I'm So Happy to Welcome Sandi Rog on my blog today!

Friends, here is a special message from Sandi's editor. If you don't know her, Sandi's cancer has returned. Her editor is making a special effort to boost her sales (from her book that's just been released) to encourage her. Please read on:

Hey all,



This is Daniel DeGarmo with DeWard Publishing Company.


I'm sure all of you are aware of Sandi Rog's latest battle (with cancer - Type T-cell Lymphoma) that just began last week. As you can imagine, she's devastated, especially considering the timing of all this as her first novel just released last Monday.


Well, considering we are a small publishing company and can pretty much do whatever we want, my business partner and I have agreed to donate an additional $1 per book to a Fund that I'll be setting up this week.


Just so no one thinks we are being shady about the whole deal, this is above and beyond the royalties that Sandi (and her agent) is already incurring with every book sold.


The purpose of this fund is to help out Sandi's family (husband and children) while she is laid up fighting for her life.


What I need from you is simply spread the word. For every copy of "The Master's Wall" that is sold (including Kindle) we will donate $1 to this Fund.


I'll also be setting it up so that it can receive regular donations if anyone is interested in just helping out financially.


I hope to have more information to share in the next day or so but at least for now I would ask that you would do whatever you can do direct people to buy Sandi's book.


Sandi has been copied on this email.....Sandi..Please forward this message on to anyone you think would help us out in getting the word out.


The same goes for you if you've received this email.


I want to close by lifting the following prayer up on Sandi's behalf:


Father, I lift my sister before you as her body has been stricken with disease. You know, O God, that she has used her gifts to glorify You and spread your wonderful message of grace and love. It is my humble plea that you would bring her healing and complete recovery. I know You can do this, You are the Great Physician. Please bring Your Spirit into her home as her husband and children continue to live life without her there. They need You. May all that is done bring You glory as our God and Father. In Jesus' name - AMEN!


If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
Dan
THE MASTER'S WALL
 (How to check out the book and order):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_adv_b/?search-alias=stripbooks&unfiltered=1&field-keywords=&field-author=sandi+rog&field-title=the+master%27s+wall&field-isbn=&field-publisher=&node=&field-p_n_condition-type=&field-feature_browse-bin=&field-binding_browse-bin=&field-subject=&field-language=&field-dateop=&field-datemod=&field-dateyear=&sort=relevanceexprank&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0

Daniel DeGarmo

Co-Owner
Business Manager

DeWard Publishing Company, Ltd.

PO Box 6259
Chillicothe, OH 45601
800.300.9778
http://www.deward.com/
dan@deward.com


Now, here's Sandi's intervew. Please check out her book.

How long have you known that you were a writer? Did you receive a clear “call?” Or have you just loved writing all your life?

I didn't always want to be a writer. I had other plans. Like becoming an actress or a singer. Once I hit college, I decided acting and singing weren’t for me. But there was always one constant: writing. When I was in fifth grade, I wrote a poem that an adult didn’t believe I wrote. I was shocked by his accusation because I had indeed written the poem all by myself. At the time, I didn’t realize his accusation was a compliment. I also wrote some short stories for a project in Junior High. The teacher thought one of my stories was true and shared with the class how important it is that we “write what we know.” I destroyed her point when I announced that the story was actually fiction. I don’t think she was too happy with me after that. However, by this time I was old enough to see the compliment. In high school, after convincing my mom that the 17 absences I had in English were a computer glitch (I still had an "A"), you'd think I would have realized I had a knack for words and for "telling stories."

Personally, I don't think of myself as a writer. After all, anything non-fiction is like work for me. Really, I see myself as a storyteller. As a kid, I used get excited when Mom told me it was time for bed. I'd dive under the covers and dream up stories. I'd imagine I was a princess running from a castle, but during my escape, thieves would attack. I'd take flight into the woods, but a handsome rogue would take me captive. Of course, he was really a prince disguised as a thief meant to rescue me. That one was always my favorite. Maybe I'll turn it into an story someday.

What a fun childhood you must have had! What is the genre you write in? Would you explain what it is?

