Check Out Author Alice Wisler's Interview!

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Now on to her interview:


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?

Ever since I could write, I wrote short stories. You know the kind stapled together with the stick figures as illustrations. My fellow missionary kid friend, Josephine, and I would spend Saturdays writing romances when we were in middle school. She always cried when I read mine. She claimed they were good, and that encouraged me to continue on!

What is the genre you write in? Would you explain what it is?
I like to think I write literary fiction, and want to do more of that. My three novels by Bethany House Publishers are women’s contemporary fiction. They all take place in the South and they have some romance.

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 like at least eight months to write a novel from start to polished product. I’m slow at writing because I procrastinate and spend too much time promoting my novels instead of writing new ones. But on a good day, I like to set word count goals. I’m all about being able to check my goals for the day off my To Do list, so that helps me get my writing done.

You recently had a book published. Would you take this time to describe it to us? How and where can readers buy your books?

My most recent novel is HATTERAS GIRL. This story takes place on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and is about a young woman’s desire to find a man and run a bed and breakfast. The main character faces lots of obstacles along the way.

You can order all my novels—HATTERAS GIRL, HOW SWEET IT IS and RAIN SONG, from Amazon, CBD, Books A Million, or Barnes and Noble.

What is the spiritual message in your book? What can readers expect to get from reading it?

Sometimes dreams take time to come about. Be patient, wait on God, and don’t give up! I also hope that readers find humor in the pages, as well as some sorrow. Life is, after all, a mixture of humor and sorrow, and God is in the midst of it all.

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?

I have to protect my mind and heart from dwelling on negativity or from looking over the fence and seeing what other authors are doing or getting. I have to fight every day with believing those who say they really like my work, and striving hard to continue with my work in progress to make it shine.

Who’s inspired you the most?

My first grade teacher, Miss Terwilliger was a great boost to my ego. She liked my stories and had me read them to the third and fourth grades in my elementary school in Kyoto, Japan.

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

My agent sent my first novel, RAIN SONG, to a bunch of publishers and the first one to say, YES! was Bethany House. From there, I was offered a two-book contract and then another contract for two books. (My fourth novel, A WEDDING INVITATION, comes out this October.)

When RAIN SONG first came out, I was excited. I suppose I did sit back and enjoy that moment. But now, I have so much more I want to accomplish that I am pushing myself more than anything. I’m fifty this month, and have miles to go before I sleep.

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

I love licorice (in fact, I’m eating some my husband got me for Christmas as I write this), sushi, cheesecake, and chocolate. I like picnics on our boat named Rain Song, cooking, and meeting friends for coffee. Okay, onto likes that are not food-related—I love trains and traveling. I’d like to go to Alice Springs, Australia one day. Dislikes? Ungrateful people and mice.

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: http://www.alicewisler.com/ and my two blogs are: http://www.alicewisler,blogspot.com/ and http://www.writingtheheartache.blogspot.com/

Thanks, for this interview! I had fun doing it! And many thanks to all who read it.



There you have it, readers. Another fun interview from a grand author. Leave those comments and email addresses for a chance to win her book.

Many blessings!

My Review of
J. Mark Bertrand's
Back on Murder

From the cover:
Houston homicide detective Roland March was once one of the best. Now he's disillusioned, cynical, and on his way out. His superiors farm him out on a variety of punishment details . . . until an unexpected break gives March one last chance to sve his career. And his humanity.

All he has to do? find the missing teenage daughter of a Houston evangelist that every cop in town is already looking for. But March has an inside track, a multiple murder nobody else thinks is connected. battling a new partner, and old nemesis, and the demons of his past, getting to the truth could cost March everything. Even his life.

My thoughts:
Wow. Gritty. Realistic.
Roland March is desperate to get back on Murder duty. Weaseling his way into a murder scene, he's ignored and forgotten, but the only one to find the evidence that a girl was held kidnapped in the house. Rabid for his old job, he does all but beg to be placed on this case.

Instead he's assigned to find Hannah Mayhew, the missing daughter of Houston's famous evangelist. His final day with the police's Cars for Criminals detail, he hauls in one criminal, and unknowingly, lets the real criminal go.

In the midst of is work problems, March is dealing with his own personal demons: the vehicular homicide of his daughter, the apparent distance between he and his wife, the friction from his one-time work partner, and the dope-using, partying renter that lives above his garage. His wife’s dissatisfied with him, with how he handles—or won’t handle—their renter, and he can’t come to terms with his daughter’s death.

His theories are varied, but his motive is right. Especially if it means bringing down those who should be standing shoulder to shoulder with him. Even if it means putting a young man in deathly danger, the youth leader who encouraged Hannah to reach out to her needy peers. The young man wo offers his help because of his guilt.

The novel takes us on a twisting journey, one that I imagine many a cop travels. If at times, March comes across as a too-needy person, well, his persistence makes up for it. I would have liked to have seen a touch more faith in the book. I particularly hated it when March judged himself as rat-like and also when he cast an eye at his temporary partner Cavallo. I thought it lessened his likeableness.

That’s real life, I’m sure. I saw little or no evidence that March was a Christian, and though there seemed to be an improvement in he and his wife’s relationship, he didn’t grow spiritually or even give a hint that he might at some time or another.

But the other facets of the novel far outweighed those details. It’s a realistic story that held my attention. A book that could hold its own with any crime secular novel.

The characters were real; to me, March's personality and actions made me love and hate him. I sympathized with his wife and her needs. I liked Cavallo and her dedication. I despised March's work buddies, yet understood their hardness and lack of concern for March.

Because the characters were great, the setting was realistic. You traveled the crime journey that March traveled. You saw the scenes as he did.

I’ll be looking forward to Bertrand’s next novel. Thanks, Mark, for bringing to the inspirational world a book that is exceptional!

My Thoughts of Karen Witemeyer's novel:
A Tailor-Made Bride

From the back cover:
When a dressmaker who values beauty tangles with a liveryman who condemns vanity, the sparks begin to fly.

My thoughts:
Wow. It's not often that a book comes along that I absolutely, positively fall in love with. But this is one of them. From the first, Karen's excellent writing drew me in, captured my fancy with the so-much opposite characters--and loveable ones at that. You'll find books where you love a certain character, but can't feel any love for the other. Settings don't "set" right. Plots don't work. But this book had it all.  Wonderful, warm characters, a setting that made you feel right at home, a plot that kept you rooting for the end.

Hannah's independence and determination to succeed in her new business adventure as a seamstress, are admirable. Yet her caring spirit for those less fortunate: a smelly, old man suffering from depression, and a little girl who she befriends and teaches a trade, combine to give her a unique and wonderful personality. Her fun-loving attitude and teasing were a delight to read about.

At first glimpse, you'd think a narrow-minded, quick-to-judge man wouldn't be someone you'd take to, but J.T. Tucker had hidden depths that Karen skillfully wove into the story. He's all man, yet gentle in ways that he doesn't want broadcast about town. And quick to own up--even its only to God--his faults.

I'm so looking forward to Karen's next book. This is a keeper! A wonderful read for anyone who wants an excellent, well-written book. You'll not be disappointed!


Blessings!