Dallas. Shopping in beautiful stores like Sanger-Harris was </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E74" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E74">a grand event</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E75" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E75">. Times change, and now the cities </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E76" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E76">in the DFW Metroplex </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E77" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E77">blend </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E78" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E78">into each </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E79" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E79">other</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E80" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E80">, and alas! Sanger-Harris no longer exists.</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E81" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E81"> As of today, </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E82" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E82">I’m</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E83" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E83"> a pastor’s wife in a bi</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E84" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E84">-vocational church and </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E85" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E85">live west of Houston in Fulshear, TX. W</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E86" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E86">hen I was eight years old, I knew God wanted me in special service. As I child, I thought assisting the Lord meant years as a missionary</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E87" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E87"> in an exotic country</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E88" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E88">. Ten years after </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E89" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E89">I decided</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E90" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E90"> to make this sacrifice of home and country, I married a Baptist minister. My husband felt called to ministry, but not to missions. </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E91" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E91">Except for our first year in Oklahoma, </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E92" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E92">we’ve served</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E93" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E93"> in Texas.</span></i></b></span>
</p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E94" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E94" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><b style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">What was your childhood family like?</span></b></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E97" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E97" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E98" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E98">I’m the eldest of three, and I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy, born on the 4</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E99" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E99" style="line-height: 0; vertical-align: super; zoom: 75%;">th</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E100" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E100"> of July. The doctor told my mom she’d have a firecracker before Sunday School, and she did. Friends say my birthday fits my exuberant personality. A sister and brother joined me later. My mom named me Gay Nell. When I started writing, I chose the name Gay N. Lewis. However, a group of people use the name Gay to describe a lifestyle. I now write as G. N. Lewis. You’ll find my books under either name.</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E101" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E101"> The newest books are G. N. Lewis.</span></i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E102" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E102" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span class="qowt-font3-Arial" id="E103" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E103"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>What’s your favorite pastime?</b></span></span>
</p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E104" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E104" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E105" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E105">I’m a big fan of baseball and the Astros. We watch every game and sometimes go to Minu</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E106" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E106">te</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E107" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E107"> Maid Park to see them play. I even wrote about them in my latest book, </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E108" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E108">Sarah’s Mission to Earth</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E109" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E109">. The hero, Tom in the story</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E110" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E110">, lives in Houston but once</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E111" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E111"> played football for the University of Texas in Austin. </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E112" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E112">While visiting his mom in the Texas Hill Country, he meets Marcy. H</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E113" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E113">e’s thrilled when he learns Marcy loves sports.</span></i></b></span>
</p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3" id="E114" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E114" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>What's your home life like?</b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E117" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E117" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E118" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E118">I married a minister</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E119" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E119"> and we have three grown daughters.</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E120" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E120"> I’m grateful for </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E121" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E121">hubby’s</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E122" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E122"> easygoing nature. When I wreck the car, he responds in his unflappable manner. I sideswiped a vehicle recently, and he texted, “No worries. All is good.” </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E123" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E123">In my</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E124" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E124"> first year in Houston, I had nine wrecks. Yes, you read correctly. Nine. They weren’t funny at the time, well, some were.</span>
</i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E125" is="qowt-word-para" named-flow="FLOW-3" qowt-eid="E125" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E126" is="qowt-word-run" named-flow="FLOW-4" qowt-eid="E126">One morning I drove my car to the body shop with the passenger side caved in. The man fixed it. </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" is="qowt-word-run" named-flow="FLOW-4" qowt-eid="E126">A few weeks later, I wheeled in with the identical scenario—the</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E127" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E127"> same</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E128" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E128"> passenger side crumpled </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E129" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E129">again. The manager scratched his head, “Ma’am, may I ask you a question?” I nodded. “Where did you learn to drive?”</span></i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E125" is="qowt-word-para" named-flow="FLOW-3" qowt-eid="E125" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E129">That's so funny!!</span></b></span></p></qowt-section><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E131" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E131" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E132" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E132">Then, a few years after the body shop incidents, my husband was called as senior pastor to a Baptist Church in Central Texas. We’d been in the county-seat town for two weeks when a group ten miles away invited me to teach a Bible study. I left early. I always give myself time to make wrong turns. Or have wrecks.</span>
</i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E133" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E133" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E134" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E134">In the heart of town, I made a wrong turn. </span>
</i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E135" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E135" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E136" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E136">Uh-oh! You’re not </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E138" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E138">gonna</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E140" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E140"> believe this, but as a brand-new citizen, right then and there, I stranded my car on a railroad track in the middle of that city. Yep. I did. Well, it was dark. Does that count? I thought I saw a street and turned. Boy! Was I surprised? It wasn’t a road—it was a choo-choo track. I drove forward, backward, nothing, nada, zip. I was stuck. I jumped out, left the car, and ran to the police station. The officer said, “We could have a major fire if that coming engine plows into your car.” I bit my nails as I waited for him to notify officials. I imagined the newspapers across the country with the headline. “Pastor’s Wife Burns Down Texas Town.” I called my husband. He didn’t say much. He’s used to it. </span>
</i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E141" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E141" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E142" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E142">Sarah’s chaotic episodes are oftentimes things I’ve done. Like most authors, I include personal experiences.</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E143" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E143"> </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E144" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E144">The idea of a dyslexic, bumbling, chaotic, angel came to me out of the blue. Or was it a God thing? </span></i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E141" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E141" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E144">Oh, my goodness, you have had an interesting time of it! You must appreciate your hubby for being so understanding. I'd say that's definitely a God thing, too!!</span></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E141" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E141" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>You remind me of a dear friend who often has similar experiences. I always chuckle with her when we remember some of her humorous dilemmas. We all need some laughs! And you and Sarah are so generously giving us some.</b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E141" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E141" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i>Thanks, Nancy, for asking about Sarah. She’s a heartwarming little angel, and her baubles give the reader insights. I look forward to hearing from your readers.</i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E141" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E141" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>Now, one more question: What are you working on now?</b></span></p><p class="qowt-li-0_0 qowt-list qowt-stl-ListParagraph x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E311" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E311" qowt-entry="5" qowt-list-type="n" qowt-lvl="0" qowt-template="0" role="listitem"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span id="E312" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E312">I thought </span><span id="E313" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E313">I’d</span><span id="E314" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E314"> try something different – a murder mystery. My female lead is researching ways to kill two men</span><span id="E315" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E315">. They robbed her and she seeks revenge. </span><span id="E316" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E316">I</span><span id="E317" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E317"> </span><span id="E318" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E318">haven’t</span><span id="E319" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E319"> decided if she will succeed</span><span id="E320" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E320"> with murder</span><span id="E321" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E321"> or not. </span><span id="E322" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E322">There’s</span><span id="E323" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E323"> a therapist involved, he loves her, but can he talk her out of murder? </span><span id="E324" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E324">I’m</span><span id="E325" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E325"> not sure yet. </span><span id="E326" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E326">At first, I </span><span id="E327" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E327">wasn’t</span><span id="E328" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E328"> going to</span><span id="E329" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E329"> write</span><span id="E330" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E330"> this</span><span id="E331" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E331"> as</span><span id="E332" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E332"> a Christian novel, but</span><span id="E333" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E333"> this style didn’t fit me.</span><span id="E334" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E334"> </span><span id="E335" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E335">I finally gave up and allowed God to make His way into a few sentences. </span><span id="E338" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E338">I’m</span><span id="E340" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E340"> halfway through, and I don’t have a title. </span><span id="E342" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E342">I’m</span><span id="E344" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E344"> into year four</span><span id="E345" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E345"> with work</span><span id="E346" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E346"> on this one. </span></i></b></span></p><p class="qowt-li-0_0 qowt-list qowt-stl-ListParagraph x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E311" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E311" qowt-entry="5" qowt-list-type="n" qowt-lvl="0" qowt-template="0" role="listitem"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E346">As most of my readers know, my daughter is in the last stages of dementia, and we take care of her. This emotional roller-coaster often zaps me. Finding energy and time</span><span id="E347" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E347"> to write</span><span id="E348" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E348"> is a challenge.</span></i></b></span></p><p class="qowt-li-0_0 qowt-list qowt-stl-ListParagraph x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E311" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E311" qowt-entry="5" qowt-list-type="n" qowt-lvl="0" qowt-template="0" role="listitem"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b><span is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E348">I'm so sorry to hear that you have such an intense challenge. May God continue to help you, strengthen you and give you His peace. He is very close when our hearts are hurting.</span></b></span></p><p class="qowt-li-0_0 qowt-list qowt-stl-ListParagraph x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E311" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E311" qowt-entry="5" qowt-list-type="n" qowt-lvl="0" qowt-template="0" role="listitem"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b><span is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E348">Thank you so much for this interview. It's been wonderful to get to know you.</span></b></span></p><p class="qowt-li-0_0 qowt-list qowt-stl-ListParagraph x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E311" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E311" qowt-entry="5" qowt-list-type="n" qowt-lvl="0" qowt-template="0" role="listitem"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i>Thanks, Nancy. I appreciate being on the Diamond Mine.</i></b></span></p><p class="qowt-li-0_0 qowt-list qowt-stl-ListParagraph x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E311" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E311" qowt-entry="5" qowt-list-type="n" qowt-lvl="0" qowt-template="0" role="listitem"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>Well readers, here are Gay's links, and don't forget to leave a comment so you will have a chance to win the drawing for the free copy of her book!</b></span></p><p class="qowt-li-0_0 qowt-list qowt-stl-ListParagraph x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E311" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E311" qowt-entry="5" qowt-list-type="n" qowt-lvl="0" qowt-template="0" role="listitem"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E176" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E176"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Gay N. Lewis is a Texas best-selling author, and she writes under the names Gay N. Lewis and G. N. Lewis. Most of her books are about a dyslexic angel, and they are laugh-out-loud funny. Gay has also written two historical, women’s fiction novels. Visit her blog at </b></span></span><a contenteditable="false" href="http://gaynlewis.blogspot.com/" id="E177" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E177" target="_blank"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E178" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E178" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt;">http://gaynlewis.blogspot.com/</span></a><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E179" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E179"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> Gay’s daughter suffers from early-onset dementia, and she writes a blog about their journey. </b></span></span><a contenteditable="false" href="https://dementiadaybyday.blogspot.com/" id="E180" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E180" target="_blank"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E181" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E181" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt;">https://dementiadaybyday.blogspot.com/</span></a><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E182" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E182"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> You’ll find Gay N. Lewis novels on Amazon and other online booksellers. </b></span></span><a contenteditable="false" href="http://amzn.to/2hwc6nB" id="E183" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E183" target="_blank"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E184" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E184" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt;">http://amzn.to/2hwc6nB</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E185" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E185" style="color: #0563c1; text-decoration-line: underline;"> </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E186" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E186" style="text-decoration-line: underline;">A link to G.N. Lewis.</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E187" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E187"> </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E189" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E189"></span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E191" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E191"></span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E193" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E193"></span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E194" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E194"></span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E196" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E196" style="color: #0563c1; text-decoration-line: underline;">https://amzn.to/3G3ZdZm</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E197" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E197"></span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E199" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E199"> </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E200" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E200">Catch Gay on Facebook as Gay N. Le</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E201" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E201">wis You’ll find her on YouTube. </span></b></span><a contenteditable="false" href="https://bit.ly/3SQhIXc" id="E202" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E202" target="_blank"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E203" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E203" style="font-size: 12pt;">https://bit.ly/3SQhIXc</span></a></p></div></div><span style="font-size: large;"><qowt-page named-flow="FLOW-1" style="color: #2b00fe; height: 792pt; width: 612pt;"><qowt-header class="style-scope qowt-page style-scope qowt-page" contenteditable="false" id="header" style="min-height: 72pt; padding-left: 72pt; padding-right: 72pt;"></qowt-header></qowt-page></span>nancy boltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06001204788388098730noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8712832451394708482.post-84458643519593526312024-02-28T01:30:00.004-07:002024-02-28T08:29:39.141-07:00Hannah Hood Lucero Shares About Her Sweet Tooth for Just Desserts<p><span style="color: #134f5c;">Hello, friends! Today (Feb 28) is my birthday, and I'm tickled pink to introduce you to Hannah Hood Lucero. Hannah writes romantic suspense with military heroes and heroines. Keep reading to find out more about her "faith-filled fiction with a sprinkling of southern snark." Plus, find out about her giveaway!</span></p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;">A Little About Hannah</span></h3><p><span style="color: #274e13;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDPEDZPW0ZwKZf6ENhOqXHUQjh3u1Ih9OGvo_tvEbaUV8auAsHDnD0xURS0mo3KIB2evl6nFJMTh83vKMmSMqsekADr3-QeENhUuBlgX-YdEkAY7cu9cLONpcCOziP-wWVItsPb1CeK5l45y2HfA22N5UQGvTv2ykKHkpvh16RlYhNlkC63yAEU0ca8P2/s460/hannah%20lucero.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="345" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDPEDZPW0ZwKZf6ENhOqXHUQjh3u1Ih9OGvo_tvEbaUV8auAsHDnD0xURS0mo3KIB2evl6nFJMTh83vKMmSMqsekADr3-QeENhUuBlgX-YdEkAY7cu9cLONpcCOziP-wWVItsPb1CeK5l45y2HfA22N5UQGvTv2ykKHkpvh16RlYhNlkC63yAEU0ca8P2/s320/hannah%20lucero.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #274e13;"><br />Hi! I'm Hannah. Christ-follower, wife, and mother are my primary roles. I've held so many titles in my lifetime that I can't remember them all. My favorite non-primary role is Author. I love to tell stories, which is something I learned from my grandfather. He told the most wonderful tales, usually in the form of a song. My favorite words to hear as a child were, "I'm gonna sing you a ditty."</span><p></p><p><span style="color: #274e13;">I have roots on the Mississippi Gulf Coast as well as in the blue ridge mountains of western North Carolina. Both of my homes are rich with history and vibrant culture. Places you will have the opportunity to explore in my books include Asheville, New Orleans, Biloxi, Pensacola . . . and perhaps a sprinkle of the Rocky Mountains as well.</span></p><p><span style="color: #274e13;">I love a good book. If there is conflict, suspense, and kissing . . . I'm there for it! That's what you can expect from my faith-based fiction. I write contemporary Christian Romance!</span></p><p><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Connect with Hannah: <a href="https://www.hannahhoodlucero.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.hannahhoodlucero.com/" target="_blank">Newsletter</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hannah.hood.lucero/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085999081028" target="_blank">Facebook</a></b></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d;">Suzie: Welcome to the Diamond Mine, Hannah. We’re delighted to have you this week. I always like to start with a couple would you rather questions.</span></p><p><span style="color: #274e13;">Hannah: Thank you for having me! I’ve been looking forward to it. Let’s roll!</span></p><p><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d;">Suzie: Would you rather live without internet for a year or without air conditioning and heating for a year?</span></p><p><span style="color: #274e13;">Hannah: Oooh. This is tough for me. I live in south Mississippi and our air conditioning has gone out in the height of triple-digit temps. I suppose for survival’s sake, I’ll have to sacrifice all else. But living without the internet would crush me. I know we shouldn’t be dependent on it. As a homeschooling mom of three littles, I need my bookstagram and Christian Mommy Writer networks . . . desperately.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d;">Suzie: I'm with you. Cold showers and fans would suffice over not being able to connect with my reader friends!!</span></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d;">Would you rather give up social media or eat the same dinner for the rest of your life?</span></p><p><span style="color: #274e13;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Hannah: Do tacos ever really get old? There are so many variations (if that’s allowed…)</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxFXk5FQNC6MQ8dPBtjo8rvnDk8ShBDnZ_Qd2IIYoM0szrTEkjTj4-WX8_WaRXfB2up0K6r5Y3aZwCLUN8j1N326zC3HUGDBBgZa2-M5r7UbSEZU6nOfHD6ofZTAC5EbKqk3TM7ErLJzLDMTSykL4KnRugtqEXKvufXyhBSseN-1Kxge_cP97nHPYlGDx/s5493/pexels-los-muertos-crew-8230030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3662" data-original-width="5493" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxFXk5FQNC6MQ8dPBtjo8rvnDk8ShBDnZ_Qd2IIYoM0szrTEkjTj4-WX8_WaRXfB2up0K6r5Y3aZwCLUN8j1N326zC3HUGDBBgZa2-M5r7UbSEZU6nOfHD6ofZTAC5EbKqk3TM7ErLJzLDMTSykL4KnRugtqEXKvufXyhBSseN-1Kxge_cP97nHPYlGDx/w200-h133/pexels-los-muertos-crew-8230030.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #0c343d;">Suzie: Excellent point. Plus, you can take all of the ingredients and make them into something else. Burritos, nachos, etc. </span></div><p><span style="color: #0c343d;">Alright, that’s enough of those. Tell us a little about you—family, hobbies, day job, or whatever you’d like to share that’s not in your bio.</span></p><p><span style="color: #274e13;">Hannah: Hmmm. I really have most of it in my bio. OH! I’m a huge conspiracy theorist. My friends know this well. For marketing purposes, I haven’t made it part of my brand (HAHA!). I love digging into things and seeing what different people believe about aliens, the moon landing, assassinations, government corruption, etc.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d;">Suzie: Seems about right for a suspense author, lol! What are three books on your current tbr?</span></p><p><span style="color: #274e13;">Hannah: Only three? Okay. I’ve been eyeballing the second book in Heather Wood’s family saga, <i>Until</i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKw21jZWYyJHDTFsd-fb3G3ZtW0HtTT9lWFmhSRtjIr60k9lQxKDQXg6FywKZPSvA2g4w2zhJkdBjEjc5R0rYIf3ZZUB7o2HOVTYbZZ1Tl848U6rFWzBb5-6iP3Vu1wb4Q1w-7zIu10fQAdhGdrB_Qa0eBDNCRHUd_bpCx3tqtZOJuEmpGvUOTnoI4vR9X/s2756/until%20we%20all%20run%20free.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2756" data-original-width="1836" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKw21jZWYyJHDTFsd-fb3G3ZtW0HtTT9lWFmhSRtjIr60k9lQxKDQXg6FywKZPSvA2g4w2zhJkdBjEjc5R0rYIf3ZZUB7o2HOVTYbZZ1Tl848U6rFWzBb5-6iP3Vu1wb4Q1w-7zIu10fQAdhGdrB_Qa0eBDNCRHUd_bpCx3tqtZOJuEmpGvUOTnoI4vR9X/w133-h200/until%20we%20all%20run%20free.jpg" width="133" /></a></i></span></div><span style="color: #274e13;"><i><br /> We All Run Free</i>. I know it’s about one of my favorite characters from the first book. I wanted to read it in January—but you know how beta and ARC promises sneak up on you…</span><p></p><p><span style="color: #274e13;">Speaking of ARCs, I’m really excited for Kendra Warden’s debut romantic suspense. I’ve already read some of her work and love her stories, so I can’t wait to get <i>Forged in Peril</i> any day now.</span></p><p><span style="color: #274e13;">JJ Samie Myles has written book 3 in the <i>A Breed Apart</i> series presented by Ronie Kendig. I’m ashamed to say that I hadn’t gotten around to reading any of Ronie’s books until this year even though my mom loves them. But I recently read the first book, Havoc, and the action in it was right up my military vet alley. So my third on the list is definitely JJ Samie Myles’s <i>RIOT</i> coming in March!</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d;">Suzie: And here I thought that was an easier questions than "What's your favorite book."</span></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d;">What does your writing space look like?</span></p><p><span style="color: #274e13;">Hannah: A colossal mess! I’m not exaggerating. Disorder doesn’t seem to help or hinder my creativity. But I really should get my life in order. There are stacks of books, notebooks, random art from my children . . . send life tips to Hannah.hood.lucero@gmail.com. HA!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDL2k73DaLZIlQhNQUdrx2tdVTacmh3Okdf9QOAjTEf0ITaUUVOPr3Q7rrdPzurug7CGKmBHl_Y1SO8rFQIRi9pbgENdhfVpD0gID5ulv-NtJky-T9E3_yTl3Dxjkr__jkit3LF3N8v6dQq1ggoexPa7FKAZuHmWdxN8m3dSuNJWQKDnh1TUaVjUDYMkR/s6000/pexels-mizuno-k-12899105.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="4000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDL2k73DaLZIlQhNQUdrx2tdVTacmh3Okdf9QOAjTEf0ITaUUVOPr3Q7rrdPzurug7CGKmBHl_Y1SO8rFQIRi9pbgENdhfVpD0gID5ulv-NtJky-T9E3_yTl3Dxjkr__jkit3LF3N8v6dQq1ggoexPa7FKAZuHmWdxN8m3dSuNJWQKDnh1TUaVjUDYMkR/s320/pexels-mizuno-k-12899105.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d;">Suzie: You are not alone. My desk really needs the stacks cleaned off the top! Let's just call ourselves disorganized perfectionists. :)</span></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d;">Would you share with us a little about your road to publication?</span></p><p><span style="color: #274e13;">Hannah: Yes! I’m actually pretty new to this entire world. My only connection to a real author or anyone “in the know” was Jamie Ogle. We worked together at a Family Christian Store the holiday season of 2009. Though our careers in retail rapidly dwindled, our friendship never did. I remember visiting her in Iowa after she moved away and sitting outside of one of her writing classes, wishing I had gone to school for writing instead of massage therapy. Before I wrote my debut novel, I had this mindset that I couldn’t be an author because I didn’t go to school for it—a bit antithetical to being a rebel, right?</span></p><p><span style="color: #274e13;">When I finally got fed up with the content in the books my friends would recommend, I secretly sat down to write one I’d actually want to read. It was a story that had been in my heart for 20 years and it just flowed out of me. Don’t get me wrong . . . the first version was a step above garbage. That’s being too generous. It was a whole dumpster fire. Ask Jennifer Q. Hunt about that first draft of <i>Cathey’s Creek Road</i>.</span></p><p><span style="color: #274e13;">Anyway, I had a big mess of a novel. Well over 80K words. I didn’t know where to go from there. Jamie gave me tips, the most valuable being to get plugged into the Christian Mommy Writer community. There I found so many tools and resources. Most importantly, I found encouragement and edifying friendships with women at all different stages of the process, both Trad and Indie authors.</span></p><p><span style="color: #274e13;">I never knew about indie publishing before I started this journey. I thought everyone had to find an agent and a publishing house to get their book out. I truly dreaded the whole idea of that. For me, rules and hard deadlines take the joy out of things I otherwise enjoy. When I met women like Jennifer Hunt, Heather Wood, and Latisha Sexton . . . I thought, “Maybe I can really do this!” And then I did it!</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d;">Suzie: Yay!! Aren't other authors in our space so encouraging? I've made some wonderful friendships over the years.</span></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d;">What are some of your favorite things about writing romantic suspense?</span></p><p><span style="color: #274e13;">Hannah: This is my passion and comfort zone. I’ve yet to write a book without a military element. It’s what I know and love. I was a combat medic in the Army and my husband was a Navy Seabee who still deploys about 8 months out of the year as a private contractor. I love spotlighting different jobs within the military and showcasing the heart of the heroes who are willing to lay down their lives for a righteous cause.</span></p><p><span style="color: #274e13;">I also enjoy creating truly horrible people, just to kill them off. I’ve got a real sweet tooth for Just Desserts.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d;">Suzie: Again, spoken like a true suspense author!!</span></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d;">Tell us more about your upcoming release.</span></p><p><span style="color: #274e13;">Hannah: <i>Crossfire at the Precipice</i> is book 3 in my <i>Sons of Vigilance</i> series. This one was the hardest to write and developmentally edit. It’s my attempt to shine a bright light on the horrors of human trafficking, but I wanted to do it differently than other’s have, so it’s probably not what you expect.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKHR4EdIDsw8T4zOcErQcKDld5XZHei_6e7JL13jxO1cv24L6vp4j6RsoTSEP5PzoxGUBWlQ6jx5AllTuGVO_EWNtfbXKi5QtRUpAI6DYkeV_f1YUc95d6c69W__mLS2cbo6H_uHwaiBVLqBVoJsf1lu03vaDJaXrosDVoNajqBEMsdiHocgGeiNpWrmR/s1080/crossfire%20meme.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKHR4EdIDsw8T4zOcErQcKDld5XZHei_6e7JL13jxO1cv24L6vp4j6RsoTSEP5PzoxGUBWlQ6jx5AllTuGVO_EWNtfbXKi5QtRUpAI6DYkeV_f1YUc95d6c69W__mLS2cbo6H_uHwaiBVLqBVoJsf1lu03vaDJaXrosDVoNajqBEMsdiHocgGeiNpWrmR/s320/crossfire%20meme.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #274e13;">My husband and I are very passionate about this issue. We’ve partnered with Rapha International for about 15 years now, so it’s not as new to us as a lot of people who are just now realizing the extent of the global evils of trafficking. It’s a huge spiritual battle, and that definitely showed up in the process of writing <i>Crossfire</i>.</span></p><p><span style="color: #274e13;">If it weren’t for the prayers of the Christian Mommy Writers, I don’t think I would have been able to finish it. By the time it was all said and done, Jennifer Hunt (my developmental editor) and I both wondered if anyone would even like the book, because we were just so OVER IT. God really blessed our efforts. Two of my beta readers even say it’s their favorite in the series . . . TO GOD BE THE GLORY!</span></p><p><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d;">Suzie: Isn't it amazing how God can take something that wrings us out and reach readers?</span></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d;">What are you currently working on?</span></p><p><span style="color: #274e13;">Hannah: Several things! Finishing up copyedits and formatting of <i>Dereliction of the Heart</i>, book 4 in the Sons series. My personal favorite! And working on developmental edits of my first book with a female military heroine.</span></p><p><span style="color: #274e13;">So far, I’ve done all men in uniform with sassy civilian women stealing their hearts . . . so it is definitely time for a hardened female Marine to meet her match on the treacherous streets of New Orleans. I’m hopeful to release <i>The Glory of Light</i> on the Marine Corp birthday (November 10th).</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d;">Suzie: Oh, I love the title!!</span></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d;">Before we wrap up, how can we pray for you?</span></p><p><span style="color: #274e13;">Hannah: Thank you for asking! Please pray that my books always glorify God and draw people to Him. I know reading the right books can be edifying, and I want my stories to be included in the list. And maybe pray for husband and kids . . . they have me for a wife/mom after all!</span></p><p><span style="color: #274e13;">Thanks so very much for having me on! This was even more fun than I anticipated! </span></p><p><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d;">Suzie: You are so welcome. Thank you for taking the time to chat with us!! We are praying God blesses you, your family, and your writing career. </span></p><p><span style="color: #0c343d;"><br /></span></p><h3 style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #0c343d; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGh12DB0QJJ2dVn0hHaVKguGw_FaUjz-yfdSOg1Un7mdDUaWjLWHniU4_jUqPqolepIHP_-8bypFTY2_S7oUrBq6_8HdmdINo9qSoHon3oVTNinMBZW2BJeSqcmRLbWuD3g8ZjuxzMmc-WWPVN7udIsRqlWQl0-4qpNXf_KR9Bm0lqIDMMv1bPixSZUBB/s500/crossfire.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="326" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGh12DB0QJJ2dVn0hHaVKguGw_FaUjz-yfdSOg1Un7mdDUaWjLWHniU4_jUqPqolepIHP_-8bypFTY2_S7oUrBq6_8HdmdINo9qSoHon3oVTNinMBZW2BJeSqcmRLbWuD3g8ZjuxzMmc-WWPVN7udIsRqlWQl0-4qpNXf_KR9Bm0lqIDMMv1bPixSZUBB/s320/crossfire.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><span style="color: #073763;">About <i>Crossfire at the Precipice</i></span></h3><div><span style="color: #073763;">Heading home in high spirits after securing a career-building business deal, Cynthia Sumrall encounters a grumpy—and handsome—ginger. What begins as two strangers traveling in the same direction soon spirals into dangers and uncertainties that leave Cynthia floundering. A few chance meetings shatter all her preconceived ideas about what she wants and leave her questioning everything she believes about God’s purpose for her life.</span></div><div><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #073763;">Liam Flynn is dutifully going through the motions until a tenacious redhead shakes up his mundane world with her sunshiny personality and adorable southern drawl. For the first time in his life, Liam wants something for reasons other than pleasing his family and rising above the stigmas attached to his questionable past. Real happiness seems within his reach until tragedy strikes and Cynthia disappears.</span></div><div><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #073763;">Will Cynthia and Liam be able to navigate through the headwinds of hard realities to find purpose and belonging together, or will the turbulence of fear and loss prove too much for their already tattered souls?</span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Crossfire-Precipice-Sons-Vigilance-Book-ebook/dp/B0CPXC9Q49" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/203589363-crossfire-at-the-precipice" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></p><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Giveaway</span></h3><div><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiearhQo2CLeq76bd4oPQO-feIWkvNTljSFnPTPP6jftoNRuHVdBX3Se5L-j0zuSE1Ww3hsH_mL4BBMQAMnbJ8PuuoPjoB6xuVislK9XiSh1NnJ72pCpwm-d0A7i0XeFIP3Viw_ZGJWtRArKE1RkIomNVYBoTDcB6qRjkZOkLCsa_Etvyps4ZKGihgi6igC/s1080/crossfire%20giveaway.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiearhQo2CLeq76bd4oPQO-feIWkvNTljSFnPTPP6jftoNRuHVdBX3Se5L-j0zuSE1Ww3hsH_mL4BBMQAMnbJ8PuuoPjoB6xuVislK9XiSh1NnJ72pCpwm-d0A7i0XeFIP3Viw_ZGJWtRArKE1RkIomNVYBoTDcB6qRjkZOkLCsa_Etvyps4ZKGihgi6igC/s320/crossfire%20giveaway.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #783f04;">To enter Hannah's giveaway, subscribe to Hannah's <a href="https://www.hannahhoodlucero.com/" target="_blank">Newsletter</a>, follow her on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hannah.hood.lucero/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, follow Lantern Rescue on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lanternrescue/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lanternrescuefoundation" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, and/or Rapha International on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/raphaintl/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RaphaIntl" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. One entry per follow. Grab an extra entry by leaving a comment here and telling us what the last great romantic suspense book you read was.</span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04;">Once you've followed and left a comment, email (or DM) and let her know where you followed.</span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04;">Giveaway ends 3/15/24. </span></div><p><br /></p>Suzie Waltnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03089234812380461326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8712832451394708482.post-71392057401732165072024-02-21T07:00:00.005-07:002024-02-21T07:00:00.263-07:00Interview with Sara Brunsvold<p> <i><b>I’m so excited to interview Christy Award Winning author Sara
Brunsvold today! Her debut novel “The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs.
Kip” touched the hearts of all who read it and her new novel (which
she shares about today) “The Divine Proverb of Streusel” is
another unique and heartwarming story. Without further ado, here’s
Sara!</b></i></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijp47ysqS73o5fQ8J51GbsXjtwyWh48Q_CWTALWFAfT1qG2t1w0vR1r3n3VOeKl34N_QtASZT0gA61VwV2rFwhMFBjQbd2ObSr3I-_e3MS_onYz4JhHl12XSM79FllWGyW2n9zdVTw_IeO0x2tOn-4f-GUBhfLNYTU0bGu2YOovfrfebBj7RjJWa5VCbg/s1126/Sara_Brunsvold_Compressed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1077" data-original-width="1126" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijp47ysqS73o5fQ8J51GbsXjtwyWh48Q_CWTALWFAfT1qG2t1w0vR1r3n3VOeKl34N_QtASZT0gA61VwV2rFwhMFBjQbd2ObSr3I-_e3MS_onYz4JhHl12XSM79FllWGyW2n9zdVTw_IeO0x2tOn-4f-GUBhfLNYTU0bGu2YOovfrfebBj7RjJWa5VCbg/w224-h214/Sara_Brunsvold_Compressed.jpg" width="224" /></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sara
Brunsvold is a Christy and Carol Award-winning author who creates
stories that speak hope and life. Influenced by humble women of God
who find His fingerprints in the everyday, she does the same in her
life and her storytelling. She lives with her family in the Kansas
City, Mo., area. </span></span></div></blockquote>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>First let’s
learn a little bit about you. Can you share a few things about
yourself that have nothing to do with writing?</b></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">My husband and I
have two teen daughters and one middle-aged dog who is currently
laying at my feet. We live in the Kansas City area, and at one time,
we had four barbecue restaurants within two miles of our house, all
of which had been featured on the Food Network. My go-to barbecue
dish is a KC signature, burnt ends.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>That sounds
amazing! What drew you to write?</b></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">My middle school
language arts teacher was the first person to encourage me to pursue
creative writing. She saw something in me that I didn’t see in
myself. I started writing “novels” in spiral bound notebooks and
fell in love immediately. From that point forward, it’s all I have
ever truly wanted to do.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>It sure seems
that your teacher was right. What’s your writing process?</b></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">I’m still figuring
out what works best for me. In general though, I start with a gist of
story then focus on developing the characters. By understanding my
characters and their goals and challenges, I discover the plot. Once
I know my characters well and have at least a loosely formed plot, I
write a sloppy first draft. When I hit the 85,000-87,000 word mark, I
go back through and refine. I’m a much stronger editor than I am a
first drafter, and I give myself permission to be messy the first
go-round.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>As an author
myself, I can definitely relate to figuring out what works for a
process. How do you come up with your story ideas?</b></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">From real life.