I like to say I'm a writer of hysterical—er—I mean, historical fiction. I think “historical fiction” is pretty easily understood. :-) I always have a love story in my novels, but my works don't fall under the romance genre because they don't fit the pattern.

How do you spend your writing days? Do you set goals to reach a certain number of words per day? Can you give us a general idea of how long it takes you to write a novel?

I set goals, but they're not usually daily goals. They're more like monthly goals. Or three month goals. I'll decide to finish a novel by such-and-such date, and well, I do it. Words per day, I don't always keep track of. I just write my fingers off to meet my goal. So far I've met all my goals, but if I'm not focused, I tend to get distracted by networking.

Tell us about your new book. What is the spiritual message in it? What can readers expect to get from reading it?

I'd love to talk about my book. It is my favorite subject, after all. Here's a book jacket description:

THE MASTER'S WALL

He fights for his freedom. She fights for her life. Together, they fight for each other.


After watching Roman soldiers drag his parents away to their death, David, a young Hebrew, is sold and enslaved to serve at a villa outside of Rome. As David trains to become a skilled fighter, he works hard to please his master and hopes to earn his freedom. However, an opportunity to escape tempts him with its whispering call. Freedom beckons, but invisible chains hold him captive to the master's granddaughter, an innocent girl with a fiery spirit. David vows to protect Alethea from his master, the murderous patriarch, and contrives a daring plan—sacrifice his own life to save hers.

The spiritual message is about God working out all things for good for those who love Him. I guess this gives away the fact that there just might be a happy ending for this story. So, if you like happy endings, you're in safe territory here.

How and where can readers buy your book?

Amazon, at:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_adv_b/?search-alias=stripbooks&unfiltered=1&field-keywords=&field-author=sandi+rog&field-title=the+master%27s+wall&field-isbn=&field-publisher=&node=&field-p_n_condition-type=&field-feature_browse-bin=&field-binding_browse-bin=&field-subject=&field-language=&field-dateop=&field-datemod=&field-dateyear=&sort=relevanceexprank&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0

Do you ever feel like giving up? Most people don’t understand the stress, the work, and the joy of being a writer. How tenuous becoming a writer is. Do you care to share how it feels, what discouraging/encouraging times you’ve gone through? Who’s inspired you the most?

Yes, I've most definitely felt like giving up. But I've found that persistence is the key. Writing the book is half the work. Selling it is the other half. Even though I've been discouraged, I simply couldn't stop writing. I'm passionate about my stories and my characters. They're so much a part of me that I'd have to write them whether I get published or not. I discovered that when I thought I would never see my books in print. I simply had to keep writing despite believing getting published wouldn't happen.

Would you explain how you “chose” (or were chosen by) a publisher? Do you just go “inny, minny, miny, moe?” Grin. Now, that you’re published, can you sit back and relax from the success you’ve experienced?

I discovered my publisher a year ago. I was very attracted to them as a whole and saw a lot of potential in them to be like the larger houses. But they weren't a large house, and on top of that, because they're so small, their books are POD.

I didn't want that, so I checked out the larger houses. But my gut kept telling me I belonged at this press. So, while shopping at the larger houses, I'd ask God to close the doors if He didn't want it there. Well, He closed all the doors! But he closed them carefully. I got a lot of compliments from the larger houses. They liked my story but didn't have a place for it and they'd ask to see more of my work. So, I got rejections, but not discouragement. I now feel confident that I'm where God wanted me all along.

Do you mind telling us some of your likes and dislikes? Hobbies, interests? Where would you like to travel if you could?

I love to write, and I like to write, and I also like to write. Actually, I also love to sing, attend Bible studies, and I love people. If I could travel anywhere in the world, I'd like to go back to Rome and swing by Pompey as well.

Would you give us your blog or webpage so everyone can check it out? Anything else you’d like to share? Promotional information?

• My website is here: http://www.sandirog.com/
• I spend a lot more time at my blog here: http://sandirog.blogspot.com/
• I also try to help writers improve their writing skills here: http://thebookdoctorbd.blogspot.com/

Hope to see you there!
Thank you for having me, Carole.


What fun to have Sandi with us today! Hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have.

Blessings!