Authors tend to be keen observers and note-takers of the world around
them, and I include myself in that generalization. All of the stories
I have written and plan to write were sparked by something I
experienced, saw, heard or read.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Now, we’ve all
been waiting. Tell us about your new release.</b></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>The Divine
Proverb of Streusel</i> follows Nikki Werner as she seeks solace from
a family crisis by cooking through her great-grandmother’s German
recipes. The story was inspired in part by my own family story and
heritage.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Are there certain
themes explored in the story?</b></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">The key theme is
forgiveness after father wounds. This is something I personally
wrestled with, and I hope to encourage others who may have similar
familial hurt.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>I’ve read and
enjoyed The Divine Proverb of Streusel and definitely have some
characters that will stick with me. Do you have any favorite
characters in your books?</b></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">In <i>The Divine
Proverb of Streusel</i>, one of the two point of view characters is
Nikki’s uncle, Wes. Wes represents the first time I have written
from a male point of view, and the process to understand the world
through his eyes was richer than I expected. We all experience and
navigate emotional hurt in different ways, and I found myself drawn
to how Wes processed things. In the end, he became as much of a
comfort to me as he was to Nikki. For that reason, he has a special
place in my heart.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>What are you
working on now?</b></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">I am working on book
#3, about a mom and her two grown daughters on a bookish road trip
around the Heartland. Lots of layers to explore in the
mother-daughter dynamic.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>When you’re not
writing, what do you enjoy doing?</b></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">My family and I love
to travel Middle America, from the Midwest to the Great Plains to the
south central regions. “Flyover country” has a lot to offer, and
we try to see as much of it as possible together and eat the local
favorites. I’m also a fan of cooking shows. Great British Baking
Show is one of my all-time favorites.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_QdWBXEHCrk7OQT1FeRYxcO3-SjaIJ2q1pvbIVurZdV-Zldarojh-q2sMXkMi95yMwvr5VekoJzMHiFGpqta-KoNHP_7gSXo1N7cUgoDcNPFZmmMM6UnU9kDSfKLlK-_AipBezwJTuem3x_W89LXq1-wGvz-uF6B1-Izp0eE_Pc3XDeMJJ5QFqSuHtY/s1275/Brunsvold_Divine%20Proverb%20of%20Streusel-cover-COMPRESSED.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="825" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_QdWBXEHCrk7OQT1FeRYxcO3-SjaIJ2q1pvbIVurZdV-Zldarojh-q2sMXkMi95yMwvr5VekoJzMHiFGpqta-KoNHP_7gSXo1N7cUgoDcNPFZmmMM6UnU9kDSfKLlK-_AipBezwJTuem3x_W89LXq1-wGvz-uF6B1-Izp0eE_Pc3XDeMJJ5QFqSuHtY/w176-h272/Brunsvold_Divine%20Proverb%20of%20Streusel-cover-COMPRESSED.jpg" width="176" /></a></div>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;"><b>You
can find information on how to order “The Divine Proverb of
Streusel” and connect with Sara here:</b></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;">Website:
</span><a href="http://www.sarabrunsvold.com/"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;"><u>www.sarabrunsvold.com</u></span></a></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;">Facebook:
</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/sarabrunsvoldauthor"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;"><u>www.facebook.com/sarabrunsvoldauthor</u></span></a></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;">Instagram:
</span><a href="http://www.instagram.com/sara_brunsvold"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;"><u>www.instagram.com/sara_brunsvold</u></span></a></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;">Newsletter:
</span><a href="https://subscribepage.io/streuselrecipe"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;"><u>https://subscribepage.io/streuselrecipe</u></span></a></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17800006683519788939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8712832451394708482.post-24315237111418418022024-02-14T18:59:00.000-07:002024-02-14T18:59:09.249-07:00Interview and GIVEAWAY with Author Marguerite Martin Gray!<p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">Hi, guys! V. Joy Palmer here! Since we are all friends here, you guys can call me Joy. ;-) And one of my favorite things to do is talk with my friends at coffee shops then head to the bookstores. Yes, plural. After all, books and yummy drinks are the perfect combination! So consider this our virtual coffee shop. I'll wait a second for you to get your warm drink and a fuzzy blanket before we chat with today's guest. <3</span></p><p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><span>Today we are going to </span><strike>pry into the private life of</strike><span> CHAT with Author Marguerite Martin Gray!</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqu7tjk2R0BfklFALliK4_Czua3E6YZsBatpft8obggljyZTT0Ii0_74HcettVoJmbTuYaqcYGobybNj5aZFL_KrzLgjdgbXa2_8Rw5va4WsnLq7pdGq1dWF1iS5MWTzDFq3VwU-nUyBiPG55zXt7XT5EN1L6_IruiFYmXWoxjbjissnHRUsuygx8IA4mh/s250/Marguerite%20Gray.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="250" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqu7tjk2R0BfklFALliK4_Czua3E6YZsBatpft8obggljyZTT0Ii0_74HcettVoJmbTuYaqcYGobybNj5aZFL_KrzLgjdgbXa2_8Rw5va4WsnLq7pdGq1dWF1iS5MWTzDFq3VwU-nUyBiPG55zXt7XT5EN1L6_IruiFYmXWoxjbjissnHRUsuygx8IA4mh/s1600/Marguerite%20Gray.jpg" width="250" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">Marguerite Martin Gray is the author of <i>Hold Me
Close</i>, <i>Surround Me, Bring Me Near, Draw Me to Your Side, and Wait for Me</i>--
Revolutionary Faith Series Books 1-5, <i>Promise Me Christmas</i>, novella, <i>Labor
of Love and Promise of Purity</i>, and <i>Whispers of Wisdom</i>, Gardens in
Time Series Books 1, 2, and 3, and <i>Room for Love</i>, Suamalie Islands Year
One. Besides researching her novels, she enjoys studying history and writing
fiction. An avid traveler and reader, she teaches French and Spanish online.
She currently lives in North Louisiana with her husband and rescue pets. Her
two adult children and two grandsons keep her up to date and young. </span><span style="color: #800180;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">Connect with Marguerite on her <a href="https://www.margueritemartingray.com " target="_blank">Website/Blog</a>, <a href="https://eepurl.com/gF-3I1" target="_blank">Newsletter</a>, <a href="https: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marguerite-martin-gray" target="_blank">BookBub</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14836211.Marguerite_Martin_Gray" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/margueritemgray/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, and her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1408197086342364" target="_blank">Facebook Reader Group</a>!</span></span></p></span></span><p><b><i><span style="color: red;">Interview ~</span></i></b></p><div><p style="margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">This may be the most important question I ask -- no pressure or anything, LOL! </span></p><p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">*drum roll*</span></p><p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">What are you drinking in our virtual coffee house? Coffee? Tea? Hot chocolate? Something else altogether?</span></p></div><p><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tea, please. English Breakfast if you have it.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">Tea is always a lovely choice! If you could order anything in the world to eat (we can dream, can't we?), what would it be?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Steak and potato.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">Always a favorite! Where is your favorite place to write, and why is that your favorite place?</span></span></p></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">My old square table in front of a big window with a lamp and candle.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span>Sounds lovely! </span><span>D</span></span><span style="color: #800180;">o you have an odd habit that is only
explained by your bookish, writer tendencies? Safe space. ;-)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to learn something from
every book that I read. I write down things I’ve learned or want to research.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><span>That sounds fun to me! What inspired you to write </span><i>Whispers
of Wisdom</i><span>? </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This series takes beautiful European gardens and sets the
story there. I knew I had to include Chenonceau Chateau since it is my favorite
place on earth and has awesome gardens that are highly functional even today.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>Love this </span>premise<span>! What led you to write in this genre? </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love
history. My father is an architect. As a family we lived in England for two
years during my preteens. We saw every cemetery, church, garden, manor house,
and castle in our travels all over Britain and Europe. I’ve been hooked on
travel and history since then. I started reading historical fiction by Lori
Wick, James Michener, and Jean Plaidy as a teenager and never quit. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="color: #800180;">How fun! </span></span><span style="color: #800180;">What message do you hope to convey to your
readers? </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In this world we will face man’s wisdom and God’s wisdom. We need to
know and explore the difference. If we learn to lean not on our own
understanding but on God’s, we’ll be OK.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">Great message! Can you tell us a little about your next
project(s)? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I just turned in a Christmas novella to my publisher, <i>Remember
Me at Christmas</i>. This is a companion to the Revolutionary Faith series set
in 1785 Charleston, S.C. This month I am writing <i>Dreams Revived</i>, Year
Three of the Suamalie Island Series. This is a contemporary island theme
of a community built on dreams.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800180;">Those books sound so good! Do you have a favorite Bible verse or story
that inspires you on a soul level?</span> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“I have calmed and quieted myself…I am
content.” Psalm 131:2 I am learning about contentment and joy as the way to
live my life.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800180;">Awesome verse! What are you currently reading? </span><span style="color: #800180;">Inquiring</span><span style="color: #800180;"> minds -- mine! -- want to know. ;-)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Worthy of Legend</i><span> by Roseanna White and </span><i>The Winter Sea</i><span> by Susanna Kearsley.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">Great reads! Thanks for answering all of my prying questions, Marguerite!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">Scroll to check out Marguerite's upcoming release, <i>Conversation Hearts</i>, and the giveaway for her new release, <i>Whispers of Wisdom</i>!</span></p><p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gqYxrVXjEjPPAWdJAObVamf8SmS68iem2RbTZo-oDBX1UNpmhWaTjkhQ4EmOQst4Nd8Ff3vBI-W_Y3U4zKfEGqV-UP_Og7axRrhXDUpe1FzlDDY1XmT792IaKgKDPxazMO8tXn3a3Qj-7wOcoX5RIl0fTB5BaD2xDgchRTcxO2BhlbbIwDKgKjVYbkbp/s466/Conversation%20Hearts%20cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="302" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gqYxrVXjEjPPAWdJAObVamf8SmS68iem2RbTZo-oDBX1UNpmhWaTjkhQ4EmOQst4Nd8Ff3vBI-W_Y3U4zKfEGqV-UP_Og7axRrhXDUpe1FzlDDY1XmT792IaKgKDPxazMO8tXn3a3Qj-7wOcoX5RIl0fTB5BaD2xDgchRTcxO2BhlbbIwDKgKjVYbkbp/w259-h400/Conversation%20Hearts%20cover.jpg" width="259" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: inherit;">July 30, 2024</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: inherit;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: inherit;">Will she be able to save her father from the
island’s magic before she falls victim to it herself?</span></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Giveaway ~</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #800180;">Marguerite has generously offered one print copy of her new release, <i>Whispers of Wisdom</i>, to a US winner!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #800180;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxoPz3cbKlcdQQ_5miXVEZl26Vw1z7LEWWGOsg7zdvrzhdhLd92eAI03Fn9ZWFuivPLWSGKcIxnZMLz4UmYMj7dYxgdfzp2zkaBsBZuHz6eI443xy7brEreheQS424DBMHI9gf6TELKqOxV_MvDdT0WQ4_mpA1q2Qhz-tFSvAVJYTcHOEswBMfiF3SM140/s2550/WhispersofWisdom4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="1650" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxoPz3cbKlcdQQ_5miXVEZl26Vw1z7LEWWGOsg7zdvrzhdhLd92eAI03Fn9ZWFuivPLWSGKcIxnZMLz4UmYMj7dYxgdfzp2zkaBsBZuHz6eI443xy7brEreheQS424DBMHI9gf6TELKqOxV_MvDdT0WQ4_mpA1q2Qhz-tFSvAVJYTcHOEswBMfiF3SM140/w259-h400/WhispersofWisdom4.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk155194930"><b><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: inherit;">Nicole wanders the ancient halls of Château Chenonceau,
stirring up whispers from the secrets of a queen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: inherit;">Craving the wisdom of the
philosophers of the day, Nicole straddles the line between servant and high
society. Will acting as one of higher status bring her closer to her dreams?
Perhaps not, but a treasure hunt with the knight in the tower might fulfill her
longing for a while.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: inherit;">Pierre would avoid the senseless
salons full of manmade wisdom, throwing every pamphlet aside. Yet, he journeys
to Chenonceau to glean knowledge from the estate manager. His goal reaches
beyond the glittery, false, societal affairs to the fields of wheat, vineyards,
and orchards. No fairy tales or treasure hunts for him. Not until his
encounters with Nicole invade his practical world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: inherit;">Whispers and secrets conjure a
treasure hunt, involving the heart as well as the mind.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><span></span></span></p><div><div style="font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><i style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><b>Rules, Info, and Such ~</b></span></i></div><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #04ff00;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">The author is giving away 1 print copy of <i>Whispers of Wisdom</i>!</span></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">This giveaway is open to the US only!</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><span>This giveaway will close on 2/24/24 at 12:00 A.M. for all the night owls.</span><br /><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><span>A winner will be drawn within four days of close of giveaway. The winner must respond to our e-mails within one week of notification, or their prize will be forfeit. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.</span><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"></span></div><p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 1.4;"><span face=""arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #606060; display: inline; float: none; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span></span><span style="line-height: 1.4;"><span face=""arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #606060; display: inline; float: none; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span></span><span style="line-height: 1.4;"><span face=""arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #606060; display: inline; float: none; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span></span><span style="line-height: 1.4;"><span face=""arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #606060; display: inline; float: none; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span></span><span style="line-height: 1.4;"><span face=""arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #606060; display: inline; float: none; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span></span><span style="line-height: 1.4;"><span face=""arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #606060; display: inline; float: none; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span></span><span style="line-height: 1.4;"><span face=""arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #606060; display: inline; float: none; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span></span><span style="line-height: 1.4;"><span face=""arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #606060; display: inline; float: none; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span></span></span></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">Enter via the handy Rafflecopter link below. May the odds be ever in your favor. ;-)</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/8a2cc97a37/?" target="_blank">ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE!</a></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!</span></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><span></span><span></span><br /></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">Hugs!</span></div><div style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><div style="font-family: quot; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span></span><span></span><br /></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family: quot; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: "kunstler script"; font-size: 48px; font-weight: bold;">~V. Joy Palmer</span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: quot; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span></span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: quot; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2moMAcXFEPU/Ww7HMU_TZJI/AAAAAAAABWg/-vx1vV7qug0ZJflCUntdMzV6m9374o2sACEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_7230.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #800180;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="640" height="133" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2moMAcXFEPU/Ww7HMU_TZJI/AAAAAAAABWg/-vx1vV7qug0ZJflCUntdMzV6m9374o2sACEwYBhgL/s200/IMG_7230.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span><span></span><br /></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span><span style="color: #800180;">V. Joy Palmer loves to write romantic and comedic stories that proclaim God’s deep love for us. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and an avid blogger. In her spare time, Joy loves to sing (especially Disney songs), drink large quantities of coffee, and take flowery photos for Bookstagram. When Joy isn’t fighting with fictional people, she’s hanging out with her husband and their adorable daughters. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!</span></span></span></span></div><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span><br /></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"></div><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: "calibri";"><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span></span><span></span><br /></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: center;"></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Connect with Joy on her </span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a href="http://www.vjoypalmer.com/" target="_blank">website</a></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">, </span><a href="http://vjoypalmer.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: &quot;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">personal blog</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">, </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/VJoyPalmer/" style="font-family: &quot;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Facebook</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/VJoyPalmer" style="font-family: &quot;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">, </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/vjoypalmer_author/" style="font-family: &quot;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Instagram</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">, <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/vjoypalmer/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>,<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15367051.V_Joy_Palmer" target="_blank"> Goodreads</a>, and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/author/vjoypalmer" target="_blank">Amazon Author Page</a>!</span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>V. Joy Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14115986624694707503noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8712832451394708482.post-5380245994701917522024-02-07T05:30:00.013-07:002024-02-07T05:30:00.164-07:00Interview with Jan Thompson<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Welcome, my reading friends! Today we're visiting with the fabulous Jan Thompson. So, grab your favorite hot drink, make yourself comfy, and join us! For those who aren't yet familiar with Jan, let me introduce you...</b></h3><div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>About Jan Thompson:</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr13r4VxsIOL_nfQzGiW5kw7_HiUelBoi2TY9oDtXAMGi1q2_Och8aqz1SsJLvytS_YR52TbnSvqljYMjK0xwElas7F8Zpy_e_xCwriLVeZVWCCZxQ4xWxY5u7xgJYKOE9jOdRB-VJkWxAAxiRx7OV4Lz11yrfek5xhQOrHHD8qlC8Aarm0G3XXpuPDk8/s450/janthompsonauthor.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="450" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr13r4VxsIOL_nfQzGiW5kw7_HiUelBoi2TY9oDtXAMGi1q2_Och8aqz1SsJLvytS_YR52TbnSvqljYMjK0xwElas7F8Zpy_e_xCwriLVeZVWCCZxQ4xWxY5u7xgJYKOE9jOdRB-VJkWxAAxiRx7OV4Lz11yrfek5xhQOrHHD8qlC8Aarm0G3XXpuPDk8/w200-h168/janthompsonauthor.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><i>USA Today</i> bestselling author Jan Thompson writes Christian coastal city and beach town romance with flavors of women’s fiction, Christian romantic suspense with elements of mystery, and inspirational near-future technothrillers with threads of sweet Christian romance. Jan’s books are for readers who enjoy stories of faith, family, and friends. Beyond the printed page, Jan is a wife, mother, family scribe, avid reader, occasional artist, erstwhile pianist, and chief of staff to the family cat. <br /><p></p></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Jan, I am delighted to have this interview with you today and get to know more about you. What is your favorite type of music or artist/band that you enjoy listening to?</h4><p>I like to listen to all kinds of Christian hymns, from traditional to modern, from classic to contemporary. I love Christian music all year round, and I enjoy Christmas carols as well. I enjoy singing Christian songs at church, and it’s fun to sing live with the orchestra and choir masking my not-so-professional singing voice LOL.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Make a joyful noise, Jan! I love thinking how our praise rises like incense...He loves us so much! Do you have a favorite/life verse? Why is that one meaningful to you?</h4><p>John 3:16 is my life verse. It’s a pivotal verse in the Bible that explains how a person can be saved in Jesus Christ for all eternity. I include this verse in every book I have published, whether on the dedication page or as the last word at the very end of my paperbacks.</p><p>“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">That verse is beloved by so many for a very good reason. (I like verse 17 as well.) I also love that you include the verse in every book. What is your favorite part of the writing/editing/publishing process?</h4><p>Definitely writing. I’ve loved to write ever since I was eight years old, figuring out where the keys were on my parents’ typewriter. Fast forward to today, I still write my first drafts on paper, albeit by hand and not on the typewriter. I love to think about my stories and how I want to tell each scene. Then I write them out in long form until I’m satisfied before I revise them on my computer. After that, I send my finished manuscripts to my editors.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">That's a lot of handwriting! But there is definitely something about using a physical paper and pen that just feels right. Your most recent release just came out in January. What is it about?</h4><p>Fresh out of a twelve-author Christmas anthology, <i>Let Me Hold You</i> (Midtown Christmas Book 1) is my contemporary Christian romance novel centered on Midtown Chapel and its Christmas village ministry in the city of Atlanta. <br /><i>After breaking up with his girlfriend, Levi Theroux meets the woman of his dreams, but she won't give </i><i>him the time of day in his tale of unrequited love. His best friend, Maggie Jacobs, tries to help him in </i><i>every which way she can to pursue his dream date, without revealing to him that she secretly loves him. </i><i>Will these two best friends find a Christmas breakthrough and their own happily ever after?</i></p><p><u>Themes</u>: Unrequited love. Secret love. Best friends. Friend zone. Friends to more. Slow burn. Midtown Atlanta. Big city romance. Church life. Women in ministry.</p><p>Find the ebook in Kindle Unlimited and the audiobook on Audible: JanThompson.com/holdyou-amazon</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">That sounds like such a sweet story! Can you give any hints about what you’re working on now?</h4><p>Right now I’m writing <i>Never a Fugitive</i> (Defender Sweethearts Book 3), a Christian romantic suspense novel that will debut in the Summer Suspicions boxed set coming soon. <i>A grieving accountant seeking justice for his murdered brother finds himself on the run with a senator’s </i><i>former mistress who knows too many state secrets.</i></p><p>Since I write in both the romance and suspense genres, I am usually concurrently working on different books at various stages of completion. There’s never a dull moment as I love to write. I don’t write fast, and it does take me a considerable amount of time to write each book. But I press on. </p><p>Preorder the Summer Suspicions boxed set on Amazon: <a href="http://JanThompson.com/suspicions-amazon">JanThompson.com/suspicions-amazon</a></p><p><b>Oooh, that sounds intriguing, Jan. It's inspiring to hear how many projects you are interested in and working on, and how you are pursuing what you love! </b></p><p><b>Readers, are you ready to dive in to a Jan Thompson novel? (I know I am.) Jan has TWO free book offers for subscribers!</b></p><p><u>Free Contemporary Christian Romance Novella</u>: Time for Me (A Vacation Sweethearts Prequel): <a href="http://JanThompson.com/time-free">JanThompson.com/time-free</a></p><p><u>Temporarily Free Christian Romantic Suspense Novel</u>: Never a Traitor (Defender Sweethearts Book 1): <a href="http://JanThompson.com/traitor-free">JanThompson.com/traitor-free</a> </p><p><b>And feel free to "stalk" her online at the following locations:</b></p><p>Website: <a href="http://JanThompson.com">JanThompson.com</a><br />Mailing List: <a href="http://JanThompson.com/newsletter">JanThompson.com/newsletter </a><br />Amazon: <a href="http://JanThompson.com/amazon">JanThompson.com/amazon</a><br />BookBub: <a href="http://JanThompson.com/bookbub">JanThompson.com/bookbub</a><br />Facebook: <a href="http://JanThompson.com/facebook">JanThompson.com/facebook</a><br />Instagram: <a href="http://JanThompson.com/instagram">JanThompson.com/instagram</a></p>Michelle Massarohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12841001797112425917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8712832451394708482.post-76736945985560105932024-01-30T23:00:00.000-07:002024-01-30T23:00:00.138-07:00Interview with Nicole Patrice Thomas<p><span style="font-family: arial;">I am so excited to share with you my interview with fellow independent author, <b><a href="http://www.nicolepatricethomas.com" target="_blank">Nicole Patrice Thomas!</a> </b>Nicole kindly took the time with me to answer some questions on her author journey. I feel incredibly fortunate to have Nicole as my first interview for The Diamond Mine of Christian Fiction!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrdkMzoGS9zz6xvG6szgAP6uHUGVSHvyv-sIO1q2LwYJbOGM2FqP7L-bNuocjJe6x3DLt4l-e1QCHDjwYB28una24W66on5705T4tzt0MDnNTKimlkNo_fUuo8mwftxFSgXmOlhkDMkiv1N9cTMV7LozObRG1hCgitJ-pAn9-fRBRItA9I72G-E-J1flr/s320/Headshot%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="276" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrdkMzoGS9zz6xvG6szgAP6uHUGVSHvyv-sIO1q2LwYJbOGM2FqP7L-bNuocjJe6x3DLt4l-e1QCHDjwYB28una24W66on5705T4tzt0MDnNTKimlkNo_fUuo8mwftxFSgXmOlhkDMkiv1N9cTMV7LozObRG1hCgitJ-pAn9-fRBRItA9I72G-E-J1flr/s1600/Headshot%20(1).jpg" width="276" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Here is a little bit about Nicole in her own words:</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">The fastest way to see the world and experience adventures without limits is to open a book. Reading has always been my favorite thing to do, it is what I would rather be doing day and night. I am a CUNY graduate holding a BA degree in Advertising and Public Relations but my love has always been the literary world. </span></i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"> In 2019 I reached a point in my life where I felt stagnant, I needed direction and a fresh start. As a Christian I take my direction from my heavenly father, so when He woke me at 3am one January morning with the desperate voice of a woman as she ran for her life and the life of her unborn child repeating in my head, I wrote it down and kept writing. That is how the first book in my fantasy trilogy started. The trilogy was completed a year later as well as a children’s book, corresponding coloring book and a spanish translation.</span></i></span></p><p><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f94747bf-7fff-7412-86a1-557712423ee1"></span></span></i></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">I am a hospitality professional by trade and a poet at heart. My goal is to spread light and love to my readers, to give them characters they can relate to. Characters who find redemption and hope despite betrayals, that they will see themselves reflected in some aspect within the pages and know that regardless of how or where they start in life, the ending can always change.</span></i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Let's learn more about Nicole!</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">I am so happy to have the opportunity to interview you, Nicole! When did you first know you wanted to be an author?</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Nicole: I really never planned to be an author. Writing had been a way for me to vent, a way to deal with big emotions as a teenager. I would write poems for family or church events, boyfriends (lol). As I grew older people started saying I should put all my poetry together. I would kind of say “uh huh ok,” smile, and walk away. It was not on my radar, but clearly it was on Gods!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">It's amazing when something isn't originally on our minds but God then presses it on our hearts! When you are putting your novels together, how do you overcome writer’s block? </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Nicole: I pray and wait, days or weeks. I found while writing my trilogy, when I tried to push ahead with the plot, I would get stuck. Or when I tried to add a plot that a reader had suggested, I would get stuck. I got into the habit of asking God what the characters were gonna get into next. When it flowed freely, I knew I was on the right path.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">That's a good habit to get into. I embarrassingly will admit that though I ask God to guide me in my stories in general, I have not asked him to help me through a plot point. I'm curious to know if you read the genre you write? </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Nicole: Yes I do and much more. I love reading Christian Fiction, fantasy, historical fiction and recently crime thrillers. Reading is my favorite thing to do, always has been. It gives me a much needed escape from reality, and if written well, can even inspire and deepen your relationship with Christ.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Yes! I enjoy a lot of the same genres as you! If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do?</span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Nicole: I would have pushed harder to take courses in college. I went with my parents' direction for what I should major in. Granted I should have focused on those classes too (lol) but writing has always been my passion. I should have found a way to do both.</span></p><div><b><span style="font-family: arial;">It's a tricky balance, but now that you are a published author, what has been your favorite part of the independent publishing journey? </span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Nicole: Finding my purpose and seeing God’s hand in it all. So much has happened that I never dreamed of. From classroom visits, to winning awards, to selling out at vendor events. It's been a humbling and exciting journey. I’m definitely looking forward to the future.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: arial;">What advice would you give to someone who wants to be a Christian Fiction writer?</span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Nicole: Be true to YOUR calling. If God has given you a story to write, write it the way HE tells you to. And even then, everyone won’t like or understand it. Develop a tough skin and rely on the fact that your Creator created you to create this work of art. Honor Him in it, give Him your best with it, and He will open the doors for you to succeed.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: arial;">I think that is advice that all of us writing Christian Fiction needs to hear. Do you have a favorite Bible verse or life verse that inspires you?</span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Nicole: Romans 5:1-5, I have it in my IG bio and part of my email signature. ”We know suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character hope. And hope does not disappoint us.” I’ve dealt with some big challenges, suffered through things I never wanted to. I'm still going through a rough patch, but this reminds me that through the fire I am being refined and will be stronger, better and WHOLE when I come out of it. And then, I’ll write a book about it!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Thanks for sharing that with us Nicole. So what’s next for you? Any current or upcoming projects you’d like to tell us about?</span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></div><div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Nicole: I have a finished Children’s devotional I hope to have illustrated in the near future. I also have a Woman's Fiction story I’ve been working on for a long time, hoping to finish that one day.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Amazing! I will link your website and amazon page to this post so that our audience can follow you and get updates on the upcoming projects. One last question I want to end all my interviews with. What do you hope Christian Readers take away from your books?</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Nicole: My Trilogy is a coming of age story that deals with identity, purpose, courage, self doubt and fear. Every character has the chance to change the trajectory of their lives. Continue for self gain and power or turn to The One for redemption. Like each of my readers, they have a choice to continue living for themselves or find the light and follow Him. I want my readers to know that no matter how their story starts, they can change the ending with one decision. Whether that decision is for good or evil, well, that's up to them.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">I want my children’s books to create a window for parents and educators to talk to the kids about how important it is to listen. So often, with the best of intentions, our kids go off to do something without understanding the consequences. The illustrations and simple language are the perfect opening for this conversation. Available in English and Spanish, there is also an activity book to reinforce the lesson in fun ways.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Thank you so much for joining me today, Nicole, and sharing about yourself and your stories! </span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: arial;">You can check out Nicole's Young Adult Christian Fantasy Trilogy and her Children's book on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Nicole-Patrice-Thomas/author/B087RTMKSQ" target="_blank">her amazon author page</a> or <a href="http://www.nicolepatricethomas.com" target="_blank">on her website</a>. </span></b></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Elhaanai-Nicole-Thomas-ebook/dp/B0874DYVJB?ref_=ast_author_dp&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.z2qu2XOLEapJgwU9JqDQ7Dg9icMeeHHxwpg8Dn9HbSdQQrH9YeU8jn1Ld6muUEPhNBwIv10txMdX0gI1FB73JNBtTHCJIE78W9OPQukRjVoUTZ5l3XYwUmlIo_ZKaE1J3NGHGmVlwlhQEb49Irc2Hg.vj1hCsUhyR_jdcAeNsGRNAaugmHCL3yS5PvRC-skYH4&dib_tag=AUTHOR" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dRKzuRyncdDU5XEtoe1un_gZ3PGPfU_FHlabtzyXZdWmCChoKYOV0fZpIxO_C9ofsgHeqCStt6ME7bx3KYc61TyPdvdL80EXoHPhoPdu-gd70T7L7-vDTtAeMzMVdk9MwSODMFcvs-JdKrqxXklo0YbEBQ4eOL9NtmA0jc0xDVDpLDPDXFcKjLKiYFB6/s320/Tales%20of%20Elhaanai%20Cover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08PQN9PVJ?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_1&storeType=ebooks" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5SRh4ebXyaEvUFjZlpJQ-anplSPtiea2Ni6kv8N-xDNMcO0pl67OIP9pNSzK6gCswEoV8E23hU6rIYOAiqZS6Q6bqlhcDGSy0dkBXsPEGjUAWqc1Q1Gi6y72VThO8Pwv6eBJWef52KIuwePrlZy6GPW5A_3IEPFnDj7OiU2IT1Jqk_PRbcpW-K5sdhyQ/s320/The%20Prophecy%20cover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08QR2NB18?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_2&storeType=ebooks" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-fPDCr1UaCjicwfeK2XWIC4GOe-V2LCy8PAyThGcIKARTAmlLYw-jTjxjrZk7wQlaveXIdybMDF9Det-_j1twZMZw_XlbB4PQlpd2l-ne9dzgqPOO0e22PMbxIuulMfUHW0nkWEHN9SCQVeQbXWVh6FNXL2ZK9XQVmjjWwg65QkyQWoY-z6GdZ0RI7Qx/s320/WoWFINAL.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Elhaanai-Nicole-Patrice-Thomas/dp/1734919280/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=mu314&content-id=amzn1.sym.cf86ec3a-68a6-43e9-8115-04171136930a&pf_rd_p=cf86ec3a-68a6-43e9-8115-04171136930a&pf_rd_r=145-1084864-0632032&pd_rd_wg=LpRES&pd_rd_r=361f620e-72a4-48e1-a550-d962640c17d6&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2344" data-original-width="1563" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXW_JppDqp2Ji9KRBEQYu0ZXAzgG5P5cG1HVT15TYsiqOaexCNmZeYThypenLsLSm7VWnM3f9rIm58YVMoXReBM7o8ztLCILqn7jpjnrXVqxjl8jVqDgiduYtn1BbE8P0hNHFNWrVX2OL2VG8JtjgJWck13Ur4rlL4C8775_yUbtkdPk1261mEfTwhp4o/s320/TOE%20Trilogy%20ebook.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09J31KC5C?binding=paperback&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="151" data-original-width="320" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZmxRscf61hG0k0YbxH0gnNk_SuvgXZqvTetBsZe8YyR5qx_n_HQLuLVgIx4itkt5v_441LiH4e4f6M6jB-aQv66gBzRjtZfUiBtb-UxpI8O3kT6bAJYAWD2p6dgRQ0crhQ528wCKGE08ia0SQIgaMpEfERdxDXEetMExz37W28ELQa3BuU98DHdAnMd0/s1600/The%20Flower%20Girl%20Set.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div></div>Lisa M. Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17931001704335696064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8712832451394708482.post-91370614618190007452024-01-23T23:00:00.007-07:002024-01-23T23:00:00.357-07:00A Visit with Bestselling Author Laura Frantz<p></p><p></p><h3 class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><br /></h3><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 40px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBWTl6ImEGaLjHtKog2ErkBGMsulj8mFhIA2vlNNn6DV3xDLom3y0RofnX-fTLMbLG37_SKEhI2ADwijKYfDCmyYNVmEd9iAu3ADza_3zkY-ammr0rAI6_6oTQ0zx4FfibG3-e1ebbn6S-YIlf7NyBw2q8Ww-jRRUjG9EtlK2zB6Wg0OkXmnBYcNaejwz/s1000/Brandon%20Hill%20Laura%20Best.resize.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBWTl6ImEGaLjHtKog2ErkBGMsulj8mFhIA2vlNNn6DV3xDLom3y0RofnX-fTLMbLG37_SKEhI2ADwijKYfDCmyYNVmEd9iAu3ADza_3zkY-ammr0rAI6_6oTQ0zx4FfibG3-e1ebbn6S-YIlf7NyBw2q8Ww-jRRUjG9EtlK2zB6Wg0OkXmnBYcNaejwz/s320/Brandon%20Hill%20Laura%20Best.resize.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">I am delighted to be a part of the Diamond Mine
community, and for my debut post I’m so happy to bring a visit with my friend and
best-selling, award-winning author, Laura Frantz!</span>
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Laura has been writing stories since age seven. She is
passionate about all things historical, particularly the 18th-century and her
novels often incorporate Scottish themes that reflect her family heritage. She
is a direct descendant of George Hume, Wedderburn Castle, Berwickshire,
Scotland, who was exiled to the American colonies for his role in the Jacobite
Rebellion of 1715, settled in Virginia, and is credited with teaching George
Washington surveying in the years 1748-1750. Proud of her heritage, she is also
a Daughter of the American Revolution. Though she will always consider Kentucky
home, she and her husband live in Washington State.</span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Regina: Laura! Welcome, my Kentucky sister! I know our
readers are looking forward to getting to know you better!</span></span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">We both write for the Christian market. Do you look on
writing as a “calling?”</span></span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Laura</b>: <span> </span>I
definitely consider the gift of writing a calling. I knew from the age of 7
that writing held something for me that nothing else did. A sort of heavenly
magic that transported me out of the ordinary while doing it. As I grew up I
realized anyone given a gift needs to steward that gift well and wisely, always
crediting the source. I’m really grateful to have the gift of words. It’s not
something I can take any credit for except to say I’m willing to do the work (which
is not really work since I love writing so much). Publishing is work, however<span face=""Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol-ext; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">😉</span></span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Regina: It is! You have such a calming presence,
however, that you make it look deceptively easy! God has definitely given you a
gift.</span></span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Now for some “favorites”:</span></span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">What is your favorite Bible verse, and why? How about
chapter? </span></span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Laura</b>: When I was a child and my father had left our
family and we were dealing with that loss, my mom and I memorized Psalm 139 and
would say it together. I sign books with that Scripture reference today.
Looking back, I see why she chose it. Such a comforting Psalm that covers our
entire lives from the moment of conception – God never leaves us or fails!</span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Regina: So, so true—He is our firm foundation! That’s
an incredible story, Laura. Thank you for sharing this.</span></span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">On a lighter note, what is your favorite movie and
why? </span></span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Laura</b>: North and South, the BBC drama starring Richard
Armitage. Such a moving, well-done production! He’s such a hero in that film. </span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Regina: I can’t believe I haven’t seen that one!
(adding it to my list!)</span></span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Which do you prefer, salad or sandwich? </span></span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Laura</b>: Salad with Green Goddess Dressing, every time!
I have a great recipe for the dressing though I rarely make it so it’s a treat.
</span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Regina: That sounds good – I’m a sandwich person, but
I can get behind the idea of Green Goddess Dressing!</span></span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Switching gears, I have a few questions for Laura’s
character from her new release, <i>The Seamstress of Acadie</i>!</span></span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">What is one thing about you that makes you an
interesting character?</span></span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Sylvie</i></b>: I’m Sylvie Galant, a French-Acadien seamstress
who has a secret fascination for a forbidden Army Ranger.</span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Regina: So nice to meet you, Miss Galant! An Army
Ranger, you say?<span> </span>Sounds intriguing! I’ve
read a little about the gentleman in question …</span></span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">If you were going to travel (I know it can be quite
difficult in the year 1715!), what is your favorite vacation spot in the U.S.? </span></span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Sylvie</i></b>: I do not care for the American colonies one
whit. I am an enemy and outsider there, sadly. </span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Regina: Understandable. On a more personal note, what
makes you giggle or laugh out loud? </span></span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Sylvie</i></b>: My little sister, Marie-Madeleine. She is
never serious and always acts as though she is in a stage play. </span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Regina: Little sisters are the best! Mine would be shy
in front of others, but at home? Always entertaining!</span></span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">What is your favorite? Pie or cake? </span></span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Sylvie</i></b>: Gateau! </span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Regina: I’m fond of cake, myself!</span></span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Now, let’s dish some dirt … What would you like to
tell us about your author?</span></span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Sylvie</i></b>: <span> </span>She is
good at making things up but tells me this novel is the hardest she’s ever
written, possibly because she almost failed college French! And she even had a
French tutor! </span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Regina: Ah! How funny! I have two daughters, both of
whom took French in college – they passed, but I’m not sure I would travel to
France with them! </span></span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Thank you, Laura and Sylvie! I received my copy of The
Seamstress of Acadie on the day it was released, and I will admit to having a
hard time getting my work done, wondering what will happen next!</span></span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 40px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTupIbDTI2PkN-AgLOciiOKC43qDDXDHBxykZak-aBsr6OHNYdHsj3eV6rN_wivLIeeo1b1ZnDt8R5rV0z18U_mmmVDu-RQ_mE8vckyhCABh-9EgTK5dyPvtokwBVgm6W8_yFqriurTvWf8emqteCNrzpqkXXhE0f6_moXpRabPVfE4kYbNqvv68yJMNH/s927/Seamstress%20of%20Acadia_v2b.resize.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="927" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTupIbDTI2PkN-AgLOciiOKC43qDDXDHBxykZak-aBsr6OHNYdHsj3eV6rN_wivLIeeo1b1ZnDt8R5rV0z18U_mmmVDu-RQ_mE8vckyhCABh-9EgTK5dyPvtokwBVgm6W8_yFqriurTvWf8emqteCNrzpqkXXhE0f6_moXpRabPVfE4kYbNqvv68yJMNH/w259-h400/Seamstress%20of%20Acadia_v2b.resize.jpg" width="259" /></a></span></div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I hope you’ve enjoyed this, and will comment below! Thanks to the generosity of the Baker Book House and Revell publishing, one commenting reader will receive a print copy of <i>The Seamstress of Acadie</i>!</span>
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Until next time, enjoy a good book – or ten! <span face=""Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol-ext; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">😊</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 0.25in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 0.25in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Connect with Laura here:<br /></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 0.25in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.laurafrantz.net" target="_blank">www.laurafrantz.net</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 0.25in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/LauraFrantzAuthor/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/LauraFrantzAuthor/</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 0.25in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/laurafrantzauthor/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/laurafrantzauthor/</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 0.25in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 0.25in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Purchase The Seamstress of Acadia at these fine booksellers:<br /></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 0.25in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Seamstress-Acadie-Historical-Romance-Beginnings/dp/0800740688/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/Seamstress-Acadie-Historical-Romance-Beginnings/dp/0800740688/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 0.25in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/542752" target="_blank">https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/542752</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 0.25in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-seamstress-of-acadie-laura-frantz/1143717380" target="_blank">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-seamstress-of-acadie-laura-frantz/1143717380</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 0.25in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
Regina Rudd Merrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16433800008463882274noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8712832451394708482.post-74627582120917112862024-01-17T01:48:00.001-07:002024-01-17T01:48:00.141-07:00#INTERVIEW with Julie Arduini and #giveaway<p><span style="color: red;"><i><b>Julie is very graciously giving away a copy of her new book to one winner. There must be five entries or more to generate a giveaway.</b></i></span></p><p><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Interview and Giveaway with Julie Arduini</span></p><p><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Julie Arduini recently released the second book in her small-town romance</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">series featuring Christian surrender themes, Surrendering Hearts. Let’s find</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">out more about her and the series.</span></p><p><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: red;">First things first. How do you pronounce your last name?</span></p><p><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: red;">The joke is I couldn’t make life easy and marry a Smith. It’s Are-due-we-knee.</span></p><p><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: red;">That’s not so bad. How did you get your start writing romance?</span></p><p><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: red;">I believe it’s the call on my life. I was always scribbling, always reading as a child. In my teen years I</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">re-wrote favorite movies and TV shows with my spin. By high school most of my bus friends were</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">captivated by my daily chapters I’d pass around that was basically a silly soap opera based on The</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Outsiders. Silly stuff!</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Once I became a Christian, I struggled thinking a “real” Christian author wrote non fiction.</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Afterall, that’s what I was told. The pull to write romance wouldn’t leave me. I realized God is the</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">author of romance and He wanted to use me to bring readers closer to Him. Once I embraced that, I</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">took the Jerry Jenkins course, wrote for FaithWriters, and then took the plunge into my own</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">manuscript.</span></p><p><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: red;">How did you land on writing a series about sextuplets?</span></p><p><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Around the timeframe I had my first child, the MCcaughey septuplets were born. I was fascinated by</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">their story. I remember former NBC anchor Ann Curry interviewing them each year. In fact, I</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">modeled “Aunt” Julia Turmeric and her annual interviews with the Hart sextuplets after Ann. The</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">series really took root when my sister asked if I would write about a unique family situation. She had</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">donor families in mind. I didn’t feel ready to tackle that, but many ideas came to mind thinking</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">about sextuplets.</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Once I started praying it through, I was watching This is Us. I admired how they showrunner and</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">writing team kept all the characters, their years, and their everything so organized. Few outside the</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">writing world would understand what an undertaking that was. It was then I realized I had to write</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Surrendering Hearts. Not only was it a God thing, it was a challenge. Could I write about a large</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">family and make them dynamic and memorable in an accurate and organized way?</span></p><p><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: red;">What is the series about?</span></p><p><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Surrendering Hearts is about the Hart sextuplets and how they discover their own identity and try to</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">find a love like their parents shared.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9BkIlRzA_ATjxfDe1yulffQFs6t-gLNRImTp_rtAvUm7QeYE1RuKzqPLCYtVYG1Ax7HryKRBzAiJOWz_HnPryDb4xC9eyxnzzL0EiIjalaZvCOFEZzYPOyBtEmlMFfSzhvV0Y5pYCnNXY1cDi7ahAE81JwHuyU7ucUUvFkiEnJwhjc7cKTMK1gRHNaq0/s1350/RepairingHeartsCoverFINAL%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9BkIlRzA_ATjxfDe1yulffQFs6t-gLNRImTp_rtAvUm7QeYE1RuKzqPLCYtVYG1Ax7HryKRBzAiJOWz_HnPryDb4xC9eyxnzzL0EiIjalaZvCOFEZzYPOyBtEmlMFfSzhvV0Y5pYCnNXY1cDi7ahAE81JwHuyU7ucUUvFkiEnJwhjc7cKTMK1gRHNaq0/s320/RepairingHeartsCoverFINAL%20.jpg" width="213" /></a></span></div><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmAa1kA8OZvgkjeKHDTx-3HuPGmvrWrhQneS2kIdaQcWgfBhbkiUFQNiGowzbpHUQnQkomBh10R-sd88mgpY27kzxLfU9dZ3Q4bG7-fytGWR4qfstmZMgCV1luIyPPERDitERUMsKn5scaNpOod7t7vQx_ju48EkQttRTBPJHd0r4-CFR53IyZpGBgo9s/s800/December2023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmAa1kA8OZvgkjeKHDTx-3HuPGmvrWrhQneS2kIdaQcWgfBhbkiUFQNiGowzbpHUQnQkomBh10R-sd88mgpY27kzxLfU9dZ3Q4bG7-fytGWR4qfstmZMgCV1luIyPPERDitERUMsKn5scaNpOod7t7vQx_ju48EkQttRTBPJHd0r4-CFR53IyZpGBgo9s/s320/December2023.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: red;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Julie Arduini invites you to surrender with her the
good, the bad, and ---maybe one day---the chocolate. She’s the author of the
new small-town romance series with Christian surrender themes SURRENDERING
HEARTS (<i>Anchored Hearts</i>, <i>Repairing Hearts</i>, +four more). Her other
romance series is SURRENDERING TIME (<i>Entrusted, Entangled, Engaged</i>). She
also co-wrote a YA/Women’s Fiction series with her daughter, SURRENDERING
STINKIN’ THINKIN’ (<i>You’re Beautiful, You’re Amazing, You’re Brilliant</i>). Her
stand-alone romances include MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN and RESTORING CHRISTMAS.
Julie maintains a blog at juliearduini.com and participates in the team blog
Christians Read. She resides in Ohio with her husband and daughter. Learn more
by visiting her at </span><a href="http://linktr.ee/JulieArduini."><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">http://linktr.ee/JulieArduini.</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: red;">That does sound interesting. Who are the Hart sextuplets?</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Each sibling will have their own book, and of course they all intermingle within the other books.</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Jordyn is the oldest and featured in Anchored Hearts. Her surrender issue is letting go of control and</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">anxiety.</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Ryan is next. He’s the star of Repairing Hearts, my new release. Ryan is the brooding loner who</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">doesn’t love being part of a large, known family. He needs to surrender anger and pride.</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Evan is the hero of Building Hearts, releasing this year. Evan refuses to be forgotten as a middle</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">child because he’s always coming up with plans to keep the family in the spotlight.</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">James and Kelly took their time figuring out their career paths, so they are about to graduate college</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">and start in their respective fields.</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">That leaves Paige. Paige had a huge secondary storyline in Amchored Hearts that really moved</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">readers.</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">One event ties the siblings together and how they reacted to it. Each book has the same prologue so</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">readers understand and keep track, whether they read the series or a stand alone.</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Let’s learn more about Repairing Hearts.</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">What happens when a reality show creates a blight on sextuplet Ryan Hart’s life harsher than his</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">dump of a home?</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Ryan, the independent, brooding second oldest of the Hart sextuplets, can’t enjoy the solitude he craves</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">when he agrees to star on a reality show. The plan is to discover a project manager to renovate his hole</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">of a property. The show reveals that it&#39;s more about Ryan’s dating life. Can he keep his guard up</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">when everything around him is falling apart faster than the shingles on his roof?</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">BJ Wallace loves her quiet life in Wisconsin that she’s created far from her traumatic childhood.</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Everything changes when she learns she&#39;s competing on Repairing Ryan&#39;s Heart. As the show focuses</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">more on Ryan than the house, BJ falls for him. Will she win the show and destroy Ryan with her</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">secret, or sacrifice her heart to protect Ryan?</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">A small-town, reality show romance with family drama and a Christian thread of surrendering pride</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">and anger.</span></p><p><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: red;">A romance featuring a reality show? That had to be fun to write. Share where</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">we can find Repairing Hearts, and follow you on social media.</span></p><p><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: red;">It was fun to write. Anchored Hearts and Repairing Hearts are on Amazon and are free for Kindle</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Unlimited. I also put purchase links on my Link Tree, which is also the place to follow me across</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">social media and book sites. https://linktr.ee/JulieArduini</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Repairing Hearts Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Repairing-Hearts-Christian-Surrender-</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Surrendering-ebook/dp/B0CLCTD289</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Repairing Hearts Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Repairing-Hearts-Surrendering-Julie-</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Arduini/dp/1733687653</span></p><p><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Thank you so much for letting us get to know you and the Hart sextuplets</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">better.</span></p><p><span style="color: red;">Thank you for having me! I’d like to give one Kindle copy of Repairing Hearts away. I’d love for your</span></p><p><span style="color: red;"></span></p><p><span style="color: red;">readers to leave a comment, and I’ll choose one from Wheel of Names. Must be US resident.</span></p><p><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></p>lollipopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13795604276462398576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8712832451394708482.post-51414304857345154892024-01-09T23:00:00.000-07:002024-01-09T23:00:00.134-07:00Visiting with Peggy Trotter<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlzkB37dNfA_n8KRLqq3SsS2rUoIVlhovvstP3KYaXk9EPcr-YIyUo0cpph9pufz4l5QFS8suKFd3lvOB4P3IN-YIHmDf8dc4oNfnT3y9Daq_Yb6r5X7ZPCuPbLFuncNDKlhEzcLpwLE5IaV0yuZxBHMLn7aoSwyUt9erNghSCyPVPVef34EkBBcNyF_K/s2620/Peggy%20Trotter%20Head%20Shot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2620" data-original-width="1814" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlzkB37dNfA_n8KRLqq3SsS2rUoIVlhovvstP3KYaXk9EPcr-YIyUo0cpph9pufz4l5QFS8suKFd3lvOB4P3IN-YIHmDf8dc4oNfnT3y9Daq_Yb6r5X7ZPCuPbLFuncNDKlhEzcLpwLE5IaV0yuZxBHMLn7aoSwyUt9erNghSCyPVPVef34EkBBcNyF_K/s320/Peggy%20Trotter%20Head%20Shot.jpg" width="222" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Visiting with Peggy Trotter<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By G.N. Lewis<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I had the pleasure of chatting with
Peggy Trotter, author of nine novels, plus one to be published soon, and she is
currently writing another.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Peggy married her college sweetheart
almost forty years ago. She considers her husband a jewel and says, “He cooks
better than me, cleans the house, and fixes various items. This man does everything
with the patience of Job, and the poor guy needs tolerance to put up with me.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Trotter’s have two married children and four
grandchildren. Peggy says, “I call these four grandchildren my rays of sunshine,
and number five will soon be here.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Peggy loves cats and she feeds five
and a half. Five are hers, but a stray tom stops by every day for food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She says, “My better half says, ‘No more
cats!’”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peggy laughs and admits she can’t
help feeding a little starving kitten if one shows up at her house.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A perfect day for her would be sitting
on the back porch of a beach house with her entire family gathered around, eating
cheesecake, and drinking Code Red. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now for the interview.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Q. What other jobs have you held or
do you hold besides writing?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I taught for 25 years, mostly at
second grade. I have also worked in a library and at a non-profit that benefits
kids in foster care.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Q. When did you know you wanted to
write?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In first or second grade we had a
writing contest. It was so basic, just a quick story and you had to fold the
paper and make a cover on the front. The winners were hung on the window of the
local attorney’s office. I think I came in third, but I’ll never forget
standing there in front of that window, holding my Mom’s hand, and seeing my
“creation” published for the world to see. That was the very first seed planted
in my writing obsession.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Q. You write Christian Romance. What
was the inspiration for your genre?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I read romances in junior high and
high school and became fascinated. But the stories became less wholesome and
after becoming a Christian, I just didn’t want to read that type of novel. Then,
one day at the library, I discovered Christian Fiction! Since I’d always
dreamed of becoming a writer, it wasn’t long before I knew the genre I wanted
to write. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Q. How hard was it to find a
publisher?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Well, I found my first one through
word of mouth.<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> I heard this small
publisher was accepting manuscripts so I sent in a proposal. But now, I
self-publish, which I love.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Q. What’s new with your writing?
Anything in progress?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I just released the second book of
the Up From the Miry Clay Series entitled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wild
Daisies Bloom. </i>This series follows women who left their bawdy occupations
of being “soiled doves,” embraced a new life through Christ, and embarked on
finding their happily-ever-afters. Now, I’ll be finishing up their third one in
the series, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Flawed Roses Flourish</i>,
set to release later this year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Q. Authors
need reviews. Do your readers respond with reviews for you? If so, what was the
best one you have ever had?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Getting reviews is
very difficult. As a matter of fact, there’s very little you can do to build
them up other than reminding readers how important they are to us as authors.
But I especially loved one review by a reader who claimed she didn’t get her
laundry done because she couldn’t put my book down, LOL. I’ve been there—so
enraptured by a book that everything stops until you finish it! Those are the books
you never forget.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Q. What is the most difficult thing about writing?</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Hands down, marketing. I love the writing, love the work-at-home
thing, and tolerate editing, but marketing is this unknown nebula of trying to
get your book discovered by interested readers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Q. Do any of your books contain events from your real
life?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Yes, some of my books contain actual occurrences from
my family life and even my husband’s family life. One book has a character, as
a child, being forced to lick a shoe. It really happened, but I won’t tell you
what family it came from, LOL. One Christmas scene was almost true to a T. A
couple of characters are loosely based on some friends and family members.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Q. Tell me about your latest book.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq1w7C5FewjTrAEyk0_lQCNRYgAZw4t4WGcXcYOz0tbu8MG2BPC1o_W6I-951BiyhccBXMBqGMpxzVdgRHO35NPpvPyBuFO9PedhjM1uSXmI2P21N83ZYxcXBHtzTte6C2YD-Yg-yGpgrkIFHKW7BAM-JVfZ09vNXfwNI4Gtfj8TzISyB1Bs86xu4Y6Czo/s5248/WDB%20Final%20Ebook%20Cover%20Final~Daisy%20Younger%20Fullsize.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5248" data-original-width="3202" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq1w7C5FewjTrAEyk0_lQCNRYgAZw4t4WGcXcYOz0tbu8MG2BPC1o_W6I-951BiyhccBXMBqGMpxzVdgRHO35NPpvPyBuFO9PedhjM1uSXmI2P21N83ZYxcXBHtzTte6C2YD-Yg-yGpgrkIFHKW7BAM-JVfZ09vNXfwNI4Gtfj8TzISyB1Bs86xu4Y6Czo/w244-h400/WDB%20Final%20Ebook%20Cover%20Final~Daisy%20Younger%20Fullsize.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 115%;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3NVkyIN"><span style="font-size: x-large;">On Amazon</span></a><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Wild
Daisies Bloom</span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> focuses on Tyne Ciders and her illegitimate
child, Daisy who is quite a handful but more a blessing in so many ways. Tyne,
(long I sound like in Clementyne, which is her full name) breaks free from the
saloon where she works and pretends to be a mail-order bride, hoping to hide
from her sordid and criminal past. In the long run, they become homeless, and she
must marry to provide a roof over their head. Just as she’s trying to figure
out her new husband, she’s arrested for murder. Here’s the blurb to tell you
more:</span></p></span></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Tyne Ciders is a widowed, single mother. At least that’s her story
when she arrives in town as a mail-order bride. But when she learns the
arrangement was only a part of a newspaper scam, Tyne is stuck once again
without a cover for her sordid past. With no marriage in her future, no job,
and no money, she and her small daughter are forced to hole up in a nearby
barn—the very barn of the man who’d witnessed her appalling encounter with the
frightening old coot she’d thought to marry.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Agony is Zephaniah Rowley closest friend. He’s lost everything that
mattered to him. His wife, his children. Now, living as a hermit, every day is
a horrible cesspool of penance for his own selfishness and guilt. So when he
encounters a needy woman and her charming child on the dusty road, he makes a
quick bee-line to drop them off at the nearest boarding house. He can’t afford
to let his heart get involved. Or what’s left of it. Yet, he finds them living
penniless in his barn, and he rashly offers a permanent solution. One that will
change everything. For better or…for worse…<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Visit Peggy at these links:</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><a href="http://www.peggytrotter.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">peggytrotter.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><a href="https://peggytrotter.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">peggytrotter.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><a href="http://diamondsinfiction.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">diamondsinfiction.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Twitter:
</span><a href="https://twitter.com/Peggy_Trotter"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">https://twitter.com/Peggy_Trotter</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Facebook:
</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/PeggyTrotterAuthor"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">https://www.facebook.com/PeggyTrotterAuthor</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Goodreads: </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13778873.Peggy_Trotter"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13778873.Peggy_Trotter</span></a><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Amazon Author’s Profile Page: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Peggy-Trotter/e/B00V15P2LU"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">amazon.com/author/peggytrotter.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Instagram: </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/peggy_trotter_author/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://www.instagram.com/peggy_trotter_author/</span></a><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: hyperlink;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pinterest: </span><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/PeggyTrotterAuthor/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">https://www.pinterest.com/PeggyTrotterAuthor/</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">LinkedIn: </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/peggy-trotter-44a29b95/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">https://www.linkedin.com/in/peggy-trotter-44a29b95/</span></a><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Goodreads: <span style="color: blue;">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13778873.Peggy_Trotter<u><o:p></o:p></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">
</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">BookBub<span style="color: blue;">: </span></span><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/peggy-trotter"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/peggy-trotter</span></a><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">Thanks, Peggy for visiting with me. Your book, <i>Wild Daisies Bloom</i> sounds fascinating, and I look forward to reading it. I'll leave a review!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 10.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">Leave a comment and email for Peggy's book giveaway of <i>Wild Daisies Bloom</i> or leave your information on our contact form.</span></span></p>Gay N Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12738509765741278866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8712832451394708482.post-26902148431419922992024-01-02T23:00:00.001-07:002024-01-04T08:07:41.647-07:00Welcome to New Members 2024!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjac0dyD3rE8qOT5VLMHnJ1JMHZmUWCfM2hrU9cHCfVIH3vacBxWfBsHrFaA_VS8t0D-F4AZ_x5on3LcfV0uipEbzkpw_FPfsKUKZxY0vfNYFSNpxlmvcaazQB73ExX04RAt38vB7NRJTStlQuQu8cPgjAMS00chA3AheVLJ7lBQfg-o45dCbAWV2AwGjxW/s935/Happy%202024%20smaller.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="935" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjac0dyD3rE8qOT5VLMHnJ1JMHZmUWCfM2hrU9cHCfVIH3vacBxWfBsHrFaA_VS8t0D-F4AZ_x5on3LcfV0uipEbzkpw_FPfsKUKZxY0vfNYFSNpxlmvcaazQB73ExX04RAt38vB7NRJTStlQuQu8cPgjAMS00chA3AheVLJ7lBQfg-o45dCbAWV2AwGjxW/w491-h146/Happy%202024%20smaller.png" width="491" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Welcome friends and readers!<br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">And welcome 2024!</span></span></h1><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">A new year is always a time of changes here at the
Diamond Mine and this year is no exception. </span></h3><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We sadly say goodbye to Janet Morris
Grimes, Carlene Havel, and Lianne Bruynell Lopes, and Penny Frost McGinnis. And
while they are leaving The Diamond Mine of Christian Fiction, each author will
still be penning amazing stories to feed our imaginations.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And speaking of Christian authors firing up their writing
forges, I just want to take a moment to encourage all of our readers not to forget
to show appreciation for the stories we love in this new year. In other words:</div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666;">SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL
AND NOT-SO-LOCAL CHRISTIAN AUTHORS!</span></h3><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This may seem impossible to you as a reader. But it’s so
simple! Here are some practical ways that you actually HELP Christian authors. You might call it the 12 Ways of Supporting Christian Authors, (catchy, right?!?) although I'm not promising it will match the Christmas tune.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">1. Buy the book(s).</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">2. Use word of mouth to support an author’s
book.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">3. Follow authors on Social Media.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">4. Leave messages on how you enjoyed a book.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">5. Follow and interact on an author’s blog.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">6. Attend local (and maybe not-so-local)
book signings.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">7. Send an email telling an author how much
you loved an author’s book.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">8. Join an author’s newsletter. (Please!)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">9. Attend a readers’ retreat and
participate. (And boy, are there lots of freebies there!)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">10. Buy more books. (!) Buy books as gifts.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">11. Join an author’s Street Team. (You can help
promote, read early editions, etc.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">12. LEAVE A REVIEW. on Amazon/Barnes and
Noble/Goodreads, etc. (I cannot express how much this helps/encourages a
writer.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">See? It’s easy! I challenge all readers (and we here on The
Diamond Mine are readers, too!) to show your appreciation to those Christian
Authors who write those books we love sooo much!<o:p></o:p></p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666;">WE LOVE CHRISTIAN
FICTION!</span></h3><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ah, I feel better now. Onward to the purpose of this post.
To welcome in some NEW Christian Authors! This year, Lisa M. James, Gay N.
Lewis (also known as G.N. Lewis), Regina Rudd Merrick, and Carrie Walker have
put on their miner’s hats to become members here on The Diamond Mine of
Christian Fiction. All together we shout:<o:p></o:p></p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666;">WELCOME
ABOARD!</span></h3><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: left;">And now, let’s get to know a little about these authors.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lisa M. James</span></h3><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbQuwQqiflOPcqf3vLsP6SpBliL0_jdiM0CoT9B7ZsT58z3DQrHqSNQGOqblsgDrEB8igJiCoraNRQE5x7sjyIMkHEh0MlRWR3076zMG_cjZjsgRd4EqhjJIvQSrv9Q-WaRI-KrH26UGb8g6q41rs0uqAR7OV5J8Qb75IXpbeaPfWIdldD81BqkyizLan/s300/2.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbQuwQqiflOPcqf3vLsP6SpBliL0_jdiM0CoT9B7ZsT58z3DQrHqSNQGOqblsgDrEB8igJiCoraNRQE5x7sjyIMkHEh0MlRWR3076zMG_cjZjsgRd4EqhjJIvQSrv9Q-WaRI-KrH26UGb8g6q41rs0uqAR7OV5J8Qb75IXpbeaPfWIdldD81BqkyizLan/w268-h400/2.webp" width="268" /></a></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: center;">Lisa M. James is an independent author, marketer, and former
Sunday School teacher. She loves writing fantasy novels featuring women of
color for both young adult and adult audiences. </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Her novels have hit the Amazon Best Sellers list for
numerous Fantasy categories, including: Sword and Sorcery Fantasy, Christian
Fantasy, and Religious Science Fiction and Fantasy. Her fictional writing is
inspired by Historical Fiction, Fantasy genres, and Christian novels.</span></div></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: arial; text-align: center;">When not
writing, Lisa loves talking about her faith, Disney movies, and football while
drinking chai lattes. To keep up with her latest releases, subscribe to </span><a href="http://www.lisamjames.com" style="font-family: arial; text-align: center;">www.lisamjames.com</a><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: center;">.</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gay N. Lewis</span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvc2EcHT1S9OMbcEbVc60K2XMR8dyYmqHtLfaaJqxWrwmnSet-RKKdetgtnq3jmtTfZgnLOUv8NLKJWlD1RTO5UFrb1bHL9r6TDyd2Z_En_Qr_SMxI34OheoLrjwSucTLondE9KKfSu9TAPG9EgoX_689QLSXao_sscJtwBie7DibPmbDyg9lOb6wZ7Pw7/s991/Gay%20purple%20head%20shot.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="915" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvc2EcHT1S9OMbcEbVc60K2XMR8dyYmqHtLfaaJqxWrwmnSet-RKKdetgtnq3jmtTfZgnLOUv8NLKJWlD1RTO5UFrb1bHL9r6TDyd2Z_En_Qr_SMxI34OheoLrjwSucTLondE9KKfSu9TAPG9EgoX_689QLSXao_sscJtwBie7DibPmbDyg9lOb6wZ7Pw7/w269-h293/Gay%20purple%20head%20shot.jpg" width="269" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a name="_Hlk74720393"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span> </span> </span></a></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><a name="_Hlk74720393"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Gay N. Lewis, a Texan,
and a best-selling author. She writes as Gay N. Lewis and G. N. Lewis. Most of
her books are about a dyslexic angel who produces chaos as she helps humans.
They are laugh-out-loud funny. Gay has also written two, serious historical
novels. Visit her blog at </span></a><a href="http://gaynlewis.blogspot.com/"><span style="line-height: 107%;">http://gaynlewis.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="line-height: 107%;">.</span></span></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> Gay’s daughter suffers from
early-onset dementia, and she writes a blog about their journey: </span><a href="https://dementiadaybyday.blogspot.com/"><span style="line-height: 107%;">https://dementiadaybyday.blogspot.com/</span></a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> You’ll find </span></span><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 107%;">Gay N. Lewis novels on
Amazon @</span><a href="http://amzn.to/2hwc6nB" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">http://amzn.to/2hwc6nB</span></a><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 107%;"> and other on other online booksellers</span>.<span class="MsoHyperlink" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="font-family: arial;"><span color="windowtext" style="line-height: 107%;">A link
to G.N. Lewis is:</span></span><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3G3ZdZm">https://amzn.to/3G3ZdZm</a>.</span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Regina Rudd Merrick</span></h3><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbqo9rDGpziDhPkX1qKwimYd1NuO_lSJJpL3XRyoyLTr9HQKz9SzrXVoSAmaNOd_oqYXpgu9nKJYsekP4MBm4MBfA5VcwOpUvbGWW4k8mDvaY0heQYaSNZ59PHA4PnMCBjkeY7rlZS7YQTPYJbAJkPGNu3819akFDIxdq_1VPJyB4d-GyKfswPkPkf-JQ/s300/1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="214" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbqo9rDGpziDhPkX1qKwimYd1NuO_lSJJpL3XRyoyLTr9HQKz9SzrXVoSAmaNOd_oqYXpgu9nKJYsekP4MBm4MBfA5VcwOpUvbGWW4k8mDvaY0heQYaSNZ59PHA4PnMCBjkeY7rlZS7YQTPYJbAJkPGNu3819akFDIxdq_1VPJyB4d-GyKfswPkPkf-JQ/w279-h392/1.jpg" width="279" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="text-align: left;">Regina Rudd Merrick
started her journey as a life-long lover of reading in first grade, and
eventually parlayed that love of literature into a degree in library science,
with stints as both elementary and middle school librarians, and later as a
public library director.</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;">After finding the
enjoyable world of reading and writing "fan-fiction"--original
stories based on characters from familiar stories, television shows, and
movies--she realized that for some reason God had given her the ability to
weave a story, whether it be in this online community or with original
characters. Her first novel, <b><i>Carolina Dream</i></b>, book one of the
Southern Breeze Series, was the winner of a publishing contest with Mantle Rock
Publishing, LLC (now Scrivenings Press), and her writing career was born. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Now the author of seven
novels and a contributor to four novella collections, Regina writes about
people like all of us who sometimes struggle with their faith and trusting God.
Her latest novella contribution is included in the collection, <b><i>Love in
Any Season</i></b>, and her latest novels are <b><i>Window of Peace</i></b>,
book two2 of a multi-author series entitled Stained Glass Legacy, releasing in
April 2023, and <b><i>Twelve Days of Mandy Reno</i></b>, a short Christmas
novel and book two of the RenoVations, Inc. series. In addition to writing,
Regina has recently added the title of “editor” to her resume.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;">In 2024, she’ll have
three offerings: <b><i>Carolina Connections</i></b> (January 2024), <b><i>Rebuilding
Joy</i></b> (February 2024), and <b><i>Christmas, ReWired</i></b> (November
2024)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Regina loves chocolate,
the beach, playing keyboard and vocals in her church's praise band, historical
homes, watching other people renovate on HGTV, and Hallmark movies. She and her
husband of forty years are empty nesters in rural western Kentucky and are the
proud parents of two grown-up daughters and a son-in-law, along with the
family's sixteen-year-old Schauzer-mix, Cedric.</span>@<a href="http://reginaruddmerrick.com" target="_blank">reginaruddmerrick.com</a>.</div></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><br /></h3><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Carrie Walker</span></h3><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6zmJSoV4SLMzGgzVNTYNlQ9yneGo1R8wypyVr1oxGRP401xdn48vzwe5zE1dsn_Wnxh4pAKJ7X3FIyfkIwhPElHa-2q2_w4eBnAvAV3_6DpkikJ61LWL1keONUgZc4Kag8dtDnJY36dX_pbNz-mh2LRCL9nuvMMqzusJRUkLjqQiF_AReecpruUX7DOV/s1505/Carrie%20Walker%20cropped.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1505" data-original-width="964" height="433" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6zmJSoV4SLMzGgzVNTYNlQ9yneGo1R8wypyVr1oxGRP401xdn48vzwe5zE1dsn_Wnxh4pAKJ7X3FIyfkIwhPElHa-2q2_w4eBnAvAV3_6DpkikJ61LWL1keONUgZc4Kag8dtDnJY36dX_pbNz-mh2LRCL9nuvMMqzusJRUkLjqQiF_AReecpruUX7DOV/w277-h433/Carrie%20Walker%20cropped.jpg" width="277" /></a></div></div><p class="yiv5572604837gmail-western" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; direction: ltr; line-height: 14.95px; margin-bottom: 0.1in; outline: none; text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Carrie Walker lives in Michigan with her husband and seven
children. From her ten years serving as a high school youth minister,
adventures around the globe, and raising a family, many stories have been knit
within her heart.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;">As an avid reader, she pens what she loves to read:
contemporary stories that bring hope to a hurting world. Weaving romance among
storylines of characters in struggle, she aims to show God working in all
situations. </div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">When she’s not playing board games with her husband, shuttling kids
in the Walker bus, or wishing for snow, Carrie can be found at the keyboard bringing
those stories to life.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A member of ACFW, ACFW-GL and FHLCW,</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> Carrie’s writing has
been recognized in many contests and her debut novel, <i>Emma’s Hero</i>, won the 2020
ACFW First Impressions Contest for Contemporary.</span></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To learn more about Carrie and her writing or to connect
with her, follow her on social media! She’d love to hear from you. You can also
sign up for her newsletter on her website at <a href="http://carriewalkerwrites.com" target="_blank">carriewalkerwrites.com</a>.</span></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">********************************</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Another great goal for readers is to follow The Diamond Mine of Christian Fiction Blog all year! Please post us on your social media and encourage your friends to follow us as well. We highlight Christian authors and have book giveaways every Wednesday. I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for 2024, can you?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />********************</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_TsRaUOJyzRjgUgus9-p73QBEmS_kuTszDSWHNCcCjm5Rk6IQRIYW8gtVvH77DO-HVUg2A9Z8R-vqRUBfhl71YIxQyeI705gSBNXnVzzIAxT9yLqh5v9fma_ZrQysF47T40_x9cdziwQUamvBojzEdvbQAzNQ-BgD-2dnW6NVUAHKT0CCVvKoPKtMY4G/s1363/Laughing%20Me%20Headshot.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="976" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_TsRaUOJyzRjgUgus9-p73QBEmS_kuTszDSWHNCcCjm5Rk6IQRIYW8gtVvH77DO-HVUg2A9Z8R-vqRUBfhl71YIxQyeI705gSBNXnVzzIAxT9yLqh5v9fma_ZrQysF47T40_x9cdziwQUamvBojzEdvbQAzNQ-BgD-2dnW6NVUAHKT0CCVvKoPKtMY4G/w51-h72/Laughing%20Me%20Headshot.jpg" width="51" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">DIY addict and Christian author Peggy Trotter would love for you to subscribe to her newsletter @<a href="http://@peggytrotter.com." target="_blank">peggytrotter.com</a>. Join her on social media, well, pretty much everywhere.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Peggy-Trotter/author/B00V15P2LU?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1704221673&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="1219" height="33" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSWlkkgXeDmtxEuYg_LD4P7RlXNQ00Fcch7tUTJzAaQXwCtxV2SI9HgNKBo-XQ90MCzgjQFdOGaXKHrW7dl0WrL5JveiB5IKpZpfTnbXnAeaR8nILIGSlE3P53bp5P2NUYu1iay8HicWdxD3d1qB-u1uMoiRS7SKxtFYYC1QntO4PWJZcC-HlzOUFw6I4/w84-h33/Peggy%20Trotter%20Title%20card%20New%20Design.jpg" width="84" /></a></div></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Peggy Trotterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05935745749115191501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8712832451394708482.post-26730459914786714322023-12-27T20:39:00.007-07:002023-12-28T08:45:17.196-07:00Interview and Giveaway with author Miriam Thor<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_ke9DDeFT5uCcMRqX9apyZZRzwsaO2elHgj_6jQXZrFKjOqcXc6W25FNX5I_zb5hG9rY6tJ35pbTGE9EzlZkyMHaiwg39TAqJM83oHbAbJbM4O1x2QuRzBE8EYBg1uDFPLAhV8YOneeQC0fjAXg7JJWF2q_HL5U0RO5TV2f8dxV0ECcRCbUbgsVn_rjL/s1983/author%20photo%201.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1841" data-original-width="1983" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_ke9DDeFT5uCcMRqX9apyZZRzwsaO2elHgj_6jQXZrFKjOqcXc6W25FNX5I_zb5hG9rY6tJ35pbTGE9EzlZkyMHaiwg39TAqJM83oHbAbJbM4O1x2QuRzBE8EYBg1uDFPLAhV8YOneeQC0fjAXg7JJWF2q_HL5U0RO5TV2f8dxV0ECcRCbUbgsVn_rjL/s320/author%20photo%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Today we welcome Miriam Thor to The Diamond Mine! She is offering an e-copy of her book, </span><span style="color: #45818e;"><i>Listening to the Rain</i>. </span></b></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>To be entered in the drawing for the free copy, just leave a comment with your email and you will be entered! Now, here's a little preview of her book. </b></span></p><p><b><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p><b><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p><b><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;">Even the worst storms can be beautiful if you learn how to listen.</span></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SNuh6QkcEeLY2-rGtwceIzJTv0kyxu6WzTla-OirAkxN2CLO68uKpWzM28SFo3Wl63mtutzKAPLstnB1W2oMyBTG-we9DwAYf1VQ5qsVgYDVR_CXf6v8P_khA94GSLDt3MXuApMnZypgryGMQSi5EvWlIyYLWS8REw_tRJzyZ9bpQTwuHT42llg5FPUn/s1243/ListeningToTheRain_ws13076_750.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1243" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SNuh6QkcEeLY2-rGtwceIzJTv0kyxu6WzTla-OirAkxN2CLO68uKpWzM28SFo3Wl63mtutzKAPLstnB1W2oMyBTG-we9DwAYf1VQ5qsVgYDVR_CXf6v8P_khA94GSLDt3MXuApMnZypgryGMQSi5EvWlIyYLWS8REw_tRJzyZ9bpQTwuHT42llg5FPUn/s320/ListeningToTheRain_ws13076_750.jpg" width="193" /></a></div><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><i><b><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E86" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E86">During her freshman year of high school, Ally Griffin is determined to find her thing, a talent</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E87" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E87"> </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E88" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E88">that will let her gain praise and recognition. Her cousins, Billy and James, have found theirs in</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E89" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E89"> </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E90" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E90">sports and music, but Ally has yet to discover something that will make people cheer just for her.</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E92" is="qowt-line-break" qowt-eid="E92"><br /></span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E94" is="qowt-line-break" qowt-eid="E94"><br /></span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E95" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E95">At her best friend's suggestion, Ally tries ballet. When that doesn't turn out the way she hopes,</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E96" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E96"> </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E97" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E97">she signs up to sing in the school talent show. Thanks to support from James, Ally's performance</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E98" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E98"> </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E99" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E99">goes well, and she thinks she has found her thing at last.</span></b><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E101" is="qowt-line-break" qowt-eid="E101"><br /></span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E103" is="qowt-line-break" qowt-eid="E103"><br /></span><b><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E104" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E104">But when James gets into an accident, Ally's whole world is turned upside down. As she tries to</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E105" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E105"> </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E106" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E106">be there for her cousin, Ally wrestles with why God allows bad things to happen and whether she</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E107" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E107"> </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E108" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E108">should keep doing her thing at all.</span></b></i></span><div><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Sounds like a great read! Now let's get to the interview!</span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Hi Miriam! </span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Can you tell us a little about your book?</span></i></b></span></div><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E150" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E150" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-size: medium;"><span id="E152" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E152">Listening to the Rain</span><span id="E153" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E153"> is </span><span id="E154" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E154">a </span><span id="E155" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E155">contemporary young adult Christian fiction </span><span id="E156" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E156">novel </span><span id="E157" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E157">about </span><span id="E158" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E158">faith and family with a splash of romance. </span><span id="E159" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E159">It focuses on high school freshman, Ally Griffin, and her relationship with her two cousins, Billy and James.</span></span></i></b></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E160" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E160" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-size: medium;"><span id="E162" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E162">At the beginning of the story,</span><span id="E163" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E163"> </span><span id="E164" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E164">Ally</span><span id="E165" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E165"> </span><span id="E166" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E166">is committed to finding her </span><span id="E167" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E167">thing, </span><span id="E168" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E168">something she’s good at that will help her stand out. She’s been searching for it for years, and when she finally finds it, she’s ecstatic. Then, </span><span id="E169" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E169">James </span><span id="E170" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E170">gets in an accident that has life-changing implications for her entire family. Ally has to figure out how to navigate her family’s new normal and how her newfound </span><span id="E171" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E171">thing</span><span id="E172" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E172"> fits into that, if it does at all.</span></span></i></b></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E174" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E174" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span id="E175" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E175"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">Sounds very engaging. How did you get your idea for this story?</span></b></span>
</p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E176" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E176" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span style="color: #800180;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E178" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E178"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>I</i></b><i><b> got the idea to write about three cousins living with their -grandfather from watching the TV show, </b></i></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E179" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E179">The Dukes of Hazzard</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E180" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E180">, while I was in high school. </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E181" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E181">From there, I developed the three cousins’ characters in my head and got to know them, so to speak. As for the plot, I wanted the main problem the characters face to be something near and dear to my heart. I don’t want to give too much away, but the life-changing event the Griffin family faces relates closely to something I am passionate about.</span></b></i></span></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E183" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E183" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span id="E184" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E184"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>Now you've got me mighty curious!</b></span></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E183" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E183" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E184"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>What made you decide to be a writer?</b></span></span>
</p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E185" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E185" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span id="E187" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E187">When I was in second grade, my teacher, Mrs. Chambliss, noticed </span><span id="E188" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E188">how much I </span><span id="E189" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E189">enjoyed my writing assignments, and she encouraged me to write as much as I wanted. That was when I really fell in love with writing. At that time (and still today), I loved to read</span><span id="E190" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E190">. As</span><span id="E191" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E191"> I read book after book, I started dreaming about writing a book of my own that others would read and enjoy.</span></i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E192" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E192" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>And what was your first story?</b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E195" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E195" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="padding-bottom: 0.1pt; padding-top: 0.1pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span id="E197" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E197">I first attempted to write a novel in middle school, although I only completed a few hand-written chapters. </span><span id="E198" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E198">My first published short story was called “Simon Says,” a Biblical fiction story focusing on the apostle Peter’s wife. </span><span id="E199" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E199">Listening to the Rain</span><span id="E200" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E200"> is the first</span><span id="E201" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E201"> complete</span><span id="E202" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E202"> book I ever wrote, although I had two novellas publishe</span><span id="E203" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E203">d before it was accepted for publication, and it’s gone through major changes since I finished the first draft almost a decade ago.</span></i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E204" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E204" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b><span id="E206" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E206">It must feel good to see it in print! </span></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E204" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E204" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b><span is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E206">Do you write from an outline, or just from </span><span id="E207" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E207">inspiration, or both?</span></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E208" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E208" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><i><b><span id="E210" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E210">These days, I always write from an outline. I’m working on two different novels right now, and I have fairly detailed outlines for both of them. My process for writing </span><span id="E211" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E211">Listening to the Rain</span><span id="E212" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E212"> was a </span><span id="E213" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E213">little different. I wrote the first couple of chapters while I was in college and had the plot more or less planned in my head. I suppose you</span><span id="E215" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E215"> could</span><span id="E216" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E216"> call that an outline, but I never wrote it down.</span></b></i></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E218" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E218" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span id="E219" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E219"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>I think that fits as an outline!</b></span></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E218" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E218" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E219"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>Do you have any underlying themes that you want your readers to come away with?</b></span></span>
</p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3" id="E220" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E220" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><b><i><span style="color: #800180;"><span id="E222" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E222"><span style="font-size: large;">Listening to the Rain </span></span><span id="E223" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E223"><span style="font-size: large;">has two main themes. The first is that we need to trust God, even when life is hard and we don’t understand what He is doing. The second is that our God-given gifts and talents are meant to be used for His glory, not our own.</span></span></span></i></b></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E224" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E224" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">Great Themes!!</span></b></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E224" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E224" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">Do your characters share any traits with you or someone you know?</span></b></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E227" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E227" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span id="E229" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E229">Ally definitely shares my independent nature, although she is more outspoken about it </span><span id="E230" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E230">than I am, </span><span id="E231" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E231">most of the time. Billy, Ally’s oldest cousin, shares my brother’s sense of humor. I didn’t set out to model his sense of humor after my brother’s, but when I reread some of the scenes where Billy is joking, I can picture my brother saying similar things when we were younger.</span></i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E232" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E232" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>Do your characters ever surprise you?</b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E235" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E235" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span id="E237" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E237">Yes, they do, and it’s one of my favorite parts about writing. I remember writing a scene in </span><span id="E238" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E238">Listening to the Rain</span><span id="E239" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E239"> that I thought would be entirely focused on Ally and Billy. The two of them were in the barn by themselves. Billy was so upset about </span><span id="E240" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E240">James’s accident that he was punching </span><span id="E241" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E241">a</span><span id="E242" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E242"> wall, and Ally was trying to get him to stop. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Grandpa showed up with first-aid supplies</span><span id="E243" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E243">.</span></i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E244" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E244" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span id="E246" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E246">As I was writing the scene, I </span><span id="E247" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E247">was </span><span id="E248" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E248">surprised when I realized I was about to type that </span><span id="E249" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E249">Grandpa was in the doorway behind them. I hadn’t planned for him to be there, but it just fit so well with </span><span id="E250" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E250">his</span><span id="E251" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E251"> character that I ran with it. Of course, Grandpa knew Billy well enough to know how he’d react to the situation. It felt like I should </span><span id="E252" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E252">have </span><span id="E253" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E253">known he would do that all along.</span></i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E254" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E254" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b><span id="E257" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E257">That cracks me up! I love it when characters do that. Do you have a favorite character in </span><span id="E258" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E258">your books?</span></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E259" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E259" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span id="E261" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E261">I have a lot of trouble choosing a favorite character as an author because I get to know them all so well. I think I like different characters more at different times, depending on which scene I’m working on.</span><span id="E262" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E262"> While I was writing </span><span id="E263" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E263">Listening to the Rain</span><span id="E264" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E264">, Ally, Billy, and James were each my favorite character</span><span id="E265" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E265"> at one point or another</span><span id="E266" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E266">. Now, I guess I’d say all three of them are my favorites.</span></i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E267" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E267" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>It's definitely not easy to pick a favorite. We get so attached to our characters! </b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E267" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E267" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>So, what are you working on now?</b></span></p><p class="qowt-stl-NormalWeb x-scope qowt-word-para-4" id="E270" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E270" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span id="E272" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E272">I am working on a contemporary Christian Christmas novella. I’ve written eleven chapters so far, and I have either three or four more to go. I started working on it in October, and I’ve really enjoyed writing it</span><span id="E273" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E273">. I’m hoping it will be ready to submit to a publisher in a few months.</span></i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E274" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E274" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">I’m also in the middle of writing a young adult Christian fantasy series. I’ve completed the first book and have written a few chapters of the second one. I put that on hold to focus on the Christmas novella, but I plan to go back to it soon.</span></i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E274" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E274" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">Sounds like you're a busy lady! Thanks so much for the interview, Miriam! </span></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E274" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E274" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Well, readers, I'm including an excerpt from</span><span style="color: #800180; font-style: italic;"> Listening to the Rain </span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">here for your enjoyment: </span></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E274" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E274" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b><i>Unfortunately, it started raining a few minutes before the bus reached our stop. By unspoken consent, the two of us walked home as quickly as we could so that we could get warm and dry as soon as possible.</i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E115" is="qowt-word-para" named-flow="FLOW-3" qowt-eid="E115" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E116" is="qowt-word-run" named-flow="FLOW-4" qowt-eid="E116"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b><i>I wanted to talk to James as soon as I’d changed into dry clothes, but I knew better than to try. </i></b></span></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E115" is="qowt-word-para" named-flow="FLOW-3" qowt-eid="E115" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><b style="color: #45818e;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" is="qowt-word-run" named-flow="FLOW-4" qowt-eid="E116">Grandpa insisted that we start on our homework as soon as we got home, and while I was willing </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E117" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E117">to bend that rule from time to time, James definitely was not. Resigned to wait, I solved a page of equations and read the short story Mrs. Chamberlain had assigned.</span></span></i></b></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E119" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E119" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E120" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E120">When I was finished, I went in search of my cousin to see if he had completed his homework, too. I found him sitting in a rocking chair on the porch with his eyes closed.</span>
</i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E121" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E121" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E122" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E122">“</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E123" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E123">What are you doing?</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E124" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E124">”</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E125" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E125"> I asked, puzzled.</span>
</i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E126" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E126" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E127" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E127">He opened his eyes and looked at me. </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E128" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E128">“</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E129" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E129">Listening to the rain. God plays beautiful music, don’t you think?</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E130" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E130">”</span>
</i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E131" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E131" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E132" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E132">I wasn’t sure how to respond. James said stuff like that sometimes. Random, weird stuff. And I was never sure what to make of it.</span>
</i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E133" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E133" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E134" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E134">“</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E135" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E135">It’s not music, James,</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E136" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E136">”</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E137" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E137"> I said. </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E138" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E138">“</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E139" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E139">It’s just water hitting the roof.</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E140" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E140">”</span>
</i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E141" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E141" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E142" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E142">He shrugged, unperturbed, and studied my face. </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E143" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E143">“</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E144" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E144">What’s wrong, Ally?</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E145" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E145">”</span>
</i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E146" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E146" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E147" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E147">“</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E148" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E148">What makes you think something’s wrong?</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E149" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E149">”</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E150" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E150"> I demanded.</span>
</i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E151" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E151" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E152" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E152">“</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E153" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E153">You’ve got that ‘I really want to ask you something, but I don’t know how you’ll take it’ look on your face.</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E154" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E154">”</span>
</i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E155" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E155" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E156" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E156">I smiled. He always could read me like an open book.</span>
</i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E157" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E157" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E158" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E158">“</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E159" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E159">Well…</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E160" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E160">”</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E161" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E161"> I said slowly. </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E162" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E162">“</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E163" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E163">You heard about the talent show at school today, right?</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E164" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E164">”</span>
</i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E165" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E165" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E166" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E166">He nodded. </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E167" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E167">“</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E168" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E168">Yeah, Mr. Jenkins announced it in homeroom.</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E169" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E169">”</span>
</i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E170" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E170" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E171" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E171">I bit my lip and stared at my lap. I wanted to sing in the talent show so badly. What if James did, too?</span>
</i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E172" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E172" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E173" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E173">“</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E174" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E174">What about it?</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E175" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E175">”</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E176" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E176"> James prompted when I didn’t continue.</span>
</i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E177" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E177" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E178" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E178">“</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E179" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E179">Do you want to enter?</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E180" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E180">”</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E181" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E181"> I asked and held my breath.</span>
</i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E182" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E182" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E183" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E183">“</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E184" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E184">No,</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E185" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E185">”</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E186" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E186"> he said. </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E187" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E187">“</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E188" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E188">Performing in front of all the kids at school and a panel of judges doesn’t sound like much fun to me.</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E189" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E189">”</span>
</i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E190" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E190" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E191" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E191">I heaved a sigh of relief and grinned at him.</span>
</i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E192" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E192" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E193" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E193">“</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E194" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E194">Good.</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E195" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E195">”</span>
</i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E196" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E196" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E197" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E197">“</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E198" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E198">Does that smile mean you plan on entering?</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E199" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E199">”</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E200" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E200"> he asked.</span></i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E196" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E196" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><b style="color: #45818e;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E202" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E202">“</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E203" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E203">Yep,</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E204" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E204">”</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E205" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E205"> I said. </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E206" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E206">“</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E207" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E207">I didn’t want to compete against you, though.</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E208" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E208">”</span></span></i></b></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1 x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E209" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E209" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E210" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E210">He smiled. </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E211" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E211">“</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E212" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E212">So, what will you sing</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E213" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E213">?”</span>
</i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E214" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E214" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E215" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E215">I didn’t even ask how he knew I planned to sing. We both knew my talents. Unless I wanted to bring our hens to roost on the stage and gather their eggs, singing was my only real option.</span>
</i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E217" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E217" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E218" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E218">“</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E219" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E219">I don’t know yet,</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E220" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E220">”</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E221" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E221"> I said, </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E222" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E222">“</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E223" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E223">but I’ll figure it out.</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E224" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E224">”</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E225" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E225"> I started to turn around. </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E226" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E226">“</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E227" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E227">You can go back to your…rain listening now.</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E228" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E228">”</span>
</i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E229" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E229" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E230" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E230"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><b><i>He rolled his eyes as I headed back inside.</i></b></span></span>
</p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E231" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E231" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>There you go, readers! And now here's a short bio and some social and purchase links from Miriam. And don't forget to leave a comment and be entered into the drawing for the free copy of her book!</b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E54" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E54" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E55" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E55" style="font-weight: bold;">Bio:</span>
</span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E56" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E56" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E57" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E57">Miriam Thor grew up in Louisiana. After high school, she attended Gardner-Webb University, where she earned a degree in American Sign Language and elementary education. Currently, she lives in Alabama with her husband and six cats. She is employed as a sign language interpreter at an elementary school.</span>
</b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E58" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E58" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E59" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E59">Miriam discovered her love of writing in second grade and has been doing it ever since. </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E60" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E60">Her first novel</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E61" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E61" style="font-style: italic;">, Listening to the Rain</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E62" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E62">, was published in September 2022. </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E63" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E63">She has </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E64" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E64">also </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E65" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E65">had two novellas published: </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E66" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E66" style="font-style: italic;">Her First Noel</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E67" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E67">, a contemporary Christian romance, and </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E68" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E68" style="font-style: italic;">Wish Granted</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E69" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E69">, </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E70" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E70">a young adult fantasy stor</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E71" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E71">y.</span>
</b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E72" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E72" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E73" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E73"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>To learn more about Miriam, visit her website: </b></span></span><a contenteditable="false" href="https://miriamthor17.wixsite.com/author" id="E74" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E74" target="_blank"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E75" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E75" style="font-size: 12pt;">https://miriamthor17.wixsite.com/author</span></a><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E76" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E76"><span style="font-size: medium;">.</span></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E233" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E233" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E234" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E234" style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Purchase </span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E235" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E235" style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Links:</span>
</p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E236" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E236" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E237" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E237" style="font-size: 12pt;">Amazon: </span><a contenteditable="false" href="https://www.amazon.com/Listening-Rain-Miriam-Thor-ebook/dp/B09VS27PHW" id="E238" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E238" target="_blank"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E239" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E239" style="font-size: 12pt;">https://www.amazon.com/Listening-Rain-Miriam-Thor-ebook/dp/B09VS27PHW</span></a>
</p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E240" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E240" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E241" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E241" style="font-size: 12pt;">Barnes and Noble: </span><a contenteditable="false" href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/listening-to-the-rain-miriam-thor/1141235963" id="E242" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E242" target="_blank"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E243" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E243" style="font-size: 12pt;">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/listening-to-the-rain-miriam-thor/1141235963</span></a>
</p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E244" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E244" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E245" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E245" style="font-size: 12pt;">Google Play: </span><a contenteditable="false" href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=cupkEAAAQBAJ&gl=us" id="E246" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E246" target="_blank"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E247" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E247" style="font-size: 12pt;">https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=cupkEAAAQBAJ&gl=us</span></a>
</p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E248" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E248" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E249" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E249" style="font-size: 12pt;">Kobo: </span><a contenteditable="false" href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/listening-to-the-rain-1" id="E250" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E250" target="_blank"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E251" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E251" style="font-size: 12pt;">https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/listening-to-the-rain-1</span></a>
</p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E252" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E252" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E253" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E253" style="font-size: 12pt;">Apple Books: </span><a contenteditable="false" href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/listening-to-the-rain/id1615814817" id="E254" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E254" target="_blank"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E255" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E255" style="font-size: 12pt;">https://books.apple.com/us/book/listening-to-the-rain/id1615814817</span></a>
</p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E256" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E256" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Social Media Links:</span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E260" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E260" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E261" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E261" style="font-size: 12pt;">Facebook: </span><a contenteditable="false" href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063738865282" id="E262" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E262" target="_blank"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E263" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E263" style="font-size: 12pt;">https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063738865282</span></a>
</p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E264" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E264" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E265" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E265" style="font-size: 12pt;">X/Twitter: </span><a contenteditable="false" href="https://twitter.com/Miriam_Thor17" id="E266" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E266" target="_blank"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E267" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E267" style="font-size: 12pt;">https://twitter.com/Miriam_Thor17</span></a>
</p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E268" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E268" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E269" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E269" style="font-size: 12pt;">Instagram: @miriamthor17</span>
</p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E270" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E270" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E271" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E271" style="font-size: 12pt;">TikTok: @miriamthor17_author</span>
</p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E272" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E272" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E273" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E273" style="font-size: 12pt;">Amazon author page: </span><a contenteditable="false" href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Miriam-Thor/author/B0BB47Z88N" id="E274" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E274" target="_blank"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E275" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E275" style="font-size: 12pt;">https://www.amazon.com/stores/Miriam-Thor/author/B0BB47Z88N</span></a>
</p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E276" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E276" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E277" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E277" style="font-size: 12pt;">Goodreads: </span><a contenteditable="false" href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18283324.Miriam_Thor" id="E278" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E278" target="_blank"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E279" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E279" style="font-size: 12pt;">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18283324.Miriam_Thor</span></a>
</p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E280" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E280" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; padding-bottom: 12pt;"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman" id="E281" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E281" style="font-size: 12pt;">Blog: </span><a contenteditable="false" href="https://threecs.org/" id="E282" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E282" target="_blank"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E283" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E283" style="font-size: 12pt;">https://threecs.org/</span></a></p>nancy boltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06001204788388098730noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8712832451394708482.post-42319076716494301352023-12-20T05:30:00.044-07:002023-12-20T05:30:00.131-07:00Stepping Back in Time with Colleen Hall<p> Welcome back to the Diamond Mine, friends and merry Christmas! This week, historical romance author Colleen Hall is stopping by for a visit.</p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;">About the Author</span></h2><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7z2XRY68956iG21S165AhG30t1WE_pDPwKFoKDOr7iQ6xhTImY4O6900ov8VywQmpxlohobEYuNSoFaqfi1v9rgzAK6hv37oGCzUZIgQL6hmJwMAFe0ZvWFDJth7DWRzmxjFkMzGuGEfTaxb9bXsPkAW5T8Xo0_8wfHRdK62v1LWqXQMnVO8_4iXzbAT0/s272/colleen%20hall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="227" data-original-width="272" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7z2XRY68956iG21S165AhG30t1WE_pDPwKFoKDOr7iQ6xhTImY4O6900ov8VywQmpxlohobEYuNSoFaqfi1v9rgzAK6hv37oGCzUZIgQL6hmJwMAFe0ZvWFDJth7DWRzmxjFkMzGuGEfTaxb9bXsPkAW5T8Xo0_8wfHRdK62v1LWqXQMnVO8_4iXzbAT0/w200-h167/colleen%20hall.jpg" width="200" /></a>Colleen Hall wrote her first story in third grade and wrote as a hobby all during her growing-up years. She was born in New England but moved South to attend college. She married a Southerner and has lived half of her life in the South. This helped her to see both sides of the issues of the Civil War. In Her Traitor's Heart, she was able to combine her love of writing with her love of history. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, horseback riding, reading, and browsing antique stores. She lives in South Carolina with her husband and family, three horses, and two spoiled cats.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Connect with Colleen: <a href="https://www.colleenhallromance.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/frontierhearts/" target="_blank">Instagram</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Suzie: Welcome to the Diamond Mine, Colleen. We are delighted to have you with us this week. I always like to start with a couple book- and writer-themed would you rather questions.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Would you rather write in a rooftop garden surrounded by city noises — or in a quiet studio with cows as your neighbors? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #660000;">Colleen: I would definitely prefer to write in a quiet studio with cows as my neighbors.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Suzie: A good place to write, for sure! Would you rather read a book with no page numbers or no chapter numbers? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #660000;">Colleen: Hmm. . . I think I’d rather read a book with no page numbers. I’d need chapter numbers to let me know where I am in the plot.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Suzie: Alright, that’s enough of those. Tell us a little about you—family, hobbies, day job, or whatever you’d like to share that’s not in your bio.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #660000;">Colleen: Some things about me that’s not in my bio: I love chocolate; I’m a night owl; except for one cousin, I’m the shortest person on both sides of the family; I’m the oldest of three children; and yes, what people say about redheads is true—just ask me.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Suzie: What are three books on your current tbr?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFY-HJZDHCNJHhCK5vzbPsew7Fju6nrVzdHfYtZLr5hXpiZAdWZI-FrfX-Qw2g_NiquXb3zOwKxM82idoDwWiio7CTWAwlucNEBNb-6FikrDjn9_5c0VpyrOIgKlIJh7jnQybQsyDdjJE3xqCqNeyQO6RDv97Us_tx4PZMJr_rIZwILTZ_FrrTCLMCHAJE/s4754/pexels-pixabay-159866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3188" data-original-width="4754" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFY-HJZDHCNJHhCK5vzbPsew7Fju6nrVzdHfYtZLr5hXpiZAdWZI-FrfX-Qw2g_NiquXb3zOwKxM82idoDwWiio7CTWAwlucNEBNb-6FikrDjn9_5c0VpyrOIgKlIJh7jnQybQsyDdjJE3xqCqNeyQO6RDv97Us_tx4PZMJr_rIZwILTZ_FrrTCLMCHAJE/w200-h134/pexels-pixabay-159866.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #660000;">Colleen: Three books on my TBR list are: <i>Understanding Show, Don’t Tell—And Really Getting It</i> by Janice Hardy, <i>The Frozen River</i> by Ariel Lawhor, and <i>Sudden Sea, The Great Hurricane of 1938</i> by R. A. Scotti.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Suzie: All of those look fantastic. I am adding to my tbr now, too :)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #274e13;">What does your writing space look like? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #660000;">Colleen: My writing space is a nook at the back of the house in the master suite. When I first set it up—complete with a “new to me” antique writing desk. After all, if I’m writing historicals, then I need an antique writing desk that will help set the mood. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Suzie: Yes, an antique writing desk is a must! Would you share with us a little about your road to publication? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #660000;">Colleen: I’ve been writing almost as long as I can remember. My mother told me I wrote my first story in third grade. All through junior high and high school, I wrote as a hobby. I had to take a break from writing when I went to college. After I graduated from college and married, I picked up my hobby again. I wrote when the children went down for their naps and whenever I could find time. As the kids grew older and family life became more complicated, I had to once again put my writing away. Years later I had surgery and was out of work for several weeks. While I was at home recuperating, I pulled out a manuscript I’d written when the children were young. I reworked it, googled “Christian publishers that take new writers,” and Anaiah Press came up. I submitted to Anaiah, and as the saying goes, “the rest is history.”</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Suzie: I love that God kept that writing dream alive despite the stops and starts. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #274e13;">What are some of your favorite things about writing historical stories? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #660000;">Colleen: I love history, so writing historical novels seemed a natural thing for me to do. I love putting my characters in some of my favorite by-gone eras and creating worlds and challenges within those time periods. I even enjoy doing the necessary research.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Suzie: Tell us more about your newest release. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #660000;">Colleen: Wild Heart is the fourth book in my Frontier Hearts Saga series and takes the Slash L Ranch family to the next generation. The Wild Wind brothers—they’re featured in books 4 and 5—leave the ranch to pursue their own destinies in uranium mining during the early 1900s.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Suzie: What are you currently working on? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #660000;">Colleen: I’m currently working on a new Civil War series called <i>Confederate Brides</i>. I’ve just completed the first novel, <i>Beloved Enemy</i>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Suzie: Oo, that title is intriguing.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Before we go, tell us how we can pray for you. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #660000;">Colleen: Thank you. I’d appreciate prayers that I’d continue to get fresh ideas for stories, that I’d stay focused on the task the Lord has given me, and that I wouldn’t be discouraged.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Thank you for taking some time out during the busy holiday season to chat with us, Colleen. I've enjoyed getting to know you a little more.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Readers, let us know in the comments what you enjoy most about reading historical fiction.</span></div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d;">About Wild Heart</span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_RBMqObAHPm5Zoaq5TGSTfekmYEWsCdBW1OFllDBr13yxTTZxgBtfxneJnMNJ2awdPQ0ejRJwCIFzj0a7jMfq1wuK2r1DRNdyxgagPC5egB28BT7u-tWS47ThS02TYNqIYHIqAXtCKschEdo8o7uqshUnYIAYJpW8BK_mfOlAEr-NZKGEZY-TqkDmWTI/s2400/wild%20heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_RBMqObAHPm5Zoaq5TGSTfekmYEWsCdBW1OFllDBr13yxTTZxgBtfxneJnMNJ2awdPQ0ejRJwCIFzj0a7jMfq1wuK2r1DRNdyxgagPC5egB28BT7u-tWS47ThS02TYNqIYHIqAXtCKschEdo8o7uqshUnYIAYJpW8BK_mfOlAEr-NZKGEZY-TqkDmWTI/s320/wild%20heart.jpg" width="213" /></a></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #20124d;">What should a New York heiress do when her domineering father arranges a marriage for her with his banker business partner? In 1911, the heyday of the Robber Barons, women have little power over their destinies, but feisty Garnet Morrison is determined to chart her own course. In Cole Wild Wind, a uranium mine owner in Colorado who seeks to make her father an investor in his mine, Garnet sees freedom from the future her father plans for her.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #20124d;">What does a confirmed bachelor do when he meets the beautiful daughter of an Eastern financier? When Cole was looking for a businessman to invest in his uranium mine, he hadn’t expected to meet Garnet Morrison. Garnet was an Eastern socialite unsuited to life in a Rocky Mountain mining camp, but when her father brings Garnet with him on his business trip, Cole’s vision of his future changes. Forces beyond their control conspire to keep them apart. Can Cole and Garnet overcome the challenges that stand in their way of a life together?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Heart-Frontier-Hearts-Saga/dp/195418980X" target="_blank">Amazon </a>| <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199313018-wild-heart" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><p></p>Suzie Waltnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03089234812380461326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8712832451394708482.post-53778783909120455122023-12-14T16:31:00.000-07:002023-12-14T16:32:46.331-07:00Interview with Award-winning Author, Tricia Goyer. <p>Get ready, Diamond Miners. We've uncovered a true, multi-faceted diamond in our midst. As authors go, she's the equivalent of at least a two-carat gemstone; authentic and brilliant with such an incredible, bright shine. An absolute Rock Star. </p><p>Please welcome my friend, Tricia Goyer. With over 90 books to her credit, she's launched many successful publishing endeavors in multiple genres, from fiction to non-fiction to children's books. By following the persistent leading of her God as well as her heart, she serves her readers with excellence and determination, regardless of which shelf a book may land with her name on the cover. </p><p>I'm always intrigued to spend time with such a brilliant, talented, and experienced author. I secretly hope that whatever you call that trait that makes success look easy will rub off on me, but we all recognize there are no shortcuts. </p><p>Success comes with diligence, perfecting your craft, and the obedience to sit in your chair and write until the job is finished. </p><p>Tricia Goyer is one of the best I've ever seen at this, and her stellar career continues to build accolades as a result. Not only is she a writer, conference speaker, and podcast host, but she's also a health coach, homeschooling mom and mother of ten children. </p><p>This brings up many questions about her astounding time management skills, which is another interview for another day, I hope. </p><p>Frankly, Tricia is the writer we all hope to be. What I admire most is her own hero's journey of coming from humble beginnings with only a year or so of college. She's a former teen mom who invests her time, attention and effort into taking the grace she's been given and looking for ways to pay it forward. </p><p>They say that diamonds reflect light in two ways. Reflection and Refraction. Refraction is described as the way 'light bounces around on the inside to create a sparkle." </p><p>I like that. I think that's exactly what we find in Tricia Goyer. Her light bounces around so much on the inside, it can't help but spill out onto all the pages she can find. <br /><br /></p><p>Thank you, Tricia, for stopping by the Diamond Mine to share some of what you've learned along the way. </p><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTwkxHK0PW6XAdTdg3xcbISJNIYWNKqqO3wLM8vr7XqEYO9wnU4hYGyh-nBmovXERoRTuQsZOzurLQ5K3MQyRdjG8NMPWR-rwjSXXKSfYTzQSCtxPLUXewM4TUL5FDaZRBDdwLmqWXY3S8HssyyQlvm0v-4wtq4qQfryWvX7ilQqxGTWeid4zSWCN9pOA/s789/406867767_10161752411137474_8453316104072085342_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTwkxHK0PW6XAdTdg3xcbISJNIYWNKqqO3wLM8vr7XqEYO9wnU4hYGyh-nBmovXERoRTuQsZOzurLQ5K3MQyRdjG8NMPWR-rwjSXXKSfYTzQSCtxPLUXewM4TUL5FDaZRBDdwLmqWXY3S8HssyyQlvm0v-4wtq4qQfryWvX7ilQqxGTWeid4zSWCN9pOA/s320/406867767_10161752411137474_8453316104072085342_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">What were your writing and reading habits as a child?</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b>Tricia:</b> I grew up in a home where no one in my family read. The only thing I saw being read was my grandpa reading his Bible. Then, when I was in about the 5th grade, we moved near a library. I soon spent every summer day there, taking home piles of books. I never thought about becoming a writer, but I did love to read. I also won an essay contest in high school. Still, I didn’t think of becoming a writer. Only years later, as I sat in a church nursery, the idea sparked that maybe I could write novels. When my friend Cindy told me she was working on a novel, as we sat there watching our kids play, I just knew it was something I wanted to do.</span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Your debut novel was historical fiction - published in 2003.
How did this become your debut, and what led you to this genre?</b></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>Tricia: </b></span><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">My first novel was </span><i style="color: #374151; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">From
Dust and Ashes</i><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, which was set in World War Two. I remember vividly when my
interest in the liberation of the Mauthausen camp in St. Georgen, Austria, was
sparked. An Austrian historian, Marta, invited me and my friends to her home,
sharing stories about the Gusen camps and their liberation by American GIs. I
was particularly intrigued by a young Nazi wife who was among the first to help
the prisoners. This encounter made me wonder about her beliefs and the
experiences of those who suffered in the camps.</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="border: 1pt none rgb(217, 217, 227); mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: 0in none #D9D9E3; border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0in; mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-border-between: 0in none #D9D9E3; mso-border-bottom-alt: 0in none #D9D9E3; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-padding-between: 0in; mso-padding-bottom-alt: 0in; mso-padding-top-alt: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-top: 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #374151; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Later, during a dinner cruise in Prague, sitting next to a young
Jewish girl and her brother, I realized the profound impact of WWII's horrors.
This moment solidified my determination to write about these events. When my
fellow fiction writers traveling with me showed no interest in this topic, I
knew I had to tell this story.</span></p></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="border: 1pt none rgb(217, 217, 227); mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-top: 15pt; mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-border-between: 0in none #D9D9E3; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-padding-between: 0in; mso-padding-top-alt: 0in; padding-top: 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #374151; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I embarked on extensive research, attending the 59th reunion of
the 11th Armored Division and returning to Austria for memorial services.
Speaking with veterans and locals, including a man who was just a child during
the war, deepened my understanding. Personal stories, memoirs, and oral
histories were the foundation of my writing. As I wrote, the events of 1945 and
the streets of St. Georgen came to life in my mind, driven by a desire to share
this story of liberation. This was the first of my novels inspired by actual
events and heroes.</span></p></div></blockquote><div style="border: 1pt none rgb(217, 217, 227); mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-top: 15pt; mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-border-between: 0in none #D9D9E3; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-padding-between: 0in; mso-padding-top-alt: 0in; padding-top: 0in; padding: 0in;"><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">What happened next? Did this become a series, or did you
go into non-fiction or children's books?</b></p></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="border: 1pt none rgb(217, 217, 227); mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>Tricia:</b> Around the same time I got this idea for<i> From Dust and Ashes</i>, I also helped start Hope Pregnancy Center in
Kalispell, Montana. I was mentoring young women in the Teen MOPS (Mothers of
Preschoolers) support group, and as I worked with them, I realized there needed
to be books written specifically for them. I approached MOPS leadership, and I
showed them the need. Since I had been a teen mom, I mentored teen moms and was
an author, and they agreed I needed to write that book for them. Amazingly, I
went from having no book contracts to having two book contracts, one in fiction
and one in nonfiction. This started me down two paths that have continued to
this day. I write an equal amount of fiction and nonfiction if you count the
numerous magazine articles, blog posts, devotions, and other pieces I write in
addition to books. The novels are just much longer! And, yes, From Dust and
Ashes was part of a four-book series.</span></p></div></blockquote><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><div style="border: 1pt none rgb(217, 217, 227); mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">What makes you say 'yes' to a project?</b></p></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="border: 1pt none rgb(217, 217, 227); mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b>Tricia: </b>I have a lot of ideas, but I work on the ones that stick around like gum on the bottom of my shoe and won't leave me alone. I have novel ideas that have been tucked away in my brain for 20 years that I still want to write, but it's the idea that fills my mind over and over again that makes me sit down and put words to paper.</span></p></div></blockquote><div style="border: 1pt none rgb(217, 217, 227); mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">What makes you say 'no'?</b></p></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="border: 1pt none rgb(217, 217, 227); mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b>Tricia:</b> Time and family. I need to sleep, and I need to care for the family God’s given me.</span></p></div></blockquote><div style="border: 1pt none rgb(217, 217, 227); mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b>Are your characters based on real people?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="border: 1pt none rgb(217, 217, 227); mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b>Tricia: </b>Yes, some are based on real people. My biblical novels of Esther and Miriam are examples. Others are inspired by real people, such as my World War II novels. They are often composite characters from the dozens of veterans I’ve interviewed. My real-life friend, Miss Jan, recently appeared in one of my novels. She was my co-leader in our Teen Mom Support group for over a decade, and I put her in a book!</span></p></div></blockquote><div style="border: 1pt none rgb(217, 217, 227); mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Tell us about your non-fiction journey. What pulls you in that direction?</b></span></p></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="border: 1pt none rgb(217, 217, 227); mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b>Tricia: </b>I also speak at conferences, and I pay attention to the questions I am asked. If multiple people ask me the same question, I know they believe I'm someone they can trust with the answer. Many of my books have come out of the need to answer these questions. If ten people ask the same question, 10,000 probably want to know the answer, too.</span></p></div></blockquote><div style="border: 1pt none rgb(217, 217, 227); mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>What is your preference between the two?</b></span></p></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="border: 1pt none rgb(217, 217, 227); mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b>Tricia:</b> I love all types of writing. It all makes me happy! But if I had to choose, it would be a historical fiction novel that I must research. I love going on research binges!</span></p></div></blockquote><div style="border: 1pt none rgb(217, 217, 227); mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b>When you're not writing, what do you do for fun?</b></span></p></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="border: 1pt none rgb(217, 217, 227); mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b>Tricia: </b>Board games, road trips, and watercolor painting!</span></p></div></blockquote><div style="border: 1pt none rgb(217, 217, 227); mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Tell us about your agent and how she's directed your journey over the past 20 years.</b></span></p></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="border: 1pt none rgb(217, 217, 227); mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><b>Tricia: </b>I met my agent, Janet Grant, through my friend Robin Gunn. The funny thing is that she rejected me the first time I submitted anything to Janet. I was working on a teen series that needed a lot of help. Later, when I submitted something else to Janet, she signed it. Janet has been my agent since 1997. She probably knows me better than almost anyone except my family. We have talked through ideas; she has been there for my highest highs and swept with me during my lowest lows. She is my always cheerleader, a trusted advisor, and a dedicated companion to walk this publishing Journey with. I'm so thankful!</span></p></div></blockquote><div style="border: 1pt none rgb(217, 217, 227); mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>What advice would you give beginning authors in today's
publishing culture?</b></span></p></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="border: 1pt none rgb(217, 217, 227); mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tricia: </b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Oh, so much! Here’s the first tips that come to mind.</span></p></div></blockquote><div style="border: 1pt none rgb(217, 217, 227); mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in;"><div style="border: 1pt none rgb(217, 217, 227); margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0in; mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-border-between: 0in none #D9D9E3; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-padding-between: 0in; padding: 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #374151; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- Join Writing Communities: Join groups like the American
Christian Fiction Writers or other online groups. These communities offer
invaluable support and networking opportunities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div><div style="border: 1pt none rgb(217, 217, 227); margin-left: 0.25in; margin-right: 0in; mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: 0in none #D9D9E3; border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0in 0in 0.25in; mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-border-between: 0in none #D9D9E3; mso-border-bottom-alt: 0in none #D9D9E3; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-padding-between: 0in; mso-padding-bottom-alt: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="color: #374151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="color: #374151; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- Educate Yourself: Reading various books on
writing. There are books on everything from plot development to how to market
your books. I also sign up for online courses and listen to podcasts. I’m
always learning.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: 0in none #D9D9E3; border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0.25in; mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-border-between: 0in none #D9D9E3; mso-border-bottom-alt: 0in none #D9D9E3; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-padding-between: 0in; mso-padding-bottom-alt: 0in; mso-padding-top-alt: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-top: 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="color: #374151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #374151; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;">- Find Your Unique Path: My journey involved
aligning my writing with what God wanted me to write, including the things that
matter most to my heart–in fiction and non-fiction. It's important to find what
truly inspires you and follow that path.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: 0in none #D9D9E3; border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0.25in; mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-border-between: 0in none #D9D9E3; mso-border-bottom-alt: 0in none #D9D9E3; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-padding-between: 0in; mso-padding-bottom-alt: 0in; mso-padding-top-alt: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-top: 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="color: #374151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span lang="EN" style="color: #374151; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;">- Embrace New Opportunities: My experience
starting a support group for young moms led to my book "Life
Interrupted." I am a huge fan of The Voice, which led me to reach out to
Todd Tilghman when he won. Be open to writing about topics that resonate with
you, especially if they involve helping others.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: 0in none #D9D9E3; border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0.25in; mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-border-between: 0in none #D9D9E3; mso-border-bottom-alt: 0in none #D9D9E3; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-padding-between: 0in; mso-padding-bottom-alt: 0in; mso-padding-top-alt: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-top: 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="color: #374151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span lang="EN" style="color: #374151; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;">- Persistence and Adaptability: I faced
challenges getting book proposals accepted early in my career. It's crucial to
stay persistent and adapt to the changing publishing landscape. Attend writers'
conferences and pay attention to the advice given.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: 0in none #D9D9E3; border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0.25in; mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-border-between: 0in none #D9D9E3; mso-border-bottom-alt: 0in none #D9D9E3; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-padding-between: 0in; mso-padding-bottom-alt: 0in; mso-padding-top-alt: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-top: 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="color: #374151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="color: #374151; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span lang="EN" style="color: #374151; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;">- Follow God’s Plan: I believe aligning your
writing with a higher purpose can lead to greater success and fulfillment. I
spiritually nourish myself through reading God’s Word and prayer so I can sense
that God is calling me to something.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 15pt 0.25in; mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-border-between: 0in none #D9D9E3; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-padding-between: 0in; mso-padding-top-alt: 0in; padding-top: 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="color: #374151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Remember, writing is
not just about crafting words. It's also about sharing your unique perspective
and connecting with others through your stories.</span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">What is the most satisfying part of writing/publishing?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>Tricia: </b>Writing The End and realizing that God allowed me to be
creative while sharing truth and hope with readers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tell us about your most recent release - </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Trust the Stars</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">. </span></b></p><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6T1vibMV1LupUqmaG88mjlMXnx6Z4-dLUmL71857_eiPZwsq-gb5pJyEQpdvQuDReuW_Ao480nUTqbxFqrp-QzOu9znl5Mawk0JX0nb3AUoT1KYmsm6i6fO_2xJ18RkHnrbEWL3Wl1i-VGo1rKPihQbOyRlEaNewmRc_sjwmHKnOr8sSz77UEQK9DXaY/s1500/71DVdX08HXL._SL1500_.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="971" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6T1vibMV1LupUqmaG88mjlMXnx6Z4-dLUmL71857_eiPZwsq-gb5pJyEQpdvQuDReuW_Ao480nUTqbxFqrp-QzOu9znl5Mawk0JX0nb3AUoT1KYmsm6i6fO_2xJ18RkHnrbEWL3Wl1i-VGo1rKPihQbOyRlEaNewmRc_sjwmHKnOr8sSz77UEQK9DXaY/w194-h301/71DVdX08HXL._SL1500_.jpg" width="194" /></a></div><div style="border: 1pt none rgb(217, 217, 227); mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: 0in none #D9D9E3; border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 15pt; mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-border-between: 0in none #D9D9E3; mso-border-bottom-alt: 0in none #D9D9E3; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-padding-between: 0in; mso-padding-bottom-alt: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #374151; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><b>Tricia:</b><i> Trust the Stars</i></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #374151; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> intertwines the lives
of two women from different eras. Olivia Garza, living a service-oriented life
in Little Rock, becomes an unexpected viral sensation through a documentary
series she creates to understand her mother's past decisions. Her journey leads
her to Kenya, where she encounters Prince Louis, the heir to a European
kingdom, who recognizes her from her series. Despite a connection, their
potential romance is hindered by Olivia's aversion to what Louis represents.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: 0in none #D9D9E3; border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0in; mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-border-between: 0in none #D9D9E3; mso-border-bottom-alt: 0in none #D9D9E3; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-padding-between: 0in; mso-padding-bottom-alt: 0in; mso-padding-top-alt: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-top: 0in; padding: 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #374151; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Meanwhile, the story also delves into the life of Princess
Alessandra Appiani in World War II Rome. Alessandra makes a life-altering
decision to risk her safety within the Vatican to save Jewish children,
showcasing immense courage and compassion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-top: 15pt; mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-border-between: 0in none #D9D9E3; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-padding-between: 0in; mso-padding-top-alt: 0in; padding-top: 0in; padding: 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #374151; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Olivia, tasked with creating a documentary about Alessandra's
sacrifices, is forced to confront challenging questions about her own path and
whether to trust God for a future she never envisioned. This novel explores
themes of love, sacrifice, and the power of making difficult choices.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b> What</b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <b>happens next in your career?</b></span></p></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="border: 1pt none rgb(217, 217, 227); mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>Tricia: </b>I had to stop and count, but I currently have about two
dozen books in the publishing process. These are either being edited, written,
waiting to be edited, or contracted but waiting to be written. Also included
are a few proposals I’m preparing before publishing committees. These include
everything from children’s books to novels and parenting books. I’m also
hosting the <i>Daily Bible Podcast </i>for
the second year, and five of my novels are being written into screenplays.
There’s never a quiet moment, and I love it!</span></p></div></blockquote><p><br /></p><p><b>And that, fellow Diamond Miners, is how you sparkle. </b></p><div style="border: 1pt none rgb(217, 217, 227); mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-top: 15pt; mso-border-alt: none #D9D9E3 0in; mso-border-between: 0in none #D9D9E3; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-padding-between: 0in; mso-padding-top-alt: 0in; padding-top: 0in; padding: 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #374151; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8712832451394708482.post-72096894765059219942023-11-29T06:00:00.001-07:002023-11-29T06:00:00.131-07:00An Interview with Christian Author Sharon Srock<p>As the holiday season approaches, we have the privilege of sitting down with Christian author Sharon Srock, known for her inspirational stories about ordinary women with extraordinary faith. Pull up a chair and join us by the fire and get to know Sharon a bit better as we discuss her holiday traditions, her writing space, and how her Christian faith deeply influences her work.</p><p><strong>Michelle: Sharon, welcome! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. If you decorate for Christmas, have you already begun?</strong></p><p>Sharon: I am definitely a one-holiday-at-a-time person. For me, that means the tree always goes up on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It's a special tradition that marks the beginning of the Christmas season in our home.</p><p><strong>Michelle: What does your writing space look like, and does it get a holiday glow-up as well?</strong></p><p>Sharon: My writing space is my sanctuary, a she-shed, if you will. It's carpeted, insulated, wired with AC and heat, and it even has purple walls, my calm color. However, I don't decorate that space. It's my year-round creative haven, and I like to keep it consistent.</p><p><strong>Michelle: So, what are you currently working on when you're in your creative haven?</strong></p><p>Sharon: I'm currently immersed in writing "Ruthie, Crafted with Love," which is Book 7 in the series. It's scheduled for release on April 30, 2024, and I'm excited to share this story with my readers. You can find more details about it <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ruthie-Crafted-Love-Book-7-ebook/dp/B0CJ61SMYL" target="_new">here</a>.</p><p><strong>Michelle: Oh, that's exciting! Do you have a book you are promoting right now, holiday sale, or simply recommended reading from your catalog?</strong></p><p>Sharon: Absolutely! I have a special promotion right now on a boxed set that includes the first three books in the Crafted with Love series. You can get it for just 99 cents. It's a great opportunity to dive into the series and get to know these characters better. Check it out <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Crafted-Love-Books-Sharon-Srock-ebook/dp/B0CHN2SNQ7" target="_new">here</a>. I also have two books that readers can get for free with their newsletter subscription. For Mercie's Sake (https://dl.bookfunnel.com/4zx1utehnu ) and they can visit my website to pick up a copy of BEGINNINGS.</p><p><strong>Michelle: Sounds fabulous, thanks for sharing! Okay, I'm really curious about some Sharon info. I like to ask for these five fast favorites:</strong></p><ul><li><b>Color</b>: Purple</li><li><b>Season</b>: Sweater</li><li><b>Animal</b>: Cat</li><li><b>Beverage</b>: Raspberry tea</li><li><b>Movie quote</b>: "There are always possibilities."</li></ul><p><strong>Michelle: Sweater, ha! I love that! Aside from writing, do you have any other hobbies or creative outlets that you enjoy pursuing?</strong></p><p>Sharon: I love to play in the kitchen. Baking, in particular, is a passion of mine. There's something special about creating delicious treats that bring joy to others.</p><p><strong>Michelle: Mm, I agree. Delicious treats bring ME joy! :) </strong><strong>If you were to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?</strong></p><p>Sharon: Organized, disciplined, and a creature of habit.</p><p><strong>Michelle: Sharon, how does your Christian faith influence or weave into your writing?</strong></p><p>Sharon: My faith is at the core of my writing. My stories revolve around ordinary women who rely on their extraordinary faith to overcome challenges. You'll always find a nice scriptural presence in my books, and these women constantly teach me about faith as I write their journeys.</p><p><strong>Michelle: It's amazing how God can use the fictional characters we come up with ourselves to speak to us. </strong><strong>Would you share something that the Lord has been teaching you recently?</strong></p><p>Sharon: Trust. I've always been a bit of a worrier, and my upbringing encouraged independence. It's been a lesson to put things in God's hands and learn to walk away, trusting that He's in control. Sometimes I catch myself thinking He needs my input, but I'm learning to let go and trust Him completely.</p><p><b>Michelle: So many of us fall into that category and need to learn the same lesson. I'm so encouraged to hear that you are being grown in that area, and to remember that God is always faithful to continue the work He began in us. Thank you so much for this visit today, Sharon. God bless your journey! </b></p><hr /><p><em>About the Author:</em></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgetuh6lXWm1sXBpXstvnWdhriNvvVMV3ZeV2x6jmmVeYxwQ_m-PAt4-RarEHmewfW2UZRXHOpBXV5QiDUBX0MlZ1K34zPx0BGjB___34cNKz2A66Ry4BTmj12_ohmlfdy4x86jcz5NPcTXGPqxwIEthMbKI9xyFsHJMOWtOEooSVIkjQ_Zn62eaddVs/s320/11269806_878817675510640_7983736318348400718_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgetuh6lXWm1sXBpXstvnWdhriNvvVMV3ZeV2x6jmmVeYxwQ_m-PAt4-RarEHmewfW2UZRXHOpBXV5QiDUBX0MlZ1K34zPx0BGjB___34cNKz2A66Ry4BTmj12_ohmlfdy4x86jcz5NPcTXGPqxwIEthMbKI9xyFsHJMOWtOEooSVIkjQ_Zn62eaddVs/w200-h200/11269806_878817675510640_7983736318348400718_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>Author Sharon Srock</b> transitioned from science fiction to Christian fiction and has been captivating readers with her inspirational stories. Currently residing in the quiet corners of Oklahoma with her husband and three very large dogs, Sharon enjoys reading, cooking, and traveling when she's not writing. To stay updated on her latest works and connect with her, you can visit her website <a href="https://chat.openai.com/c/www.sharonsrock.com" target="_new">here</a> and follow her on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SharonSrock/" target="_new">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6448789.Sharon_Srock" target="_new">Goodreads</a>. For a comprehensive look at her books, visit her <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sharon-Srock/e/B009OB2HSO/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1" target="_new">Amazon page</a>.<p></p><p>Don't forget to sign up for Sharon's newsletter to stay in the loop on her upcoming releases and special offers. </p><p></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Website:
www.sharonsrock.com<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/SharonSrock/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Bookbub:
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sharon-srock<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Amazon page:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sharon-Srock/author/B009OB2HSO<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Michelle Massarohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12841001797112425917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8712832451394708482.post-41442333783378412322023-11-22T04:00:00.141-07:002023-11-22T04:00:00.299-07:00Meet Michelle Levigne and Enter for a Free Ebook<p><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCacsBJIBjLYfi3eeODqGVYqTYwY3_EhDNWFwSlBxbnJhKcs8xauvGlF0_WqAPYh2Qvrni9HHWPgQ4f1BYZ3tB8zF_8maAN03E_bnYfmO-7VnMkFpUiBvkMg0Mmh5m89oetLvrXDBA3_3nNYRgQS_EKeZ98XfqjihfNKGOnZ1klKTlwU4YlGGO-fo-cmY/s1673/Michelle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1673" data-original-width="1195" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCacsBJIBjLYfi3eeODqGVYqTYwY3_EhDNWFwSlBxbnJhKcs8xauvGlF0_WqAPYh2Qvrni9HHWPgQ4f1BYZ3tB8zF_8maAN03E_bnYfmO-7VnMkFpUiBvkMg0Mmh5m89oetLvrXDBA3_3nNYRgQS_EKeZ98XfqjihfNKGOnZ1klKTlwU4YlGGO-fo-cmY/s320/Michelle.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>On the road to publication, Michelle fell into fandom in college. She has a bunch of useless degrees in theater, English, film/communication, and writing, and books and novellas in science fiction and fantasy, YA, suspense, women's fiction, and romance. Her official launch into publishing came with winning first place in the Writers of the Future contest in 1990. Her training includes the Institute for Children’s Literature; proofreading at an advertising agency;<br /> and working at a community newspaper. She freelance edits for a living, but only enough to give her time to write. Her crimes against the literary world include co-managing editor at Mt. Zion Ridge Press, the publishing co-op, Ye Olde Dragon Books, and Ye Olde Dragon’s Library, the storytelling podcast.<br /><br /><b>Michelle is giving away an ebook copy of <i>Common Grounds.</i> Please comment by December 6. We need five comments to offer a giveaway.<br /></b><br /><b>I asked Michelle to share a bit about her favorite things: </b><br /><br /><b>What is your favorite? </b><br /><br /><i>Drink?<br /></i>This time of year, hot chocolate – found this awesome peanut butter cup hot chocolate, with actual tiny peanut butter cups in it. Dangerously good!<p></p><p><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><br /><i>Candy?</i><br />Dark chocolate. With occasional indulging in Dots.<br /><br /><i>Holiday tradition?</i><br />Operation Christmas Child, through Samaritan’s Purse. It’s fun seeing how much I can cram into shoebox-sized plastic boxes, to benefit a kid in another country. School supplies, toys, costume jewelry, socks, combs, harmonicas, etc. <br /><br /><i>Season?</i><br />Spring, when I can sleep with my windows open, and there’s daylight when I wake up in the morning.<br /><br /><b>Now, tell us a bit about yourself:<br /></b><br /><i>What genre do you enjoy reading most?</i><br /><br />Fantasy. I’ve been finding some really good fantasy stories woven through Chinese mythology, and on the other end of the spectrum, a series where the main characters are dragons in our modern world <br /><br /><i>When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? <br /></i><br />High school. I got an idea in my head, a story from a TV show that caught my imagination, and the only way I could get it out of my head so I could study for final exams was to try to write it down. Trying to write stories had always killed them before. This time … I kept going. And haven’t stopped, even with the “distraction” of going to college and working full-time. I have always loved stories, and I’ve always had a tendency to rewrite TV shows and books that I loved and wanted to keep going – or struck me as really stupid. My first published stories were all fan fiction, like Star Trek, Highlander, The Phoenix, Stingray, Stargate SG-1. My 5-book Arthurian fantasy series came from watching a really bad MacGyver episode that borrowed from A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. My version started out as a Fantasy Island fan story, then turned into one novel, then expanded into five. (See: <i>The Zygradon Chronicles</i>) <br /><br />What’s really funny is that I found a DVD set of that TV series from high school (not saying how long ago that was ….) and in watching it, I cringed at some really bad storytelling … and started dreaming up how I would have done those scripts differently. Someday, I’m going to write some books where I fix all those scripts. And probably no one will recognize the series …… It’ll be a lot of fun. <br /><br /><i>Do you have any upcoming projects, releases, or sales?</i><br /><br />This week, I hope to start final edits/formatting on <i>Inquest</i>, the 4th book in my science fiction/space opera series, AFV Defender – after that, I need to start final edits on <i>Brighten Your Corner</i>, the 3rd book in my cozy mystery series, <b>Book & Mug Mysteries</b> – while I’m doing that, I need to edit narration for <i>The Beastly Beauty</i>, the 2nd book in my <b>Enchanted Castle Archives </b>fantasy series, and decide when to release it. Oh, yeah … and I’m doing a Kickstarter for <i>Inquest</i>. My first Kickstarter. I’ve got a lot to learn …<br /><br /><b>What have you been working on?</b><br /><br /><i>What genre do you write and why did you choose that one?</i><br /><br />The book Penny asked me to spotlight is <i>Common Grounds,</i> which is a romantic suspense, set in my</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOMkjcXz8h1rs6cLxr5hXh5lcZAKLAeqGv5dTsNyB9MoOtSv9h_g06THyerrhit1kvhZVoLCXAo8u6MsahyphenhyphensBv9blUOfdIDu7Fyr7ouPMtboxOYHPJgvc7k8bgAt5JAvAkkauHxT7eFkJmiH_APjw4o8rFk8ospuL0ZYi2LvJyd_5eYgrETBFYN1VR7A/s342/common%20grounds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="228" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOMkjcXz8h1rs6cLxr5hXh5lcZAKLAeqGv5dTsNyB9MoOtSv9h_g06THyerrhit1kvhZVoLCXAo8u6MsahyphenhyphensBv9blUOfdIDu7Fyr7ouPMtboxOYHPJgvc7k8bgAt5JAvAkkauHxT7eFkJmiH_APjw4o8rFk8ospuL0ZYi2LvJyd_5eYgrETBFYN1VR7A/s320/common%20grounds.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>sweet romance series, Tabor Heights, which I am re-launching, expanding from ebook only to ebook, paper, and audio, from Mt. Zion Ridge Press.<br /><br />That being said, I’m focusing more on my science fiction and fantasy. I have a cozy mystery series, <b>Book & Mug Mysteries</b>, that I’m doing for Mt. Zion Ridge, but everything else is SF/fantasy. A lot of time, the story chooses the genre. Some story ideas just “fit” better in a specific genre. For instance, that series I mentioned based on the TV show from high school – I’ve gone back and forth a couple times between an urban fantasy based in our modern world and a futuristic set on an alien planet. It all depends on how much the fantastical element wants to come out. There was a suspense story I wanted to write years ago, that started out as a modern-day story, but the legal elements of the story, where a powerful man kidnaps and holds captive a young woman he believes to be his daughter, eventually required me to make it science fiction before it “worked.” See: True Caderi, part of my <b>Commonwealth Universe</b> SF series from Writers Exchange.<br /><br /><i>Do you find yourself returning to a similar theme in your novels or do you have a new message with each release?</i><br /><br />That’s a funny thing – I don’t really know if I have a theme. I never set out to write a specific message. I was a theater major in college, and in playwriting class I can’t count how many professors said: If you want to send a message, use Western Union. I don’t set out to send a message, and I don’t choose a theme, but there’s a recurring undercurrent of the struggle to do right, of oppression from outside, stronger forces, of finding identity and family and purpose. A lot of my <b>Commonwealth Universe</b> stories, for example, deal with different groups of people who are oppressed by those who would dictate who is accepted, who is considered a “real” Human, and try to either erase or enslave those who don’t fit their narrow standards. I also have lots of sub-plots in other stories where nasty, powerful people try to force people into molds, whether political, religious, cultural, or genetic.<br /><br />Specific to <i>Common Grounds,</i> my hero, Xander, is a lawyer setting up a branch office in Tabor Heights. He is getting some opposition from another lawyer, who happens to be a loud voice in his church. Mr. Montgomery just keeps criticizing and judging and sneering at anyone who disagrees with him, and uses a 50-pound Bible to pound people and force them to fit his narrow standards – all the while socializing with a local judge who comes under scrutiny for ethics violations. But don’t worry, Mr. Montgomery eventually punishes himself. He ends up having to either eat his words or leave his church when the pastor and leadership won’t bow to his demands. He’s so vicious to his daughter-in-law (“real” Christian women don’t do art, don’t have careers, don’t wear pants) that his son finally sees the light and stands up to him (The Family Way) and he loses access to his first grandchild.<br /><br />Huh, funny what comes out from a question like that. I was going to pass this up, then I got thinking. It’s dangerous when you get me thinking!<br /><br />The bottom line is that whatever “theme” or “message” comes out in a story, it’s not intentional. It comes from my personal feelings, my beliefs, my faith. I certainly don’t see it during the writing, and maybe not until much later. Like James Rubart says, “It’s hard to read the label when you’re inside the bottle.”<br /><br /><i>How do you select the names of your characters?<br /></i><br />Sometimes I pick names for a specific meaning. Usually that’s in the planning stage, to help me create the characters. I have a Latin dictionary and a Greek dictionary, plus a baby name book and a character naming book that lists by ethnicities/cultures. For example, I’ll pick all Celtic names for the characters from one country, all Greek names for characters from another country.<br /><br />Other times, I’ll pick a person or country or movement that’s being especially visible in the news and twist their names around. I have a lot of monsters and troublesome planets and governments in my SF stories based on political figures or political parties or movements. In the words of Hawkeye Pierce, I’m an equal-opportunity annoyer: I pick on loudmouths and boors from both sides of the aisle.<br /><br />Sometimes, I just play with sounds, such as naming various countries that my wandering heroine travels through. Sometimes I get silly, and if you sound out the name of a country, it’s a string of words. Such as the phrase “ne’er do well” is now a country called Nayrdoweil.<br /><br /><b>Just for fun:</b><br /><br /><i>If you could have any super power, which would it be?</i><br /><br />I’d be a Hoveni – that’s a metamorphic race in my <b>Commonwealth Universe</b>. They can change into any animal or plant to suit the need or situation. So if I needed to get somewhere fast, I’d become an animal that could fly or run at sonic speed. If I needed to hide, I’d become something really small. And of course, being a SF universe, there would be animals with telepathic powers, the ability to heal, to use natural radar to find things, and go invisible, when necessary.<br /><br />But I wouldn’t tell any but a few people I completely trusted, because “different is dangerous,” and like they show in most TV shows, special people, aliens, magical creatures, either get locked up in labs for study, or they’re expected to save the world every week while different groups try to put them on leashes and control who they use those powers for, or call them vigilantes and persecute them. (See; a lot of Marvel movies) Secret identity, anyone?<br /><br />Thanks so much for joining us today, Michelle.<br /><br /><b>If you'd like to follow Michelle:</b><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mlevigne.com/">www.Mlevigne.com</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.michellelevigne.blogspot.com/">www.MichelleLevigne.blogspot.com</a> – sign up for her newsletter<br /><br /><a href="http://www.yeoldedragonbooks.com/">www.YeOldeDragonBooks.com</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mtzionridgepress.com/">www.MtZionRidgePress.com</a><br /><br />Facebook: Michelle Levigne, author and editor<br />Instagram: @MichelleLevigne, @2OldeDragons <br /><br /><b>Michelle is giving away an ebook copy of Common Grounds. Please comment by December 6. We need five comments to offer a giveaway.</b><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8712832451394708482.post-72244970004199663102023-11-15T10:00:00.061-07:002023-11-15T10:00:00.138-07:00Interview with debut Author, Cindy Kay Stewart
<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0UhvbsioMVqPUMnC4oEwaMVL8KZhabZZu6UxAoMQLmDz4_C3VxXeq4qv5vNT-xxjnMj2pvJoHTBfJDefpCxg_o4w8-fHbmweez8osK9SXrtdEqUVAWTU2YSqbytlhHObrBOqXlnYo6J5yZ0ua937t1_XTMu-mj0UpeRcgbjDoSy5qKp03GPPqMNfQMFW/s1080/Author-Photo.jpg.webp" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0UhvbsioMVqPUMnC4oEwaMVL8KZhabZZu6UxAoMQLmDz4_C3VxXeq4qv5vNT-xxjnMj2pvJoHTBfJDefpCxg_o4w8-fHbmweez8osK9SXrtdEqUVAWTU2YSqbytlhHObrBOqXlnYo6J5yZ0ua937t1_XTMu-mj0UpeRcgbjDoSy5qKp03GPPqMNfQMFW/s320/Author-Photo.jpg.webp"/></a></div>
<P>Cindy Kay Stewart, a retired high school social studies teacher and current church pianist, writes stories of hope, steeped in love, and anchored in faith. Her manuscripts have won the Touched by Love Award, the First Impressions contest, and the Sandra Robbins Inspirational Writing Award. They've also finaled in the Maggie Award of Excellence and the Cascade Awards, and semi-finaled in the Genesis contest. Cindy is passionate about revealing God’s handiwork in history. She resides in North Georgia with her college sweetheart and husband of forty-two years. Her daughter, son-in-law, and four adorable grandchildren live nearby. Cindy’s currently writing the <i>Circle of Hope</i> series set in WWII Europe.
<P>LBL: I first met Cindy at the 2022 ACFW conference in St. Louis. She and her group of ladies from Georgia were so gracious and welcoming that even though I live all the way down in south Florida, I joined the ACFW Georgia chapter. And they continue to be a blessing. But enough about me. Let's hear from Cindy.
<p>LBL: To start off, how about a little non-writing trivia about you. Which do you prefer?
<p>LBL: For your physical location, a country or an urban setting?
<p>CKS: Country – it’s beautiful and peaceful
<p>LBL: I TOTALLY agree. <P>Sweet or salty snacks?
<p>CKS: Both together – they balance each other out
<p>LBL: For your personal enjoyment, paper, digital, or audio books?
<p>CKS: Digital – I can read after “lights out.” 😊
<p>LBL: LOL. Yes! <P>Are you a morning person or a night owl?
<p>CKS: A night owl
<p>LBL: Pets or no pets?
<p>CKS: No pets
<p>LBL: Tell us a little about your family.
<p>CKS: My husband and I met in college. We attended a Christian university, and our first meetup was on a blind date. We married a little over a year later, right after graduation, and that was 42 years ago. We adopted our only child when she was only three days old. She is our gift from God, so we named her Joy. She’s married and has given us four grandchildren to love on.
<p>LBL: Four! That's great. :)
<P>What is your primary genre, and why did you choose it?
<p>CKS: WWII Romance is my favorite genre to read and write. I love to learn about actual historical events through authentic fiction, and I love stories where couples fall in love. Romance also cushions the hard events in life, which is certainly true during WWII.
<p>WWII is a fascinating time period to study because so many miracles took place in the midst of great tragedy. There never has been a time in history when so many people sacrificed so much to save the world from evil. Romance adds soft and intriguing elements to stories about such a difficult time in history, and, of course, romances have a “happily ever after” ending.
<p>LBL: I love that line, that romance cushions the hard events in life. <P>You're a debut author, so asking how many books you have published and which is your favorite was a dumb set of questions on my part, but since I asked, I'm leaving your answer here. It gives us a little characterization insight into Cindy Kay Stewart. lol.
<p>CKS: Since <i>Abounding Hope</i> is my first published novel, it’s my favorite. 😊
<p>LBL: Loved that quirky answer. :)
<P>What is your writing space like?
<p>CKS: I have a lovely room with a writing desk and comfortable office chair on the second floor of our new house. Before we moved in June, I wrote at the dining room table.
<p>LBL: Tell us a little about your debut release, <i>Abounding Hope</i>, and how you came up with the idea.
<P><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIh0ajOFTPJNTihseRuSp00Tb-oxhEMyaBCXVn3CUVXZYP1MvGvEt1Q5-Znb_DKr0ovvUdKgZdEIvX_49_CT6-2HpBC49zgZEKhgxKYBq2aKjRFKcj4kZWRvosD6Yc1pS0rXBoi50FuF39BrQXqIIYyg2UQOMIk3CumLms7Pd7hNFJAdZGFL3A4V21QEQv/s1500/91u2aTlWXRL._SL1500_.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIh0ajOFTPJNTihseRuSp00Tb-oxhEMyaBCXVn3CUVXZYP1MvGvEt1Q5-Znb_DKr0ovvUdKgZdEIvX_49_CT6-2HpBC49zgZEKhgxKYBq2aKjRFKcj4kZWRvosD6Yc1pS0rXBoi50FuF39BrQXqIIYyg2UQOMIk3CumLms7Pd7hNFJAdZGFL3A4V21QEQv/s320/91u2aTlWXRL._SL1500_.jpg"/></a></div>
<p>CKS: <i>Abounding Hope</i> is set in Poland and Hungary at the beginning of WWII. The main characters are Americans who’ve lived in Europe most of their lives. They’re also civilians who learn to surrender their expectations and trust the Lord through their harrowing experiences. In the end, they also find love.
<p>I’ve read and re-read Bodie & Brock Thoene’s WWII series, <i>The Zion Covenant</i>. The sixth book ends in Warsaw during the beginning days of WWII. The main characters escaped by boat on a river, but how they managed their liberation was left to the reader’s imagination. I had to find the answer and started researching. I discovered a wealth of interesting escapee stories, which eventually led to the writing of <i>Abounding Hope</i>.
<p>LBL: Do you have a new project in the works? Can you tell us a little about it?
<p>CKS: Yes, I have three projects in the works. I can tell you about two of them. Lord willing, a prequel novel set in 1938 Berlin will release in early spring of 2024, and the sequel to <i>Abounding Hope</i>, set in 1940 Norway and France, will release in the fall of 2024. All of these books are part of the <i>Circle of Hope Series</i>, so many of the characters from <i>Abounding Hope</i> will reappear in the other books.
<p>LBL: Do you have a particular go-to Bible verse you’d like to share with us? Why is it special to you?
<p>CKS: Isaiah 40:31 – “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
<p>This verse is very special to me because it has sustained me during the most difficult times of my life.
<p>LBL: How can we pray for you?
<p>CKS: Please pray for the Lord’s guidance as I complete the first draft of the sequel in November and December. Then I will set the sequel aside and complete edits and rewrites for the prequel novella.
<p>For more information about Cindy and her book, please visit her website at <a href="https://cindykaystewart.com" target="_blank">https://cindykaystewart.com</a>. If you sign up for her newsletter, you'll receive a wonderful gift in the form of a collecion of WWII escape stories, so don't miss out on that opportunity.
<P>You can also find Cindy on the following social media sites:
<P><a href="https://www.facebook.com/cindykstewartauthor" target="_blank">Facebook</a>
<P><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/43733828.Cindy_Kay_Stewart" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>
<P><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cindy-kay-stewart" target="_blank">Bookbub</a>
<P>Cindy is giving away an e-book copy of her book, so be sure to leave a message including your email.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8712832451394708482.post-51889462886509753082023-11-08T02:46:00.001-07:002023-11-08T02:46:00.150-07:00#Interview with Andrea Christenson about her new book How Sweet It Is (A Deep Haven, Fox Family Novel) #GIVEAWAY<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Interview
with <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Andrea
Christenson<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>about her new book How Sweet It Is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>. (A Deep Haven, Fox Family Novel)</i></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p> <span style="color: red;"><b><i>Andrea is very graciously giving away one copy of her new book to one lucky winner! Remember we must have 5 entries for the giveaway to happen!</i></b></span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> LVH: Glad to have you stop by, . Tell us about
the book:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlE3JPw-TXv_39lW2L4hwdlPH0734P55wzuqV0LSdbP2GJ_EKRATUMh8j5VoZdoyhY1lGRtctdyibo9ZIkspLUSBhtZFYcswBm2RmUxn8Q8udoBJDVOABwvE3Za5veZVZBtbNHKrQ3ghX7QBlqIipIbYyeu9ooTPbGWqhJJ1cogLlLCiZu65qttxFrPTc/s640/7FF30117-4387-4727-9269-96E5DA80FAE0.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="414" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlE3JPw-TXv_39lW2L4hwdlPH0734P55wzuqV0LSdbP2GJ_EKRATUMh8j5VoZdoyhY1lGRtctdyibo9ZIkspLUSBhtZFYcswBm2RmUxn8Q8udoBJDVOABwvE3Za5veZVZBtbNHKrQ3ghX7QBlqIipIbYyeu9ooTPbGWqhJJ1cogLlLCiZu65qttxFrPTc/s320/7FF30117-4387-4727-9269-96E5DA80FAE0.png" width="207" /></a></div><br />How
Sweet It Is tells the story of Robin Fox and Sammy Johnson. Robin is a talented
pastry chef who has to give up her job in Paris, and returns home to Deep
Haven, MN to help out her grandparents in their bakery. Sammy Johnson was
injured in an accident a few years before and is just starting to get back on
his feet. Together they have to figure out what they want out of life, and how
to work in tandem on their dreams.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">LVH: I can't wait to read it! How did your interest in
writing originate?</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I’ve wanted to be an author for a very long time. When I
was growing up, people who wrote books were like superheroes to me. It wasn’t
until I was in my mid-thirties that I started to get serious about writing,
though. But, once I started, I found I couldn’t stop!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">LVH: What does your writing process look like?</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Well, I tend to be more of a pantser (I write my books by
the seat of my pants without a firm plan) but my publisher often wants an
outline. So, I’m learning to work both ways: a loose outline so we can all see
where I’m going, but with plenty of room for ideas along the way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> LVH: If you could cast your characters in the
Hollywood adaptation of your book, who would play your characters?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I used a photo of Allen Ritchson for my inspiration for
Sammy, and Jenna Coleman for a physical description of Robin. I’m not sure if
the two of them would have great chemistry on the big screen, but they would
look the part!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">LVH: Who was your favorite character in How Sweet It
Is?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I loved exploring Elaine Fox, the grandmother. She has an
interesting history, and I’d like to hear more about her. I guess I will have
to read the next two books in the Fox series for that! I also identified with
Robin’s longing for a big life. I often need to remind myself that life is
about substance and not about flash.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> LVH: What are you working on now? What is your next
project?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I have two projects I am working on. Both of them are small
town romances. I love the way stories come together in small towns. Old love,
new love, quirky characters, big themes, family, etc all work so well in a
small setting. More info on those projects are coming soon!</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> LVH: Share your bio: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP1htJAtwIJI8ISeDchJybcQ8PyyZDj5ugH3lAuadIhZZs4myA2XMJD1BTOb7ypV7kZmM73Tkks10-hD0l9rgbV7kJvmAZmz4DiTCsZhqpX5keh8_Uq9viNPL_NFDDKFg5gageIvNUq2PVsj4qsUeJGEA47TW-_X9Gg7qBbTWykbGAsApTGlYg1pN_IjY/s640/BEB90D2C-63F5-4B8D-AAF9-C2030A275DBC.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="427" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP1htJAtwIJI8ISeDchJybcQ8PyyZDj5ugH3lAuadIhZZs4myA2XMJD1BTOb7ypV7kZmM73Tkks10-hD0l9rgbV7kJvmAZmz4DiTCsZhqpX5keh8_Uq9viNPL_NFDDKFg5gageIvNUq2PVsj4qsUeJGEA47TW-_X9Gg7qBbTWykbGAsApTGlYg1pN_IjY/s320/BEB90D2C-63F5-4B8D-AAF9-C2030A275DBC.jpeg" width="214" /></a></div><br />Andrea Christenson
lives in a Minneapolis, MN suburb with her husband and two daughters. When she
is not busy homeschooling her girls, she loves to read anything she can get her
hands on. She believes that a great loaf of artistic bread can turn a meal into
a masterpiece. Andrea’s prayer is to write stories revealing God’s love.<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> Website: www.AndreaChristenson.com<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Instagram: www.instagram.com/andrea_christenson_author/</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Facebook: www.facebook.com/andrea.christenson.author<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Twitter: twitter.com/AndreaC_Author</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Sales sites: sunrisepublishing.com/books-fox-family-how-sweet-it-is/</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>lollipopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13795604276462398576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8712832451394708482.post-15174175432386306942023-10-31T19:42:00.000-06:002023-10-31T19:42:32.317-06:00Meet Cozy Mystery Writer Julie B. Cosgrove<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTr7K0cacLkFO_OJYyXO06fkEiEG1_T_C1kwfqs6oTSlVnvic_vTM25vXxHQzvQy63ZwjkeOMJEVO7rIICx74krA7374qMYpaQq3m81P6gIHMv_UP5ZIEeI_JEJUQlPHHD75MpzNteeO3WfRApkpceDumPTGKqQkupIEPSBUXcYR4J_eiM8Uhrwbfv2o/s2133/20201010_213831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2133" data-original-width="1810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTr7K0cacLkFO_OJYyXO06fkEiEG1_T_C1kwfqs6oTSlVnvic_vTM25vXxHQzvQy63ZwjkeOMJEVO7rIICx74krA7374qMYpaQq3m81P6gIHMv_UP5ZIEeI_JEJUQlPHHD75MpzNteeO3WfRApkpceDumPTGKqQkupIEPSBUXcYR4J_eiM8Uhrwbfv2o/s320/20201010_213831.jpg" width="272" /></a></div><br />Our guest today is Julie B Cosgrove,
author of the Word Play Mysteries, talking about her series and why she writes
in the cozy genre.<o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">Leaving a comment makes you eligible for <span style="text-indent: 0in;"> a paperback of
your choice of any of Julie's thirteen cozy mysteries.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">If the winner is not in the USA, Julie will email a $15
Amazon gift certificate to purchase one paperback or several eBooks (hopefully
hers!).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhl89tvwjjkOQI58BEaWY4tM1nQfihfpx3wGEy7Xuna6jtWnwjTL8yEfN4rTJ5sM53tQl5UflmlJY3BN6RMLPAKdLVjcMwoq7ywFyLvEY0U7GPqShXq8RC-XTjIJ7r_IAHE_3Csq0_IeIfyw1_ZfvPtjKHYgsLozj8SaW3zpSZmLI21jo79Tvkyf_gog/s1240/Wordplay%20Mysteries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="1240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhl89tvwjjkOQI58BEaWY4tM1nQfihfpx3wGEy7Xuna6jtWnwjTL8yEfN4rTJ5sM53tQl5UflmlJY3BN6RMLPAKdLVjcMwoq7ywFyLvEY0U7GPqShXq8RC-XTjIJ7r_IAHE_3Csq0_IeIfyw1_ZfvPtjKHYgsLozj8SaW3zpSZmLI21jo79Tvkyf_gog/s320/Wordplay%20Mysteries.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">A church member
recently asked me why, as a Christian author, I wrote mysteries. Good question.
At first glance it may seem faith and mystery are polar opposites. Good versus
evil. Love versus crime. Saint versus sinner. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">I write cozy
mysteries for several reasons. First, it is my favorite genre. From an early
age I would lie in front of our black and white TV totally absorbed in the
Sherlock Holmes and Charlie Chan mysteries.
I did read some of the Nancy Drew books from my elementary school
library but found them to be too predictable. I figured out I didn’t want to
read about her, I wanted to <i>be</i> her! The late British author Mary Stewart
hooked me on her novels. Young,
intelligent single women travel to exotic places, then find themselves in the
midst of danger once they get too close to whodunnit. And of course, each ended
with the dashing slightly older gentleman coming to the rescue. Sigh. It pumped
my preteen heart!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">I still prefer to
read cozies, but many of the secular ones are not as innocent as they once
were. Foul language, out of marriage relationships, paranormal, and witchcraft
have inched into the plots. Hmmm, not for me. But there are still some clean,
secular cozy writers out there. Mary Daheim has been my favorite since the late
1990’s. She still writes, by the way. I love her wit and her characters. To
state I was thrilled when she endorsed my first cozy mystery novel, <i>Dumpster
Dicing</i>, back in 2016 is an understatement. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">Secondly, cozy
mysteries are less about the crime itself and more about achieving justice by
solving the mystery and making sure the bad guys are caught. Micah 6:8 states,
as the as the answer as to what a faith-living person should do: <i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God.” </span></i>As
a Christian cozy writer, I try to show my characters live out the faith in
their everyday lives and interactions. They are fallible but they keep trying
to achieve all three. Thus, each mystery has a central message – God is there
and He cares.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">As one five star
reviewer wrote – “<i>What I didn’t expect was such an encouraging message to
come in the middle of a cozy mystery. Sometimes authors shove a Christian
message in between crime scenes and car chases. However, Cosgrove seamlessly
threads her message throughout the book." </i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">So far, I have been
contracted to write three mystery series. The first, <b>The Bunco Biddies
Mysteries</b>, were four novels written between 2015-2018. They feature Bunco playing ladies in a
retirement community. The first won Best Cozy Mystery set in Texas by the Texas
Association of Authors in 2017. Then Write Integrity Press took me on as an
author but the editor in chief wanted a more “Hallmark” formula. So, I wrote <b>The
Relatively Seeking Mysteries</b> involving three thirty-something church
friends who sought out lost relatives and found themselves in danger as they unveiled
family secrets. <i>One Leaf Too Many</i> (the ACFW book of the month in August
2019) and <i>Fallen Leaf</i> have the inklings of romance with the detectives
on the case. The third, <i>Leaf Me Alone, </i>finalist in the Christian
Literary Awards in 2021<i>,</i> showed the gal who was already married but
whose marriage was being tested by hard times. Working through the mystery helped
the couple realize the strength of their marriage and their faith.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">Then I convinced
Write Integrity Press to let me return to writing about senior sleuths. I
combined my two loves—mystery and word games—and molded them into <b>The
Wordplay Mystery Series</b>. Wanda, the
main character, is a widow raised in the small, fictitious town of Scrub Oak,
Texas. Her almost life-long friend is a retired schoolteacher, also widowed,
named Betty Sue. Her next door neighbor
is Evelyn, who devours cozy mysteries and even has them catalogued by sleuth,
crime, and author. Wanda’s nephew, Todd—who the town recalls as the wayward
teen whose parents went through the most scandalous divorce in Scrub Oak
history—grew
up, graduated from the police academy, and now has returned to Scrub Oak as a
policeman. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Wanda begins to
realize her love for word games and puzzles make her a natural sleuth. In fact,
various word game techniques help her discover valid clues. So, she sets out
“helping” her nephew win the favor of the town by solving the crimes that are seeping
into Scrub Oak along with the urban sprawl.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><i style="text-indent: 0in;">Word Has It</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">
involves a Scrabble game revealing clues to not only a current mystery but two previously
hidden in the past. It won the Distinguished Cozy Mystery award in the Spring
of 2021. In </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">Word Gets Around</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">, random words left on windshield may hold
the answer as to why an up and coming reporter has gone missing. </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">In Other Words</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> focuses on palindromes
spray painted on local businesses when the vandalism soon explodes into organized
crime. In </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">Hang on Every Word</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">, Wanda is assigned to create a weekly Hangman
and a Find-Words-in-a-Word puzzle for the local newspaper, but the clues seem
to spur robberies around downtown. People begin to think Wanda may be
orchestrating it all to gain more glory. Now, though handcuffed, she must solve
the mystery and her reputation!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKq5ZW-2faQ2ornSuQ3J-5w8ODQ7qqZCxNFpsjvVq3EO-KSHM4eU2qnzxm2OXCxOdaktEXPIq5DOJQQvwe11NMZM5JAun23FfUVG6kyYTEooX81kqRKhEr7LA51yx8MBhgGsaHmgQNTI4ComZUizNMsf0fRFFu_jBE1n1i22DYXXNTAwvp28kkQrPD-uI/s2850/5%20Front%20skinny%202%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2850" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKq5ZW-2faQ2ornSuQ3J-5w8ODQ7qqZCxNFpsjvVq3EO-KSHM4eU2qnzxm2OXCxOdaktEXPIq5DOJQQvwe11NMZM5JAun23FfUVG6kyYTEooX81kqRKhEr7LA51yx8MBhgGsaHmgQNTI4ComZUizNMsf0fRFFu_jBE1n1i22DYXXNTAwvp28kkQrPD-uI/s320/5%20Front%20skinny%202%20(1).jpg" width="202" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p><span style="text-indent: 0in;">The fourth in the
series has just released - </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">Away With Words.</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">In this novel, Wanda and Evelyn reluctantly
go on a women’s retreat with Betty Sue out of state to West Monroe,
Louisiana.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">The theme of the retreat is “Acting
out Grace” and Wanda soon learns that this is something unnatural for her to do,
especially after being wounded by the community who accused her of crime
plotting. While there, a scavenger hunt leads them to discover a crime scene.
Then one of the retreat attendees is whacked over the head. Plus, a teenage
girl has gone missing. Of course, the trio feel obliged to investigate. Through
it all, Wanda learns quite a few reasons why she needed to be on this retreat.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">Unlike Scrub Oak,
the setting for <i>Away with Words</i> is real. It is a wonderful cabin where I
was invited by some local church ladies in West Monroe to lead a retreat
several years ago. It was one of the most enjoyable retreats I have led. Therefore, when the opportunity arose, I jumped
at the chance to set my next mystery there.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p><span style="text-indent: 0in;">I have been
contracted to continue the series and am writing book six, </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">Loss for Words</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">
now. Its planned release is next June.
In between writing the Word Play Mysteries, I was privileged to be asked
to write, along with six other Christian cozy mystery writers, a novella series
called </span><b style="text-indent: 0in;">The Visitor</b><span style="text-indent: 0in;">. The seven
were released monthly from February through August of 2023 and mine, </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">The
Visitor Makes a Retreat</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">, debuted the series.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Life is a mystery,
and it has many twists and turns. We don’t always see what is coming. But we
know in the end good will triumph over evil. God reigns, even though Satan
prowls. My mysteries, I hope, reiterate that fact.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p><span style="text-indent: 0in;">You can preview
each of the thirteen books published so far on my<a href="http://www.juliebcosgrove.com" target="_blank"> website</a></span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">, or on my
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Julie-B-Cosgrove/author" target="_blank">Amazon author page</a>. </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> And I would love it if you followed me on my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/juliebcosgrove.tx" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>.</span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8712832451394708482.post-59890130966926091242023-10-26T17:48:00.006-06:002023-10-26T17:58:57.000-06:00DIY Novel by Author Regina Rudd Merrick and Book Giveaway!<h4 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Throw those paint brushes in the water bucket, swipe the
paint off your nose, and perch yourself on a metal stool while we get to know this week’s
author, Regina Rudd Merrick. I’ve just started her book,<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Restoration-RenoVations-Inc-Book-ebook/dp/B0CDHH2RZJ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=J8CNMNJ1GAM0&keywords=heart+restoration+regina+Rudd+merrick&qid=1698362486&sprefix=heart+restoration+regina+rudd+merrick%2Caps%2C114&sr=8-1" target="_blank"> <b><i>Heart Restoration</i></b></a>, since
I’m such a DIYer, I couldn’t resist. So, let’s get to know her a little better.</span></h4><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaBaBJ_sinKz48RjK7wsnZZII8OhqkiaHfi1PJj7a2q6V7xl0PYaEXyNVxyFZVJoxDk8NcpTXGP6iMNky5S-EYsr5uX_lqpU08dURJuGEpVqJbrut8KXxyLF_EiEfPQH-wOCjfhCHbYowzNIrfcwdnG60wAgvzSWxxoBGmmROe4qMCSlQBuW0y2CUsP8O3/s640/Headshot2.close.resize.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="457" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaBaBJ_sinKz48RjK7wsnZZII8OhqkiaHfi1PJj7a2q6V7xl0PYaEXyNVxyFZVJoxDk8NcpTXGP6iMNky5S-EYsr5uX_lqpU08dURJuGEpVqJbrut8KXxyLF_EiEfPQH-wOCjfhCHbYowzNIrfcwdnG60wAgvzSWxxoBGmmROe4qMCSlQBuW0y2CUsP8O3/w286-h400/Headshot2.close.resize.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><span style="color: #0b5394;">PT: Hi, Regina! Let’s get the basics out of the way. Tell us
what genre you write in and if there’s ever been another genre you’ve always
wanted to write in and why?</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">RRM: I mainly write Contemporary Christian Romance, although
I released a Christian Historical romance last spring. I would LOVE to write
RomCom, but I always end up putting a serious plot in there, somehow! <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;">PT: What region of the United States has most influenced you
in your life? Midwest? Eastern seaboard? Rockies? Appalachian? West Coat?
Southwest? Which region do you hail from?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">RRM: I’m from what you’d call the mid-south, I guess—the
western part of Kentucky. From Nashville, TN, go north for an hour and a half,
then turn left! Most of my writing features either characters from my home
area, or one who has relocated to the beaches of South Carolina, which is
definitely my happy place!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;">PT: Ah, the beach. I am so with you there! Now, what
directed your life toward writing? Do you have another job besides being an
author?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">RRM: I’ve always been a writer, although it’s just been in
the last ten or so years that I’ve written with the goal of publication. I
started with fanfiction online, and met some other writers there who were using
fanfiction as a means to prepare for the “real” world of writing Christian
fiction, and the die was cast. At the time, I was the library director at our
local library. Now, I write full-time but just finished a season of caring for
and losing elderly parents.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;">PT: Oh, my. So sorry to hear of the loss of your parents.
But speaking of seasons, what season is your favorite and why?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">RRM: If it’s winter, I’ll say spring, but when fall comes?
Then it’s fall! LOL! Overall, though, I think it would be spring, primarily
because the older I get, the more I hate winter weather, and daffodils!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;">PT: Are you and your family a rural-type or urban type? Any
animals that grace your home?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">RRM: Rural, definitely. My husband and I both grew up on
farms, in small communities, and we now live on a 3-acre plot just outside the
city limits of a small Kentucky town which is considered a “rural city!” LOL!
Our only farm animal is Cedric, our 16-year-old dog!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;">PT: I’ve got to tell you I am really excited about your
series, RenoVations, being a die-hard DIYer myself. I just finished painting
one deck, staining another and freshening paint around the exterior of the
house. Is there a reason why you chose this topic?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">RRM: I love watching HGTV, and when I was younger, before
HGTV was a thing, I watched This Old House faithfully. When I started thinking
about a series featuring a family of contractors, the name Reno came up, and
with my love of word-play, RenoVations was born! Being able to set up a
fictional community in my home county has been so much fun!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;">PT: Are you a DIYer yourself? If so, what’s one of your
current projects?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">RRM: My dad could fix anything, and my mom was an expert
homemaker, so let’s just say I grew up thinking everyone was supposed to be a
DIYer! I do what I can, but I like to think I know my limitations—and my husband’s!
<span face=""Segoe UI Symbol","sans-serif"" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Symbol";">😉</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;">PT: Give us some info your new book coming out in November
and where it is set. Give us all the juicy details</span>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">RRM: I’m very excited about <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Days-Mandy-Reno-RenoVations-Inc-ebook/dp/B0CL2NRSB6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=36LWXYOJFZVOE&keywords=12+days+of+mandy+reno&qid=1698362952&sprefix=12+days+of+Mand%2Caps%2C173&sr=8-1" target="_blank">12 Days of Mandy Reno</a></i></b>,
RenoVations Inc., book 2, releasing November 14, 2023! It’s my first Christmas
novella that’s not part of a collection.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFFyaI6HaS5DI08xxTIv9kqm3jY-Q9IM9KmVSnLGbkED6xLCZbuNYLUORL6x_ODnKLFuu-yDk6jYu-k9fX5AH3RhE9Lb7puCN65swFOYExULEDfsOQu12iXAZwFZCxfS5Ge8HgRDLQ23ek6fqQJkUWrM2UNpYawiQeDqKSgxRAQnkoP3E8gmmWUNDA1lE/s612/FC%20-%20Cover%20Mandy%20Reno%20-%20medium.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="386" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFFyaI6HaS5DI08xxTIv9kqm3jY-Q9IM9KmVSnLGbkED6xLCZbuNYLUORL6x_ODnKLFuu-yDk6jYu-k9fX5AH3RhE9Lb7puCN65swFOYExULEDfsOQu12iXAZwFZCxfS5Ge8HgRDLQ23ek6fqQJkUWrM2UNpYawiQeDqKSgxRAQnkoP3E8gmmWUNDA1lE/w405-h640/FC%20-%20Cover%20Mandy%20Reno%20-%20medium.jpg" width="405" /></a></div><br /> <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In this contemporary romance, Mandy Reno, cousin of Lisa
Reno from book 1, is back home in Clementville, KY, on break from law school
for Christmas. Her parents, on a six-month mission assignment, are delayed
departing Brazil because of a natural disaster that affects the people for whom
they’ve come to minister, and won’t be home for the holidays. Working at the
local café, Mandy finds herself telling young Sheriff Clay Lacey her frustrations,
and he hatches a plan, secretly, to make sure Mandy has an amazing Christmas.
He just hopes that when she finds out, their five-year age difference won’t be
a factor in her enjoyment of the season—or her opinion of him.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you want to get caught up on the storyline, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Restoration-RenoVations-Inc-Book-ebook/dp/B0CDHH2RZJ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2RDO0IBRAXCIY&keywords=heart+restoration+by+regina+rudd+merrick&qid=1698364371&sprefix=heart+restoration+by+regina+rudd+merrick%2Caps%2C191&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Heart Restoration</a></i></b>, book 1 of the RenoVations Inc. series, released in
September!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOd4XaAifOxjLSNJY_iQLE5MNFLM4b06UoxCcET5wyiUAtZsEngwgoZOCljhqqSLXvXjBpGba3Y_8JvBR6EIJWn3Ghk2-MARb2yW6ogv2Wut-hht13_s6fQAR9GYTt1modJOn4wcymZUTmsR5XJWixYhwf4Xi5C_bMfPb0b325RyMi4Z8qE-RToXVA3rB2/s425/91ACevJLXRL._SY425_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="269" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOd4XaAifOxjLSNJY_iQLE5MNFLM4b06UoxCcET5wyiUAtZsEngwgoZOCljhqqSLXvXjBpGba3Y_8JvBR6EIJWn3Ghk2-MARb2yW6ogv2Wut-hht13_s6fQAR9GYTt1modJOn4wcymZUTmsR5XJWixYhwf4Xi5C_bMfPb0b325RyMi4Z8qE-RToXVA3rB2/w254-h400/91ACevJLXRL._SY425_.jpg" width="254" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;">PT: Tell us 3 things about Regina Rudd Merrick that have
nothing to do with writing.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">RRM:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1. At age 6, my first TV crush was Fess Parker on “Daniel
Boone.” I’ve been fascinated with Daniel Boone ever since -good thing I’m from
KY, right?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2. My husband was at my parents’ wedding – he was two, so … <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">3. I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Library
Science at the age of 33 after three majors, two children, and moving sixty
miles away from our hometown.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;">PT: Is there a third book in the RenoVations Inc. series? If
so, what direction are you going in next? If not, what’s the next project?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">RRM: Yes! <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rebuilding Joy</i></b>, Book 3 in the
RenoVations Inc. series releases in February, features Lisa Reno’s brother and
Mandy Reno’s cousin, Del Reno. There’s a mystery at the Clementville Café, and
Del is determined to keep widow Darcy and her twin preschoolers safe, if it
kills him.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;">PT: Sounds like a great direction! Where can readers find
you?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">RRM: I can be found on Facebook and lurking on Instagram,
and at https://www.reginaruddmerrick.com – or at home watching all the Star
Trek TV shows and movies in chronological order! <span face=""Segoe UI Symbol","sans-serif"" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Symbol";">😊</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">So great to have you Regina. And now, the giveaway... Regina is giving away a reader's choice of an eBook OR sign print book (US only) of <i><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Days-Mandy-Reno-RenoVations-Inc-ebook/dp/B0CL2NRSB6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=36LWXYOJFZVOE&keywords=12+days+of+mandy+reno&qid=1698362952&sprefix=12+days+of+Mand%2Caps%2C173&sr=8-1" target="_blank">12 Days of Mandy Reno</a></b></i>! Click that link if you don't want to wait for your copy, otherwise, talk to us in the comments and leave a email. Or you can use our contact form.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHZk1nZBttvwVcnUsUWaKKvWVETf2XerCxQeTYAo956JuAb01HY5vPopWj1DnfPcIvIea3YiUhyrKgflnBhYUsCAxf59pJPtV_nGXMaKgrGENYZsVy3eLFpszKuiRL4njx3WNBuiWBBxOl-p1iLZIGGqNtkv2qHwz3W7w_qz3ccOjZliAx3ZlPa_mlXmc/s400/Email%20Sig.Regina%20Rudd%20Merrick.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHZk1nZBttvwVcnUsUWaKKvWVETf2XerCxQeTYAo956JuAb01HY5vPopWj1DnfPcIvIea3YiUhyrKgflnBhYUsCAxf59pJPtV_nGXMaKgrGENYZsVy3eLFpszKuiRL4njx3WNBuiWBBxOl-p1iLZIGGqNtkv2qHwz3W7w_qz3ccOjZliAx3ZlPa_mlXmc/w400-h200/Email%20Sig.Regina%20Rudd%20Merrick.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Regina Rudd Merrick is a multi-published author,
church musician, wife, mother, former librarian, lover of all things fun,
beachy, and chocolate, and grateful follower of Jesus Christ. Married to her
husband of 40 years, she is the mother of two grown daughters and lives in the
small town of Marion, KY. Connect with Regina on Facebook, Instagram, or on her
website at </span><a href="https://www.reginaruddmerrick.com/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.reginaruddmerrick.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Purchase
Link</span></b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">:
</span><a href="https://scriveningspress.com/book/12-days-of-mandy-reno/"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://scriveningspress.com/book/12-days-of-mandy-reno/</span></a><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Social Media:</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Facebook: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Regina-R-Merrick-512257938964888/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.facebook.com/Regina-R-Merrick-512257938964888/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Instagram: </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reginamerrick/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.instagram.com/reginamerrick/</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Pinterest: </span><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/rmerrick/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.pinterest.com/rmerrick/</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Website: </span><a href="https://www.reginaruddmerrick.com/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.reginaruddmerrick.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Scrivenings Press, LLC Author Page: </span><a href="https://scriveningspress.com/regina-rudd-merrick/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://scriveningspress.com/regina-rudd-merrick/</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Amazon Author Page: </span><a href="https://tinyurl.com/AmReginaRuddMerrick"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://tinyurl.com/AmReginaRuddMerrick</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">**************</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Join Regina and I with several other authors at Just Read Author Rendezvous in St. Louis on Nov. 17th! Find out more at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=831735842073579&set=gm.1810785769361179&idorvanity=1787478805025209" target="_blank">JustRead Publicity Tours</a>.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=831735842073579&set=gm.1810785769361179&idorvanity=1787478805025209" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1583" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2Uu3rfOqB6r0zjELnFREjP03xCoTdsPntF26HG0w0BBmwm6wFQlQsxoNFIQmkovvdPg2Rt3b5c69ZK0DJzBw9lKWMJXISUJzrn2zmLFpESgsExbfviMf50sywkpQiKomHqcmzt-UM_Yi3K7ruYAFJMI_8ABU08pitLPvAA8hr2IdB53_DDKB05OFAPYi/s320/Just%20Read%20Pic.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>Peggy Trotterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05935745749115191501noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8712832451394708482.post-61702301844271191512023-10-18T07:32:00.012-06:002023-10-20T10:37:25.758-06:00Interview and giveaway with author Jodie Wolfe!!<p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZyzDwo_5DLgsiCA3U8L_KhZKlKZYLTSB1ADI0wJ_HVes6yx8KUvhMoR4eECNFbJTJiGX14CxxsQCNdY9SH-U2sW1iWaJWDwwZ7bbPsIVJFWWzEAWN238tPbR0I9_tKWI89-BDW0EcBWhbtIrDTRUsZeU8OrhOmdBUtQd1z1P63YhzEYVFvR3WbEWJ_n05/s2240/Jodie%20Wolfe%20-Social%20Media%202015.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2240" data-original-width="1645" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZyzDwo_5DLgsiCA3U8L_KhZKlKZYLTSB1ADI0wJ_HVes6yx8KUvhMoR4eECNFbJTJiGX14CxxsQCNdY9SH-U2sW1iWaJWDwwZ7bbPsIVJFWWzEAWN238tPbR0I9_tKWI89-BDW0EcBWhbtIrDTRUsZeU8OrhOmdBUtQd1z1P63YhzEYVFvR3WbEWJ_n05/w294-h400/Jodie%20Wolfe%20-Social%20Media%202015.jpg" width="294" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Today we welcome Author Jodie Wolfe to the Diamond Mine!! We will be talking about her and her new release, </span><i><span style="color: #674ea7;">Wooing Gertrude</span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">.</span></i></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold; text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Jodie is offering an e-copy of her book, </span><i><span style="color: #674ea7;">Taming Julia</span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">,</span></i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> which is the first novel in her present series. To take part in the giveaway drawing, at the end of the interview, click on "</span></span></span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-indent: 0pt;">leave a comment"and include your email to be entered in the free drawing! </span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-indent: 0pt;">Now we'll get to the interview, after this short excerpt from her book:</span></p><p><b><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: x-large;">The seamstress with a knack for trouble wasn’t who the deputy envisioned...</span></i></b></p><p><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><i><b><span id="E62" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E62">Enoch Valentine has given up finding peace for his past mistakes. He throws everything he has into being the new part-time deputy in Burrton Springs, Kansas while maintaining the foreman position at a local horse ranch. But when trouble stirs on the ranch, he questions whether he's the right man for either job.</span><span id="E64" is="qowt-line-break" qowt-eid="E64"><br /></span><span id="E66" is="qowt-line-break" qowt-eid="E66"><br /></span><span id="E67" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E67">Peace has been elusive for most of Gertrude Miller's life, especially under the oppressiveness of an overbearing mother. She takes matters into her own hands and sends for a potential husband, while also opening her own dress shop. Gertrude hopes to build a future where she'll find peace and happiness.</span><span id="E69" is="qowt-line-break" qowt-eid="E69"><br /></span><span id="E71" is="qowt-line-break" qowt-eid="E71"><br /></span><span id="E72" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E72">Will either of them ever be able to find peace?</span></b></i></span></p><p><span style="clear: right; color: #2b00fe; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1231" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDxOKq4PPtf1KMCLOP3w4He_pZrG-ZArZFlSXh7OqzBJjRb_8ojAmlP4-UtcIWoFosNuUDSWFoyyx_HBB6Qm3VtIzCqyCDAcJFiYeOXXIJT7kNaDCmAvi1EshsPNcMh1Av5QzuUxePCGZuwHLFlpcQXS9Xr2cX2XrJBXXBVEjoiOa1YGCUFH1p7VA_jh1/w244-h400/WooingGertrude_w13218_750.jpg" width="244" /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E72"><b>Sounds wonderful, Jodie!</b></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDxOKq4PPtf1KMCLOP3w4He_pZrG-ZArZFlSXh7OqzBJjRb_8ojAmlP4-UtcIWoFosNuUDSWFoyyx_HBB6Qm3VtIzCqyCDAcJFiYeOXXIJT7kNaDCmAvi1EshsPNcMh1Av5QzuUxePCGZuwHLFlpcQXS9Xr2cX2XrJBXXBVEjoiOa1YGCUFH1p7VA_jh1/s1231/WooingGertrude_w13218_750.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><b></b></a></span></p><div class="style-scope qowt-page" id="contentsContainer"><div class="style-scope qowt-page" id="contents"><qowt-section id="E52" named-flow="FLOW-2" qowt-eid="E52" style="column-count: 1;"><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E73" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E73" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>How did you get your idea for this story?</b></span></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E76" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E76" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span id="E77" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E77">Gertrude was first introduced as a minor character in </span><span id="E78" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E78">Taming Julia</span><span id="E79" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E79">. In my second book, </span><span id="E80" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E80">Protecting Annie</span><span id="E81" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E81">, Gertrude befriends Annie McPherson. I wanted Gertrude to find love and happiness too, which is why I wrote </span><span id="E82" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E82">Wooing Gertrude</span><span id="E83" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E83">.</span><span id="E84" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E84"> As for the initial premise, I once came across an article about a man arrested during the time I write, that had swindled women of their savings.</span>
</i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E85" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E85" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><b style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0pt;"><span id="E87" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E87"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">It's so interesting where we often get our ideas from! </span></span></b></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" id="E86" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E86" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E87"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">What made you decide to be a writer?</span></span>
</b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E88" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E88" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span id="E89" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E89"><i><span style="color: #800180;">I’ve wanted to be a writer ever since I was a little girl. In elementary school, I started writing little stories and illustrating them. I was hooked and knew that when I grew up, I wanted to become a writer.</span></i></span>
</b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E90" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E90" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><b style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0pt;"><span id="E92" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E92"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">What do you like best about writing?</span></span></b></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E93" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E93" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span id="E94" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E94"><i><span style="color: #800180;">I love the writing process. Coming up with characters. Researching a setting. Finding a time to place the story and then letting the characters go. They often surprise me along the way.</span></i></span>
</b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E95" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E95" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><b style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0pt;"><span id="E97" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E97"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Yes! There are so many wonderful aspects to being a writer. What was your first story?</span></span></b></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E98" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E98" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180;"><span id="E99" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E99">My first unpublished book I wrote when I was thirteen – Laura </span><span id="E101" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E101">MacKenzie</span><span id="E103" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E103"> and the Mysterious Kidnapping. :) Can you tell I read a lot of mysteries at the time?</span></span></i>
</b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E104" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E104" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><b style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0pt;"><span id="E106" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E106"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Yes, I can tell! :) </span></span></b></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E104" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E104" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><b style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0pt;"><span is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E106"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Do you write from an outline, or just from inspiration, or both?</span></span></b></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E107" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E107" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #800180;"><i><span id="E108" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E108">I have a rough idea where I’m going</span><span id="E109" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E109">,</span><span id="E110" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E110"> but I don’t come up with a formal outline.</span></i></span>
</b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E111" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E111" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><b style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0pt;"><span id="E113" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E113"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Do you have any underlying themes that you want your readers to come away with</span></span></b></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E114" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E114" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span id="E115" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E115"><i><span style="color: #800180;">Each novel has a different underlying theme. It’s usually something either God has taught me or is in the process of teaching me.</span></i></span>
</b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E116" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E116" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><b style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">That's so interesting! A great way to pass along encouragement.</span></b></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E116" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E116" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><b style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Do your characters share any traits with you or someone you know?</span></b></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E116" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E116" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="text-indent: 0pt;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">Some do, but I’ll never tell what they are. :)</span></i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E116" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E116" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-indent: 0pt;">Smart girl!!</span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E116" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E116" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-indent: 0pt;">Do your characters ever surprise you?</span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E116" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E116" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="text-indent: 0pt;"><i><b><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">All the time. I think I know which way the story is heading, and my characters decide to do something I didn’t expect.</span></b></i></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E116" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E116" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="text-indent: 0pt;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">I think it's pretty cool when that happens! And wonderfully surprising. :)</span></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E116" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E116" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-indent: 0pt;">What are you working on now?</span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E116" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E116" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span id="E130" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E130" style="text-indent: 0pt;">I recently turned in the final book in this series to my publisher. Since then, I’ve been working on a new book/series set in Shippensburg, PA.</span><span id="E131" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E131" style="text-indent: 0pt;"> The first book is set during the Civil War, which I’ve never done before, so I’ve been boning up on it. My husband and I even went to a Civil War ball recently. It was a lot of fun.</span></i></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E116" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E116" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b><span is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E131" style="text-indent: 0pt;">Well, this interview has been fun, too! Thanks, Jodie!!</span></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E116" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E116" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b><span is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E131" style="text-indent: 0pt;">Hey readers, I'm including a short bio of Jodie, as well as all her social and purchase links. And after that, Jodie has gifted us with a "First page peek" of Wooing Gertrude! Enjoy!</span></b></span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E116" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E116" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; text-indent: 0pt;">Bio:</span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" id="E116" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E116" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-indent: 0pt;"><span id="E141" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E141">Jodie Wolfe creates novels where hope and quirky meet. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and Faith, Hope, & Love Christian Writers (FHLCW). She's been a semi-finalist and finalist in various writing contests. A former columnist for </span><span id="E142" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E142" style="font-style: italic;">Home School Enrichment</span><span id="E143" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E143"> magazine, her articles can be found online at: </span></span><a contenteditable="false" href="https://www.crosswalk.com/" id="E144" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E144" style="text-indent: 0pt;" target="_blank"><span class="qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E145" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E145">Crosswalk</span></a><span id="E146" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E146" style="text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">, </span></span><a contenteditable="false" href="http://www.christiandevotions.us/" id="E147" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E147" style="text-indent: 0pt;" target="_blank"><span class="qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E148" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E148">Christian Devotions</span></a><span id="E149" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E149" style="text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">, and </span></span><a contenteditable="false" href="http://www.heirloomaudio.com/audio-adventures/" id="E150" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E150" style="text-indent: 0pt;" target="_blank"><span class="qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E151" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E151">Heirloom Audio</span></a><span id="E152" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E152" style="text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, walking, and being a Grammie. Learn more at </span></span><a contenteditable="false" href="#file:///C:\Users\David\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\www.jodiewolfe.com" id="E153" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E153" style="text-indent: 0pt;"><span class="qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E154" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E154">www.jodiewolfe.com</span></a><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-indent: 0pt;"><span id="E155" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E155">.</span></span></p><div class="style-scope qowt-page" id="contentsContainer" style="padding-left:; padding-right:;"><div class="style-scope qowt-page" id="contents"><qowt-section break-before="" indexed-flow="SI17" named-flow="FLOW-2" qowt-eid="E52" style="column-count: 1;"><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-2" id="E156" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E156" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3" id="E157" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E157" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><span id="E158" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E158" style="font-weight: bold;">Social Media Links</span>
</span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-2" id="E159" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E159" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span id="E160" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E160"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">Website: </span></span><a contenteditable="false" href="https://www.jodiewolfe.com" id="E161" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E161" target="_blank"><span class="qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E162" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E162">https://www.jodiewolfe.com</span></a></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-2" id="E164" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E164" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span id="E165" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E165"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">Facebook: </span></span><a contenteditable="false" href="https://www.facebook.com/Jodie-Wolfe-553400191384913/" id="E166" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E166" target="_blank"><span class="qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E167" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E167">https://www.facebook.com/Jodie-Wolfe-553400191384913</span></a><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">
</span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-2" id="E168" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E168" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large; text-indent: 0pt;"><span id="E171" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E171">BookBub</span><span id="E173" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E173">: </span></span><a contenteditable="false" href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jodie-wolfe" id="E174" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E174" style="text-indent: 0pt;" target="_blank"><span class="qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E175" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E175">https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jodie-wolfe</span></a></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-2" id="E176" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E176" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span id="E178" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E178" style="text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">Pinterest: </span></span><a contenteditable="false" href="https://www.pinterest.com/JodieAWolfe" id="E179" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E179" style="text-indent: 0pt;" target="_blank"><span class="qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E180" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E180">https://www.pinterest.com/JodieAWolfe</span></a></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-2" id="E181" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E181" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span id="E183" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E183" style="text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">Goodreads: </span></span><a contenteditable="false" href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15220520.Jodie_Wolfe" id="E184" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E184" style="text-indent: 0pt;" target="_blank"><span class="qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E185" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E185">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15220520.Jodie_Wolfe</span></a></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-2" id="E186" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E186" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span id="E188" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E188" style="text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">Amazon Author Page: </span></span><a contenteditable="false" href="https://www.amazon.com/Jodie-Wolfe/e/B01EAWOHXO/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1" id="E189" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E189" style="text-indent: 0pt;" target="_blank"><span class="qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E190" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E190">https://www.amazon.com/Jodie-Wolfe/e/B01EAWOHXO/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1</span></a></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-4" id="E191" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E191" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large; text-indent: 0pt;"><span class="qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E194" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E194" qowt-format="{"udl":false}">MeWe</span><span class="qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E196" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E196" qowt-format="{"udl":false}">: </span></span><a contenteditable="false" href="https://mewe.com/jodiewolfe" id="E197" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E197" style="text-indent: 0pt;" target="_blank"><span class="qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E198" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E198">https://mewe.com/jodiewolfe</span></a></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-5" id="E199" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E199" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span class="qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E200" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E200" qowt-format="{"udl":false}"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">LinkedIn: </span></span><a contenteditable="false" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodie-wolfe-3955b2bb/" id="E201" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E201" target="_blank"><span class="qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E202" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E202">https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodie-wolfe-3955b2bb/</span></a><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">
</span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-5" id="E203" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E203" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><br /></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-4" id="E204" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E204" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">
</span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-6" id="E205" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E205" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><span class="qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E206" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E206" qowt-format="{"udl":false}" style="font-weight: bold;">Purchase Links</span>
</span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-7" id="E207" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E207" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><a contenteditable="false" href="https://www.amazon.com/Wooing-Gertrude-Burrton-Springs-Brides-ebook/dp/B0CCXGB3GB?ref_=ast_author_dp" id="E208" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E208" target="_blank"><span class="qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E209" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E209">https://www.amazon.com/Wooing-Gertrude-Burrton-Springs-Brides-ebook/dp/B0CCXGB3GB?ref_=ast_author_dp</span></a><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">
</span></p></qowt-section></div></div><div class="style-scope qowt-page" id="contentsContainer" style="padding-left:; padding-right:;"><div class="style-scope qowt-page" id="contents"><qowt-section break-before="" indexed-flow="SI23" named-flow="FLOW-2" qowt-eid="E52" style="column-count: 1;"><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-7" id="E211" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E211" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span id="E213" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E213" style="font-weight: bold;">Ebook</span><span id="E216" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E216" style="font-weight: bold;">: </span><a contenteditable="false" href="https://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1635" id="E217" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E217" target="_blank"><span class="qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E218" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E218">https://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1635</span></a></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-6" id="E219" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E219" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-indent: 0pt;">Print:</span></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-4" id="E222" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E222" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><a contenteditable="false" href="https://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1636" id="E223" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E223" target="_blank"><span class="qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E224" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E224">https://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1636</span></a></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-2" id="E225" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E225" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><br /></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3" id="E226" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E226" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span id="E227" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E227">First Page Peek</span></span></i></b></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3" id="E228" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E228" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span is="qowt-word-run" qowt-teid="T25"><br /></span></span></i></b></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-8" id="E229" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E229" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="qowt-stl-IntenseReference" id="E230" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E230">Burrton Springs, Kansas</span></span></i></b></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-8" id="E231" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E231" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="qowt-stl-IntenseReference" id="E232" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E232">August 4, 1877</span></span></i></b></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-2" id="E233" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E233" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span id="E234" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E234">Gertrude Miller’s life couldn’t get any better. She grinned, patting her pocket. Her fingers traced the two skeleton keys. After months of planning and preparing she </span><span id="E236" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E236">finally had</span><span id="E238" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E238"> moved into her own place a week ago, away from the overbearing reach of her mother. In two days, she’d be opening the clothing shop beneath her apartment.</span></span></i></b></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-2" id="E239" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E239" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span id="E240" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E240">She studied the trail leading into town hoping for a wisp of dust indicating the stagecoach was on its </span><span id="E242" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E242">way, but</span><span id="E244" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E244"> saw none. Smoothing the light blue flowered fabric of her skirt, Gertrude’s hand settled against her churning stomach. What would George Witt think of her when he arrived? Would he see past her faults and still find her loveable? Would he like the place she picked for them to live?</span></span></i></b></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-2" id="E245" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E245" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span id="E246" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E246">The many letters he’d written to her crinkled in her reticule, as she clutched it close to her heart. His last missive declared he planned to marry her shortly after arriving. Mama would have a conniption, which was why Gertrude hadn’t breathed a word to her mother that she’d marry tomorrow after the church service. Mama would try to do everything in her power to prevent it. Gertrude didn’t plan to say anything to her until they were sitting side by side in the church. No use creating a stir ahead of time.</span></span></i></b></p><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-2" id="E247" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E247" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined"><span id="E248" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E248"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Her dress hung from a hook in her new place waiting for the blessed event. She’d spent hours sewing it and adding yards of intricate lace she’d crocheted.</span></i></b></span></p></qowt-section></div></div></qowt-section></div></div><qowt-page named-flow="FLOW-1" style="height: 792pt; width: 612pt;"><div class="style-scope qowt-page" id="contentsContainer" style="padding-left: 72pt; padding-right: 72pt;"><div class="style-scope qowt-page" id="contents"><qowt-section break-before="" indexed-flow="SI17" named-flow="FLOW-2" qowt-eid="E52" style="column-count: 1;"><p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-2" id="E137" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E137" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 0pt;"></p></qowt-section></div></div></qowt-page>nancy boltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06001204788388098730noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8712832451394708482.post-61933579682920334562023-10-15T11:28:00.001-06:002023-10-15T11:28:40.087-06:00Motherhood, Writing, and a Split-Time Story with Sarah Hanks<span style="color: #bf9000;">Y'all, I'm late getting this post up but didn't want you to miss out on meeting the delightful Sarah Hanks. The delay is completely my fault since our guest sent me her interview weeks ago. Let me just say, if you have not ready anything by Sarah, you are missing out on some wonderful books. And Sarah is giving one of our readers an e-book of her latest release. Keep reading to learn more about the book as well as how to enter the giveaway.</span><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"> About Sarah Hanks</span></h3><div><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0Y0aMKHzCn0LMZSgaUQkTTdNDMfp_SyP_rZONryxgzVvHZ9-9dMnYOv7PFVwYLJdKT0xcBaNNEka97t4EbHZDxvchSHsj34T0IhXHumux0lLsleGkuwrSQrTpQ3a1MmqPW7ettdMk0OMPulmdndfEppQhyRyONkA9j4yMbcIdx2LwdAWo8sdN-ZEFvzW/s1131/sarah%20hanks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1011" data-original-width="1131" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0Y0aMKHzCn0LMZSgaUQkTTdNDMfp_SyP_rZONryxgzVvHZ9-9dMnYOv7PFVwYLJdKT0xcBaNNEka97t4EbHZDxvchSHsj34T0IhXHumux0lLsleGkuwrSQrTpQ3a1MmqPW7ettdMk0OMPulmdndfEppQhyRyONkA9j4yMbcIdx2LwdAWo8sdN-ZEFvzW/s320/sarah%20hanks.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br />Sarah Hanks spent a decade delightfully merging her two main passions—writing and equipping children—by writing a variety of Sunday school curricula for churches in her community. She wrote her first novel when she was seventeen and continued to write fiction “on the side” until deciding to pursue writing professionally with Mercy Will Follow Me. She and her husband have nine children of their own, a couple of whom seem to have inherited their mother’s love for playing with words and crafting stories. Though Sarah dreams of a cabin by the beach, the family lives together in beautiful chaos in St. Charles, Missouri. She buys ear plugs in bulk.</span></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c;">Visit Sarah's website and learn 10 random facts about her (on the about page):</span> <a href="https://sarah-hanks.com/" target="_blank">https://sarah-hanks.com/ </a></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c;">Follow Sarah via:</span> <a href="https://sarah-hanks.com/keep-in-touch/" target="_blank">Newsletter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSarahHanks" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/authorsarahhanks/" target="_blank">Instagram</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #b45f06;">Suzie: Welcome to the Diamond Mine, Sarah. I’m so excited to introduce you and your books to our readers. I always like to start with a couple book- and writer-themed would you rather questions.
Would you rather write in a rooftop garden surrounded by city noises — or in a quiet studio with cows as your neighbors? </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;">Sarah: I could probably write anywhere my children aren’t. Noise doesn’t bother me as long as it’s not coming from my dear ones screaming, fighting, crying, or saying “Mom! Mom! Mom!”. But I might get more words in with the cows. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #b45f06;">Suzie: The plight of motherhood. Your kids need you most (or think they do) when you are trying to concentrate on something else. </span></div><div><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #b45f06;">Would you rather read a book with no page numbers or no chapter numbers? </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;">Sarah: Chapter numbers. Chapter length varies drastically, so the chapter number doesn’t tell me much anyway.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #b45f06;">Suzie: Agreed. Now, if there were no scene breaks, I might have a different opinion. Alright, that’s enough of those. Tell us a little about you—family, hobbies, day job, or whatever you’d like to share that’s not in your bio. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;">Sarah: I have nine children. That is in my bio, but what’s not is that the oldest is 18 and the youngest is 6 months. Eight of our nine children live at home. Two are adopted. Our 18-year-old son has Down syndrome. We adopted him when he was 7, and it was one of the best decisions we ever made for our family. He’s amazing. All my children are. They are my absolute favorite people in the world. They keep me busy. </span></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;"> No, I do not homeschool (though I did for years). I teach in children’s ministry at my church and work a few hours a week at a local preschool. I gravitate towards children and can’t seem to stay away.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #b45f06;">Suzie: Wow, nine children!! Take that Mom! Mom! Mom! answer from earlier and multiply it by nine. I'm impressed you are able to write at all.</span></div><div><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #b45f06;">What are three books on your current tbr? </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;">Sarah: <i>Positively Penelope</i> by Pepper Basham (I loved Authentically Izzy)
<i>Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other</i> by Bethany Turner (Can’t resist a good Rom-Com)
<i>Undercurrent of Secrets </i>by Rachel Scott McDaniel (One word: Steamboats!) </span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #b45f06;">Suzie: I've read Pepper's and Rachel's books. Both are wonderful.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #b45f06;">What does your writing space look like?</span> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;">Sarah: A cluttered desk with a baby blanket on the floor next to it. My baby plays with his toys and “reads” while I write … when I’m not holding him and trying to type one handed and when he’s not spitting up on my shoulder. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #b45f06;">Suzie: Multi-tasking at its finest!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #b45f06;">You write split time fiction. Is one timeline easier to write than the other? What do you like most about each genre?</span> </div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;">Sarah: The modern-day storyline is, in general, easier to write because there’s less research involved. The historical storyline always takes more time and fact checking, but it’s also more fun for me. I love how history informs the present. We don’t live in a vacuum. Choices made hundreds of years ago affect us now and choices we make now affect the future. It’s interesting to think how interconnected we all are. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #b45f06;">Suzie: That is the truth. </span></div><div><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #b45f06;">Tell us more about <i>Fall Back and Find Me</i>. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;">Sarah: <i>Fall Back and Find Me</i> is a fictionalized account of my journey with chronic illness. About eight years ago, I was diagnosed with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome). I went from thriving in a job I loved to becoming bedridden. Though Amber (the protagonist in the novel) differs from me in many ways, the emotions she goes through are very similar to my own. The journey of the heart is similar.<i>
Fall Back and Find Me</i> is another <i>Sister in Arms</i> novel that features a secret female Civil War solider in the historical storyline. Willow’s body also betrays her with “irritable heart”, a diagnosis common in that time. Both women are on a journey to find their identity apart from their performance. I believe the message contained within the pages is imperative for women today to grab hold of. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #b45f06;">Suzie: Sounds amazing!! I need to move this book up on my to-read list!</span></div><div><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #b45f06;">What are you currently working on?</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;">Sarah: I’m about to start writing a fictionalized story based on my grandfather’s life. It’s my way of honoring this man who has sown into me throughout my life and who has made a big difference in little ways. It will be a split-time with one storyline in the 1960s and another one in modern day. It will center around his barber shop New Creations. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #b45f06;">Suzie: Wow, another story that I want to read. Last but never least, how can we pray for you? </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;">Sarah: I always welcome prayers for wisdom and strength as I parent this troop of mighty warriors. They are my first and most important ministry. And, of course, that I would be faithful to tell the stories the Lord has for me to tell.</span></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #b45f06;">Suzie: Thank you so much for spending some time with us, Sarah. It has been a pleasure getting to know you more.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #7f6000;">About Fall Back and Find Me</span></h3><div><div><span style="color: #7f6000;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3-Kk4VRcOQwQorNk9yV5k3DAtzvDvsdty-b1Jy-5ughcXOluyJYh-JOxSB-ICfpdO2SCnopea1_ZjDcX9ot_6KUcWHA1n5TWVHGZGPlrkNeuMeSKPowuP-cLytETV3c5K4JhLtz1mQKpRCh_D8iU81fLmljv3mUTICevYxDbFPVPFy3WRxXY8UZitHOm/s346/fall%20back%20and%20find%20me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="230" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3-Kk4VRcOQwQorNk9yV5k3DAtzvDvsdty-b1Jy-5ughcXOluyJYh-JOxSB-ICfpdO2SCnopea1_ZjDcX9ot_6KUcWHA1n5TWVHGZGPlrkNeuMeSKPowuP-cLytETV3c5K4JhLtz1mQKpRCh_D8iU81fLmljv3mUTICevYxDbFPVPFy3WRxXY8UZitHOm/s320/fall%20back%20and%20find%20me.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />Two resilient women separated by over 150 years are linked forever by their challenges, values, and determination.</span></div><div><span style="color: #7f6000;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #7f6000;">Amber Prichard is thriving in her role as pastor’s wife, mom, and indispensable church volunteer—until chronic illness threatens to upend everything. Now unable to prove her value, she is forced to reevaluate how she defines herself. Inspired by an ancestor’s faded journal and heirlooms, she must work with her arch-nemesis if she wants to accomplish what is now impossible on her own.</span></div><div><span style="color: #7f6000;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #7f6000;">Faced with the turmoil of the civil war, Willow Forrester didn’t intend to illegally enlist in the Union army as a secret female soldier. She only wanted to escape her father’s tyranny and follow her brother into the throes of adventure. When she comes face to face with the leader of a guerilla army, her health and insecurities threaten to shatter her heroism and render her powerless.</span></div><div><span style="color: #7f6000;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #7f6000;">As their opposition threatens to overtake them, these two women must find their strength and identity to defeat impossible odds.</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fall-Back-Find-Me-Split-Time/dp/B0CHLCGZPR" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/193383509-fall-back-and-find-me" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;">Giveaway</span></h3><div><span style="color: #660000;">One (1) winner will receive an e-book copy of <i>Fall Back and Find Me. </i>To enter, leave a comment below and tell us if you prefer country or city living. Be sure to leave a way for us to contact you if you win. Giveaway is open until Sunday, 10/22/23.</span></div><div><br /></div>Suzie Waltnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03089234812380461326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8712832451394708482.post-59614744914415747562023-10-04T13:01:00.005-06:002023-10-04T13:38:32.950-06:00An Interview with Andrea Byrd<p>Happy October to you all! </p><p>We're entering what I like to call the season of reading. Studies show that most books are purchased during these last few months of the year. As temperatures cool and nightfall arrives way too soon, we crave all that is cozy, which whets our appetite for escape and our favorite indoor activity - reading while drinking something warm and satisfying. </p><p>What better way to start this season than by getting to know a new author?</p><p>Today, we're joined by historical fiction author, Andrea Byrd. Not only has Andrea released two books with Wild Heart Books in the past few months, but she visits the <a href="https://diamondsinfiction.blogspot.com/">Diamond Mine of Fiction</a> blog from her home in rural Kentucky with her precious one-month old nestled in her arms. </p><p>That's quite an impressive thriple threat - celebrating two book birthdays along with the birth of her third child. Congratulations to you, Andrea, and thanks for taking the time to join us today. I'll jump right into our questions - recognizing that she is most likely sleep-deprived and her time is precious. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cKas0dPAxm4_1kRccPxsIF0JMkbTnVQODIepDMRhvIa863MSsEZ5B7QcKOyUb8jyWJHCTyK7Zjhke48kINx5AALUFLsQOKTJeBY8LftVp41V0BXHy_gH4UASoqa53-akWmNTQgLX-_oDadayacKZFjHjquLOUWMEYtOk_N3tGw5g5YrqpIGg__gr-xI/s600/ch0fvgnfnnfud8sa9f3clo1cc0._SY600_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="399" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cKas0dPAxm4_1kRccPxsIF0JMkbTnVQODIepDMRhvIa863MSsEZ5B7QcKOyUb8jyWJHCTyK7Zjhke48kINx5AALUFLsQOKTJeBY8LftVp41V0BXHy_gH4UASoqa53-akWmNTQgLX-_oDadayacKZFjHjquLOUWMEYtOk_N3tGw5g5YrqpIGg__gr-xI/w141-h212/ch0fvgnfnnfud8sa9f3clo1cc0._SY600_.jpg" width="141" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.wildheartbooks.org/andrea-byrd.html" target="_blank">Andrea Byrd, Author</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>First, meet Andrea. Andrea Byrd is a small-town wife and mom from southern Kentucky who harbors a deep love of days gone by, expressed with pioneer skirts and a once-in-a-lifetime ride in an authentic biplane. She seeks to respect the past, giving voice to those that came before, while reminding readers that no aspect of their past defines them. For more information, visit her Facebook page at: </p><p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/374798130264410/" target="_blank">Andrea Byrd, Facebook</a></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Janet:</b> Let's start at the beginning - what were your writing and reading habits as a child?</p><p><b>Andrea</b>: I have always been an avid reader, voraciously reading a ride range of books all through school. Writing, however, was something that I despised until middle school. I had a teacher at that time that helped me discover my love of writing.</p><p><b>Janet: </b>When did you first know you wanted to become a writer?</p><p><b>Andrea:</b> I started writing in middle school and have written off and on ever since. For the longest time, though, it was kept as a hobby with a "one-day" dream of publishing a single book. I only decided to truly pursue writing and publishing as a career a couple of years ago.</p><p><b>Janet:</b> How did you choose your genre? Has it always been historical romance?</p><p><b>Andrea:</b> For quite some time, my preferred genre to read has been historical romance. I've always been fascinated with that simpler way of life. My mother even joked that I was born in the wrong time. I particularly enjoyed reading books that filled my love of learning as well by included real historical people, places, and events. When I started writing, I wrote contemporary romance because I was intimidated by the research involved with historical novels. But the more I read, the more inspired I became and I decided to take the leap into historical.</p><p><b>Janet: </b>You've recently signed with <b><a href="https://www.wildheartbooks.org/andrea-byrd.html" target="_blank">Wild Heart Books</a></b> and already released the first two books in your series. Describe your writing journey so far, and how has it changed with this publisher?</p><p><b>Andrea: </b>My writing journey began in 2021 with self-published contemporary Christian romance novellas. In 2022, I decided to pursue historical Christian romance and found Wild Heart Books. The change from self-publishing to traditional publishing has been wonderful because the WHB team handles everything for me from cover design to editing and marketing.</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9cv_xmPMom8i3xUlZ4jxZXscaDCiIp3T3yqflMrwoS4JdUVgSEt8Hb1V8iI9EX6m-VndiHEfKbNvaEp5rszFw9Jv7jdOdDfs5KS8baKmi6EyB4ni5BdoW-Aa6uPHE1KAKk_GQkF22RGUrH4ipthzUG1O1rcd32piFok-CqDK7gf1jl1hf_KGyMKo3gY/s300/41IEFVwwojL._SY300_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9cv_xmPMom8i3xUlZ4jxZXscaDCiIp3T3yqflMrwoS4JdUVgSEt8Hb1V8iI9EX6m-VndiHEfKbNvaEp5rszFw9Jv7jdOdDfs5KS8baKmi6EyB4ni5BdoW-Aa6uPHE1KAKk_GQkF22RGUrH4ipthzUG1O1rcd32piFok-CqDK7gf1jl1hf_KGyMKo3gY/w130-h196/41IEFVwwojL._SY300_.jpg" width="130" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://a.co/d/4A8giIf">Rescue in the Wilderness</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><b>Janet:</b> Do you know how your stories will end when you start them? Or are you as surprised as your readers?</p><p><b>Andrea: </b>I used to be a total pantser, so there were definitely suprises. But after reading <b><i><a href="https://a.co/d/6156gqF" target="_blank">The Story Equation</a> </i></b>by <b>Susan May Warren</b>, I started doing more plotting andso I at least have a general idea of what will happen.</p><p><b>Janet: </b>Are your characters based on real people?</p><p><b>Andrea: </b>Yes. Though they may share nothing more than a name, the female characters of my Frontier Hearts series are inspired by my real-life ancestors who first settled in Kentucky.</p><p><b>Janet:</b> Are your settings based on real places? If so, where?</p><p><b>Andrea: </b>All of the settings are real! In Rescue In The Wilderness, the story follows the journey settlers would have taken along the Wilderness Road. All of the locations mentioned are real buildings or landmarks along the trail. And in Redemption In The Wilderness, the Forts and Stations are all real places that existed at the time. In fact, Martin's Station and Fort Harrod are both places that readers can still visit today. Then, the entire setting, located near the Green River in the Mammoth Cave area, is the real area in which my family settled and in which I live. The rich description of these hollers and hills comes from personal experience.</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCunVeu73OvAUZVPkqT0Sknw6JeijKS7WLV1ZFZzRz7HP_U6K3YhH0D6t5eGwNTj5gthCBhOgg6v8DCErKuWzLi8f1ZzIrkExGIhtsY56QfMbGWXkSqiMKQrORWD-WInzz3xyVBhrxyAtRmtCg_Nw587RreVYAZhxST4LlIPUgQ4AhBvZYNGXa8e0RV4/s1500/IMG_3576.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCunVeu73OvAUZVPkqT0Sknw6JeijKS7WLV1ZFZzRz7HP_U6K3YhH0D6t5eGwNTj5gthCBhOgg6v8DCErKuWzLi8f1ZzIrkExGIhtsY56QfMbGWXkSqiMKQrORWD-WInzz3xyVBhrxyAtRmtCg_Nw587RreVYAZhxST4LlIPUgQ4AhBvZYNGXa8e0RV4/w137-h206/IMG_3576.JPG" width="137" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://a.co/d/5UdpZHz" target="_blank">Redemption in the Wilderness</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Janet: </b>What do you wish you'd known - something that there was truly no way to have known - before you published.</div><p><b>Andrea:</b> That is was possible. It seemed like such a far-fetched dream that I pursued a completely different path for my life. 10 years of my life went in another direction, only to come back to this same place of pursuing writing as a career.</p><p><b>Janet:</b> When you're not writing, what do you do for fun?</p><p><b>Andrea: </b>Spending time with my family. I enjoy cross-stitching, reading, and anything outdoors, especially walking and hiking.</p><p><b>Janet: </b>What is the most satisfying part of writing?</p><p><b>Andrea: </b>The reviews that show me I have truly made a connection with a reader.</p><p><b>Janet:</b> What happens next?</p><p>Andrea: There will be two more books in the Frontier Hearts series. I am working on the third, <b>Reverence In The Wilderness</b> now, and the fourth will feature the sister from <b>Redemption In The Wilderness</b> as the main character. I am currently in the plotting and planning stages for it.</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEht1UdbIQCLwIRBoJAvh7tjkSiQML-5WvvXdxIi5Qss8YANUKv3SnZGeLt3y9wQds0oLYHSK5Q6LNPFG343Dp8ZyG0gWsdSyH7rc82klNemNFIlSjK6f5OHmvq5YfTHE8YtNUORzBJdfvOr-uc221GOXk7IJERO4qy4WmG0mQJ7nWTZktmk2FvBSf_kX9E" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img alt="" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="214" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEht1UdbIQCLwIRBoJAvh7tjkSiQML-5WvvXdxIi5Qss8YANUKv3SnZGeLt3y9wQds0oLYHSK5Q6LNPFG343Dp8ZyG0gWsdSyH7rc82klNemNFIlSjK6f5OHmvq5YfTHE8YtNUORzBJdfvOr-uc221GOXk7IJERO4qy4WmG0mQJ7nWTZktmk2FvBSf_kX9E=w112-h166" width="112" /></a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #312e2e; font-size: 17.82px; text-align: left;">Janet Morris Grimes may not have realized she was a writer at the time, but her earliest childhood memories were spent creating fairy-tale stories of the father she never knew. That desire to connect with the mysterious man in a treasured photograph gave her a deep love for the endless possibilities of a healing and everlasting story. </span></div><p></p><p style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #312e2e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.82px;"></p><div style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #312e2e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.82px;"><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Stories that stretch your heartstrings. </span></div></div><p style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #312e2e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.82px;"><span style="font-family: arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;">An unforgettable combination.</span></p><p style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #312e2e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.82px;"> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Find Janet on her website:</span><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="http://janetmorrisgrimes.com/" style="color: #e67c73; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; white-space-collapse: preserve;">http://janetmorrisgrimes.com/</a></p><p><br /><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8712832451394708482.post-81207282644561413242023-09-27T04:00:00.001-06:002023-09-27T04:00:00.145-06:00Interview and GIVEAWAY with author Pegg Thomas!<p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">Hi, guys! V. Joy Palmer here! Since we are all friends here, you guys can call me Joy. ;-) And one of my favorite things to do is talk with my friends at coffee shops then head to the bookstores. Yes, plural. After all, books and yummy drinks are the perfect combination! So consider this our virtual coffee shop. I'll wait a second for you to get your warm drink and a fuzzy blanket before we chat with today's guest. <3</span></p><p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><span>Today we are going to </span><strike>pry into the private life of</strike><span> CHAT with author Pegg Thomas!</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8ID9t6eJGuOMc24aL6Wz0PZsewNZ0oYgt9YlNwYfZ251NX1w8cSW8IVNc4wZgEZjRcXKxhCmtK0bRHyv8wIfvJ0kqLqDqJMqYVwKcYsKAT_FTCSHUQ5_JaEhZRwNPoaB2acjOXrji02KeeDtXD_i_YgXJoTMnmAYQv7Mct4U3H5S7NCyBClv3MnHidVJ/s800/headshot06-03-22small.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8ID9t6eJGuOMc24aL6Wz0PZsewNZ0oYgt9YlNwYfZ251NX1w8cSW8IVNc4wZgEZjRcXKxhCmtK0bRHyv8wIfvJ0kqLqDqJMqYVwKcYsKAT_FTCSHUQ5_JaEhZRwNPoaB2acjOXrji02KeeDtXD_i_YgXJoTMnmAYQv7Mct4U3H5S7NCyBClv3MnHidVJ/s320/headshot06-03-22small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">A lifelong history
geek, Pegg Thomas lives in Northern Michigan with Michael, her husband of
*mumble* years. She creates American stories with real history and fictional
characters inspired by her ancestors who immigrated here in the early 1600s. When
not working or writing, Pegg can be found in her garden, her kitchen, or
sitting at one of her spinning wheels creating yarn to turn into her signature
wool shawls.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: inherit;">Connect with Pegg on her <a href="http://PeggThomas.com" target="_blank">website</a>, <a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/PeggThomas" target="_blank">subscribe</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pegg.thomas" target="_blank"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Facebook</span></a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4486713-pegg" target="_blank"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Goodreads</span></a>, <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/pegg-thomas"><span style="line-height: 107%;">BookBub</span></a>, and <u><span style="line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pegg-Thomas/e/B01M8KLB3Y/"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Amazon</span></a>!</span></u></span></p><p><b><i><span style="color: red;">Interview ~</span></i></b></p><div><p style="margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">This may be the most important question I ask -- no pressure or anything, LOL! </span></p><p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">*drum roll*</span></p><p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">What are you drinking in our virtual coffee house? Coffee? Tea? Hot chocolate? Something else altogether?</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It depends on the day and the time of day. I
enjoy all three.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">Good answer! ;-) If you could order anything in the world to eat (we can dream, can't we?), what would it be?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">BBQ pork ribs.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">Yum! Where is your favorite place to write, and why is that your favorite place?</span></span></p></div><p><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In my office. I have it set up with my spinning wheels and other
antiques, as well as my awards and framed book covers. It has the ambiance I
need to get into the historical and writing groove.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-indent: -24px;">Sounds lovely! Do you have an odd habit that is only explained by your bookish, writer tendencies? Safe space. ;-)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love wearing writer/reader-related t-shirts. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">Fun! What inspired you to write <i>Freedom’s
Price</i>? </span></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I wrote this book 12 years ago. It was the book that got me
an agent, in fact. However, while the agent loved it, and multiple publishers
requested the full manuscript, nobody offered a contract on it. I started indie
publishing in 2021, and this book—this series—was always there in the back of
my mind. It seemed the right time to bring it out, so I edited it heavily (my
writing has improved tenfold over that 12-year period), and now here it is.</span></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">That's awesome! What led you to write in this genre? </span></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m a total history geek! <i>Freedom’s
Price</i> is historical fiction with a thread of romance. I never really wanted
to write historical romance, but that’s what publishers wanted to contract, so
after finishing this book, I switched to writing romance. But now that I’m
indie-published, I expect there’ll be less romance in my books. There will
always be some, because life includes romance, and my books are about the lives
of my characters, but it won’t be the formulaic romance of most historical
romance books. And it will always be true to the time period.</span></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">Love history! What message do you hope to convey to your
readers? </span></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The overall theme of <i>Freedom’s Price</i> is the value of truth.
I hope readers connect with Gwen Morgan and maybe see a bit of themselves in
her, which would allow them to identify with her maturing and changing
throughout the story. We all make rash decisions, and sometimes with the best
of intentions, but in the end, it’s the truth that matters.</span></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">I love that theme! Can you tell us a little about your next project(s)? </span></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m
currently more than halfway through the sequel, <i>Freedom’s Pride</i>, which
releases on March 5, 2024, and already noodling where the third book in the
series, <i>Freedom’s Promise</i>, is going. I plan to release that one in
August 2024. After this series, I’m heading back into the American Revolution
because the 250<sup>th</sup> anniversary is coming up in 2026!</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-1wtRFpwyLaFY6D6c0Q1pPa9VQlIxh1FYGe7IPkzudDF8bL71HiIAT7AEkLzYHQfa6iond_AOSbccEASNIwdRFae794D5l9EHBjG4iINru0ORzA5HYuJjy4QiaJxu3kkHtD7cgMkl4bWIJCGJoXYhEgqnmg5vWrInrWdRpQ1E9blbY2knKcZGrbu9ZgO/s1236/FreedomsPrideSmall.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-1wtRFpwyLaFY6D6c0Q1pPa9VQlIxh1FYGe7IPkzudDF8bL71HiIAT7AEkLzYHQfa6iond_AOSbccEASNIwdRFae794D5l9EHBjG4iINru0ORzA5HYuJjy4QiaJxu3kkHtD7cgMkl4bWIJCGJoXYhEgqnmg5vWrInrWdRpQ1E9blbY2knKcZGrbu9ZgO/w259-h400/FreedomsPrideSmall.png" width="259" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5_8GGFP8FoLzt1k4rYV7aaBWqb2Pjg9SfChl6ScbKO-GvFW2Qwy7DO6cIg3Mn2z7B9ew0HS1saZgVJNhLCWajXnjXu-tKE3mWly067gNBkHqVY-yC0vhM52nK8ukAzYSeemT6OhshmuII28mnkDPA6uVYr4rYgY0rN5GaVn4IG16LM7WECz2CduUmoIr/s1236/FreedomsPromiseSmall.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5_8GGFP8FoLzt1k4rYV7aaBWqb2Pjg9SfChl6ScbKO-GvFW2Qwy7DO6cIg3Mn2z7B9ew0HS1saZgVJNhLCWajXnjXu-tKE3mWly067gNBkHqVY-yC0vhM52nK8ukAzYSeemT6OhshmuII28mnkDPA6uVYr4rYgY0rN5GaVn4IG16LM7WECz2CduUmoIr/w259-h400/FreedomsPromiseSmall.png" width="259" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">Lots of great stories coming! Do you have a favorite Bible verse or story that inspires you on a soul
level? </span></span></p><p>My verses are John 10:27-28 <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><i>My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.</i> I love the absolute guarantee offered for those who believe in Jesus. It's the ultimate promise to stand upon.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800180;">Amen! What are you currently reading? </span><span style="color: #800180;">Inquiring</span><span style="color: #800180;"> minds -- mine! -- want to know. ;-)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m working my way through Joan Hochstetler’s <i>American
Patriot Series</i>. It’s a good setup for the coming anniversary of the
American Revolution!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">Sounds like a good read! Thanks for answering all of my prying questions, Pegg!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">Check out Pegg's new release, <i>Freedom's Price</i>! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQPjPCss14uMmQJqslrsx_n8MEBADVILSM1-zmTImf2JCXYCsJyVRGzkvAawXGx_XYbUkvO4zWhYbZgjMKjuoI_aCHmg0b6_5b3GcOPRM51nSb9JgzjUlyKePGfj30_rRw8mBnWDiRep8KJtEgDkUwYffY7XgKrFFjlVFqO5W5lhD9E6w4MWzhsz30l0YH/s1236/FreedomsPriceEbookSmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQPjPCss14uMmQJqslrsx_n8MEBADVILSM1-zmTImf2JCXYCsJyVRGzkvAawXGx_XYbUkvO4zWhYbZgjMKjuoI_aCHmg0b6_5b3GcOPRM51nSb9JgzjUlyKePGfj30_rRw8mBnWDiRep8KJtEgDkUwYffY7XgKrFFjlVFqO5W5lhD9E6w4MWzhsz30l0YH/w259-h400/FreedomsPriceEbookSmall.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: inherit;">An indentured servant since the age of fourteen, Gwen
Morgan longs for freedom. Her greatest wish is to find the sister who was sold
to another master when they arrived in North Carolina from Wales.</span></div><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">Then Master Whiteford offers Gwen her freedom at a price—she must agree to live
a lie and join a settlement of Quakers relocating to the Northwest Territory of
Ohio.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">Thomas and Betsy Baldwin have buried their three children and face their
elderly years alone until they open their home and hearts to Gwen. Their quiet
and steadfast faith touches Gwen and causes her to question her deception.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">Torn between her freedom and the truth, Gwen struggles to find her place among
the Quakers she's grown to love.</span></div></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Giveaway ~</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">Pegg has generously offered 5 eBook copies of <i>Freedom's Price</i>!</span></p><div><br /></div><div><div style="font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><i style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><b>Rules, Info, and Such ~</b></span></i></div><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #04ff00;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">The author is giving away 5 eBook copies of <i>Freedom's Price</i>!</span></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">This giveaway is open to the US only!</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><span>This giveaway will close on 10/05/23 at 12:00 A.M. for all the night owls.</span><br /><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><span>A winner will be drawn within four days of close of giveaway. The winner must respond to our e-mails within one week of notification, or their prize will be forfeit. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.</span><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"></span></div><p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 1.4;"><span face=""arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #606060; display: inline; float: none; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span></span><span style="line-height: 1.4;"><span face=""arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #606060; display: inline; float: none; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span></span><span style="line-height: 1.4;"><span face=""arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #606060; display: inline; float: none; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span></span><span style="line-height: 1.4;"><span face=""arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #606060; display: inline; float: none; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span></span><span style="line-height: 1.4;"><span face=""arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #606060; display: inline; float: none; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span></span><span style="line-height: 1.4;"><span face=""arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #606060; display: inline; float: none; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span></span><span style="line-height: 1.4;"><span face=""arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #606060; display: inline; float: none; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span></span><span style="line-height: 1.4;"><span face=""arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #606060; display: inline; float: none; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.4;"></span></span></span></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">Enter via the handy Rafflecopter link below. May the odds be ever in your favor. ;-)</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/8a2cc97a36/?" target="_blank">ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE!</a></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!</span></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><span></span><span></span><br /></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">Hugs!</span></div><div style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><div style="font-family: quot; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span></span><span></span><br /></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family: quot; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: "kunstler script"; font-size: 48px; font-weight: bold;">~V. Joy Palmer</span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: quot; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span></span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: quot; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2moMAcXFEPU/Ww7HMU_TZJI/AAAAAAAABWg/-vx1vV7qug0ZJflCUntdMzV6m9374o2sACEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_7230.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #800180;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="640" height="133" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2moMAcXFEPU/Ww7HMU_TZJI/AAAAAAAABWg/-vx1vV7qug0ZJflCUntdMzV6m9374o2sACEwYBhgL/s200/IMG_7230.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span><span></span><br /></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span><span style="color: #800180;">V. Joy Palmer loves to write romantic and comedic stories that proclaim God’s deep love for us. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and an avid blogger. In her spare time, Joy loves to sing (especially Disney songs), drink large quantities of coffee, and take flowery photos for Bookstagram.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk519847315"> When Joy isn’t fighting with fictional people, she’s hanging out with her husband and their adorable daughters. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!</a></span></span></span></span></div><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span><br /></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"></div><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: "calibri";"><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span></span><span></span><br /></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: center;"></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Connect with Joy on her </span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a href="http://www.vjoypalmer.com/" target="_blank">website</a></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">, </span><a href="http://vjoypalmer.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: &quot;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">personal blog</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">, <a href="http://snacktimedevotions.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">devotional blog</a>, </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/VJoyPalmer/" style="font-family: &quot;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Facebook</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/VJoyPalmer" style="font-family: &quot;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">, </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/vjoypalmer_author/" style="font-family: &quot;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Instagram</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">, <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/vjoypalmer/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>,<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15367051.V_Joy_Palmer" target="_blank"> Goodreads</a>, and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/author/vjoypalmer" target="_blank">Amazon Author Page</a>!</span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>V. Joy Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14115986624694707503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8712832451394708482.post-18416181279900416122023-09-18T20:13:00.001-06:002023-09-20T09:31:34.623-06:00An Interview with Kimberly Rose Johnson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5MqN0f4yGV2UTjmEEASgB_9h4AxxNJ7X-jm4xjVv0SnSzSqTY-a0HLSJkY1hKp2UUEISP-LGHh3lov__Nb6TrzQ5eQ5JBgJfR0NEQt_EFx1Z9KdUNLhiM7nyKqxlzBl1aFpKlUXcg4T-VH-G7LUFcAljwVwBZ1k5kPz8hGBpVcGmwvnYOCXJWmSgSKU/s640/Kimberly-Rose-Johnson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><b><img alt="Kimberly Rose Johnson" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="604" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5MqN0f4yGV2UTjmEEASgB_9h4AxxNJ7X-jm4xjVv0SnSzSqTY-a0HLSJkY1hKp2UUEISP-LGHh3lov__Nb6TrzQ5eQ5JBgJfR0NEQt_EFx1Z9KdUNLhiM7nyKqxlzBl1aFpKlUXcg4T-VH-G7LUFcAljwVwBZ1k5kPz8hGBpVcGmwvnYOCXJWmSgSKU/w302-h320/Kimberly-Rose-Johnson.jpg" title="Kimberly Rose Johnson" width="302" /></b></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Michelle: Hello everyone, today I have the pleasure of chatting with award-winning author Kimberly Rose Johnson! Kimberly, to kick things off, let's get to know you a bit better with the fast five favorites:</p><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote>Kimberly:<br />Color: Blues<br />Season: Fall<br />Animal: Dogs<br />Beverage: Chai tea latte<br />Movie quote: "I'll be back." - It's the only one I can remember!</blockquote></div><p>Michelle: Hey, it's a classic line! Well, you must be happy to be approaching your favorite season right now, huh? Here in Tennessee, the leaves are just starting to turn colors, and I can't wait for the full burst of fall foliage!</p><p>Now that we know a bit about your preferences, let's talk about your writing process. Are you more of an introvert or an extrovert? How does that affect your writing and social interactions?</p><p></p><blockquote>Kimberly: I'm an introvert. It’s hard for me to write when there is anyone around. Though I love interacting with others, it’s also quite draining on my creativity lol. That being said, I don’t let it stop me from interacting with others.</blockquote><p></p><p>Michelle: I think many authors understand the need to lock yourself away from the world to spin a tale, like a writing hermit crab. I might know someone else like that (<i>cough - me</i>) Okay, let's talk about your writing influences. Who are the rockstars of the author world that have had you air-guitaring your way through your own writing journey? Tell us, Kimberly, who's your literary guitar hero? <span style="color: #343541; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">🎸</span></p><p></p><blockquote>Kimberly: Dee Henderson and Colleen Coble.</blockquote><p></p><p>Michelle: Both incredible authors! I hope you've been practicing your brevity skills because I want you to describe yourself in just three words. Three! Can you handle the pressure?</p><p></p><blockquote>Kimberly: Driven, kind, and positive.</blockquote><p></p><p>Michelle: Having had the pleasure of meeting you at several writing conferences over the years, I can personally vouch for the "kind" part. We've had the pleasure of meeting before, I can certainly attest to those descriptors! Kimberly, do you have a favorite Bible verse to share with us?</p><p></p><blockquote>Kimberly: Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."</blockquote><p></p><p>Michelle: That's a beautiful verse with a powerful message. Finally, would you be willing to share something that the Lord has been teaching you recently?</p><p></p><blockquote>Kimberly: Of course. Just because we seek to live in His will does not mean what He asks us to do will be easy. In fact, it can be downright hard.</blockquote><p></p><p>Michelle: Thank you for sharing that insight, Kimberly. It's a reminder that the path of faith often comes with challenges.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7WGAYh8XU6nhGB4yvHVKlcsm2y0Z0UX2zMkf-jawgTj7SjlGcVVrETfFaPz5ydoR1QFPby_cyELlInblHkmAvncHA0oC8_d7DEW3gru10BK7DJHfFhFGnomMg_ynF9uG5TQvsLQVx-rIN4WQlVVjqEUHXQMu0l46Ix1LFPR8U5cZAZGSu3XwRq5cMG8/s2560/Found%20Cover%20without%20Doggie%20Tag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7WGAYh8XU6nhGB4yvHVKlcsm2y0Z0UX2zMkf-jawgTj7SjlGcVVrETfFaPz5ydoR1QFPby_cyELlInblHkmAvncHA0oC8_d7DEW3gru10BK7DJHfFhFGnomMg_ynF9uG5TQvsLQVx-rIN4WQlVVjqEUHXQMu0l46Ix1LFPR8U5cZAZGSu3XwRq5cMG8/w125-h200/Found%20Cover%20without%20Doggie%20Tag.jpg" width="125" /></a></div>Readers, before we wrap up, I want to remind our viewers that Kimberly has 32 published Christian fiction books, including her newest release, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Found-Christmas-Kimberly-Rose-Johnson-ebook/dp/B0B9284BWB" target="_blank">Found: An Almost Perfect Christmas</a></i>, and you can learn more about them on her website at https://kimberlyrjohnson.com/books/.<p></p><p>Michelle: Kimberly, thank you for joining us today and sharing a bit of your world with us. It's been a pleasure getting to know you better.</p><p></p><blockquote>Kimberly: Thank you, Michelle. It's been a pleasure talking with you.</blockquote><p></p>Michelle Massarohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12841001797112425917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8712832451394708482.post-11712476812713500982023-09-13T05:00:00.090-06:002023-09-13T05:00:00.139-06:00Welcome JPC Allen, YA Mystery Author<p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuChoXGY7HGO6G2vACJ-Rh-4iZ9xsxJsHoiqlOMpfsO9_s-nhXSGZHWzllnodF7UO3XrsgkPZODyNu8jsUD_rKLNAsQ0v_vnL5MODYFI2qKr0MrfYw546upQAxfjeQakCPuJ016fK7A0VuUTNrQ-RlEFcM1Ix3LYoLTN-KPq2ugV18g2OC0g05ENLHdNU/s1875/6809%204-5-8-10%20sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1875" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuChoXGY7HGO6G2vACJ-Rh-4iZ9xsxJsHoiqlOMpfsO9_s-nhXSGZHWzllnodF7UO3XrsgkPZODyNu8jsUD_rKLNAsQ0v_vnL5MODYFI2qKr0MrfYw546upQAxfjeQakCPuJ016fK7A0VuUTNrQ-RlEFcM1Ix3LYoLTN-KPq2ugV18g2OC0g05ENLHdNU/s320/6809%204-5-8-10%20sm.jpg" width="256" /></a></span></div><br />JPC Allen started her writing career in second grade with an homage to Scooby Doo. She’s been tracking down mysteries ever since and written mystery short stories for Mt. Zion Ridge Press. Her Christmas mystery “A Rose from the Ashes” was a Selah-finalist at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in 2020. Her first novel, a YA mystery, <a href="https://jpcallenwrites.com/a-shadow-on-the-snow-ya-christian-mystery/">A Shadow on the Snow</a>, released in 2021. Online, she offers tips and prompts to ignite the creative spark in every kind of writer . She also leads workshops for tweens, teens, and adults, encouraging them to discover the adventure of writing. Coming from a long line of Mountaineers, she is a life-long Buckeye. Follow her to the next mystery at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JPCAllenWrites/">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jpcallenwrites/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jpc-allen">Bookbub</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18623122.JPC_Allen">Goodreads</a>, and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B08X1Y6FMH?_encoding=UTF8&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=review-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader">Amazon</a>. You can sign up for my newsletter in the sidebar<a href="https://jpcallenwrites.com/about/"> here</a>.<br /><br />JPC is giving away two signed hard copy books to one person: <i>Christmas Fiction off the Beaten Path</i> and <i>A Shadow on the Snow.</i> Leave a comment by September 22 to be entered in the drawing. <br /><br /><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Let's start with a few quick favorites: </span></i><br /><br /><b>Drink? </b>Irish or English Breakfast tea or chai.<br /><br /><b>Candy?</b> Justin's dark chocolate peanut butter cups<br /><br /><b>Place to relax?</b> Sitting on the bank of the river by my house<br /><br /><b>Season? </b>It used to be fall, but my kids are so busy in the fall now, I'm not sure. I think it may be spring because that's when school let's out.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Can you tell us a bit more about you? </i><br /></span><br /><b>What genre do you enjoy reading most? </b><br /><br />Mysteries. I've tried other genres, and mysteries are always my favorites. The sub-genre of mysteries I like best are fair-play mysteries, where the author lays out the clues for the reader, so she can try to solve the mystery along with the detective. Since I love to read those kinds of mysteries, those are the kind I write. <br /><br /><b>When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? </b><br /><br />I wrote my very first story on the front and back of a sheet of notebook paper in second grade. It was a mystery based on Scooby Doo. I think I've always daydreamed about being a published writer, but I never wanted to make my living from it. As a kid, I wanted to be a doctor. In reality, I worked ten years as a children's librarian in public libraries before I stayed home to raise my kids. <br /><br /><b>Do you have any upcoming projects, releases, or sales? </b><br /><br />I've just finished my second novel for the Rae Riley mystery series. The working titles is A Storm of Doubts. I'm usually terrible at titles, but I think this one sums up the story accurately. And it's catchy. <br /><br /><i><span style="font-size: medium;">I'd like to hear more about A Shadow on the Snow</span></i><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Xts6svgNS_t7AMqvkLU-pkeTor9M3Rfd7jFfGsc7xfqkeVddEdCczARXfAlotFnwVuRGoejV_TaWJGjw2lSd6cvJgUJFZ0S_aM0CuiAsJGuaUvM_V4js3MVsuMDpqC97pdtJeDfuPxPIB_NKYx7kHlOwDZH53Il2zKBDRkP2ouyUowLyaOW2RX0eUlI/s346/a%20shadow%20on%20the%20snow.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Xts6svgNS_t7AMqvkLU-pkeTor9M3Rfd7jFfGsc7xfqkeVddEdCczARXfAlotFnwVuRGoejV_TaWJGjw2lSd6cvJgUJFZ0S_aM0CuiAsJGuaUvM_V4js3MVsuMDpqC97pdtJeDfuPxPIB_NKYx7kHlOwDZH53Il2zKBDRkP2ouyUowLyaOW2RX0eUlI/s320/a%20shadow%20on%20the%20snow.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><p></p><p><b>What's your latest novel you've written? </b><br /><br /><i>A Shadow on the Snow</i> is my first novel, a YA mystery. It's a sequel to a short story I wrote, "A Rose from the Ashes" for the anthology Christmas fiction off the beaten path. I fell in love with the characters while writing "A Rose" and couldn't wait to put them in another story. That's why I wrote A Shadow on the Snow. Here's the blurb: <br /><br />“Nineteen-year-old Rae Riley can barely believe her gamble paid off. After spending seven months investigating the identity of her father and whether he tried to murder her mother, Rae has been accepted by her dad, Sheriff Walter “Mal” Malinowski IV, and his immediate family with open hearts. And for the first time in her life, Rae is making friends, jamming with three cute cops who play outlaw country music.<br /><br />But someone is leaving Rae threatening notes, reminding her of her late mother’s notorious past when Bella Rydell wrecked homes and lives during the few years she lived in rural Marlin County, Ohio. Fearing the threats will make Mal and his family reject her, Rae investigates the mystery on her own. But her amateur sleuthing may cost her the father she’s always wanted when the stalker changes targets and takes dead aim at Mal.” <br /><br /><b>Do you find yourself returning to a similar theme in your novels or do you have a new message with each release? </b><br /><br />All my stories involving Rae Riley, except for a short story in which she has only a cameo appearance, deals with her journey to find and get to know her father. I think Rae's journey mimics how many people want a Heavenly Father but don't know how to find Him. And once they do find Him, they have struggles and victories as they get to know Him better. <br /><br />When I began writing about Rae, that wasn't the theme I had in mind, but it has grown naturally out of the personalities of the characters and the plots that have come to me. <br /><br /><b>How do you select the names of your characters? </b><br /><br />Selecting the right names for characters is very important to me. Since I was a kid, names have fascinated me. I own several books on names, including one about common surnames in the U.S. <br /><br />When I had to create a name for my female teen detective, I wasn't sure what name to pick. I wanted something memorable but not weird. Alliterative names are memorable, like Clark Kent or Bruce Banner, so I came up with Rae Riley. <br /><br />When I had to name her father, I liked the idea of the whole town calling him Mal as a nickname for for his last name, Malinowski. It would give the story the small-town feel I wanted. <br /><br />But then I started asking questions. Why did this guy prefer his nickname? Well, he probably hated his first name. What kind of first name would a millennial guy hate? I picked Walter. But why would his parents name him Walter? They were nice people. I decided it had to be a family name. So Rae's father became Walter Reuel Malinowski IV. That set off more questions. Who was Walter III? Walter Jr.? From that name, I developed two more characters. <br /><br /><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Just for fun: </span></i><br /><br /><b>If you could travel anywhere without worry about cost, where would you travel? </b><br /><br />England or India. I've read so many mysteries set in England that I'd like to see the country. For some reason, I've always been fascinated by India. <br /><br />Thanks so much for joining us on The Diamond Mine of Fiction. JPC is giving away two signed hard copy books to one person: Christmas <i>Fiction off the Beaten Path </i>and <i>A Shadow on the Snow</i>. Leave a comment by <b>September 22 </b>to be entered in the drawing. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2