A Big Welcome to my Friend, JoAnn Durgin!

With a giveaway of her new book providing the winner's willing to do a book review! Easy and fun. Leave your comment and email address
NEW RELEASE: Second Time Around published by Canadian publisher Torn Veil Books
GENRE: Contemporary Romantic Adventure
Welcome, JoAnn. 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?

Like most writers, I’ve been a voracious reader all my life. I think my love of reading has reinforced the passion in me to write and has perhaps silently “taught” me the mechanics of good storytelling. I loved Nancy Drew mysteries as a young girl and was one of those kids with the flashlight under the sheets so I could finish Nancy’s latest escapade (I pay homage to Nancy in Awakening). I also loved Louisa May Alcott books and then progressed to reading classic literature. Mark Twain has always been a favorite of mine with his sense of irony and quick wit. His writing never fails to bring a smile to my lips. It wasn’t until I was a stay-at-home mom in Philadelphia that tried penning full-length romances. I had some success, but then we moved to Boston and my life became absorbed with being a wife, mom and pastor’s wife. I put my writing aside (but not the passion) for a decade in order to raise our kids. The story of picking up my writing again and how Awakening came to be published is on my website; suffice it to say it was the last book I wrote before I put my writing aside. About twelve years later, I could only find half the manuscript, but felt it was the “one” the Lord wanted me to try and publish. How He gave my story back to me (in a dramatic way) and then confirmed it was in His will (see the section of my website called “And the man said peaches!”) is quite a story in itself.

Interesting. What is the genre you write in? Would you explain what it is?

I’ve more or less termed my own unique genre, and I call it Contemporary Christian Romantic Adventure. I write what I like to read: a book that has it all−humor, adventure with perhaps added mystery, great characters, fun, witty dialogue/banter (often in the style of the old Tracy/Hepburn movies, a plot that moves, and a healthy dose of romance. I believe my books fill a niche, a void if you will, in contemporary Christian romance with non-formulaic romance, my own unique voice and brand of humor, and realistic, mature and honest relationships between characters desiring to honor the Lord yet struggling with choices at times. I know some Christian women who hide secular romance novels beneath their bed−not because they want the sex offered in most of those novels, but because they want the pure romance−and they’re not getting it in the Christian romances they’re reading. Above all, I want to give readers hope and show them the joy that can only come from a personal relationship with the Lord. While not wanting to be preachy, I infuse my books with solid, biblical truths woven throughout the book and the characters’ journeys. I appreciate that my publisher lists “A Christian Romance Novel” following the titles of my books. The reader knows when they pick up one of my books, they’ll be entertained, but they’re also going to get a dose of biblical insight and guidance.

Some good thoughts there. 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’m a total SOTP (seat of the pants) writer. If I plot out my books, or set goals in terms of word count for each writing session, I’d feel stifled creatively. Nothing is more exciting to me than the challenge of sitting in front of the keyboard to see where the Lord and my imagination will take me. As often as I can, I sit and write, especially if I have a scene that’s just itching to get out. My debut novel was written in under two weeks. Once the idea gets in me, I’m prolific. Second Time Around was also written in a few weeks. Now, before you want to throw something at me, please keep in mind that I’m referring to writing the actual story and getting it down on paper. The editing and refinement takes a lot more time, but that process is every bit as critical (although not as fun, creatively speaking). Interestingly enough, I rarely cut out long scenes, and I stay true to the original story. I’m also long-winded and my books are longer than the average, which is an advantage of a smaller, independent publisher.

Being true to what you believe and need to do: I like that. You recently had a book published. Would you take this time to describe it to us? How and where can readers buy your books?

SHORT VERSION BACK COVER COPY BLURB:

A fateful misstep steals a newlywed’s memories and becomes her groom’s fall from grace. Determined to help her reclaim her life, Marc Thompson makes great strides until a ghost from the past threatens to destroy it all. Join their journey as Marc and Natalie travel from Massachusetts to Montana and enlist the help of Sam and Lexa Lewis and the lively TeamWork crew. Along the way, they discover that surrendering all isn’t failure, it’s faith, and it might be the only way back to one another . . . the second time around.

Both Awakening and Second Time Around are available from all major online booksellers in both print and electronic versions. Awakening is currently also featured in the Fall Fiction catalog from Christian Book Distributors (page 48). That was a personal goal; I’m so thankful it’s there and would encourage anyone to buy the paperback version from CBD.

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

Second Time Around has grace as its central theme, with Hebrews 4:16 as the key verse: Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (NASB). Other themes are also present−forgiveness being a major one. The pervasive truth I’d like the reader to see is that when we put ourselves aside and give it all to the Savior, He will bless. So many people have trouble surrendering their lives and their troubles to Someone so ultimately more capable of handling it, but when they do, they find the strength, the solace, the comfort, the peace and the joy. As Marc Thompson, my hero in Second Time Around, learns, surrendering all at the throne of grace isn’t failure (his greatest fear), it’s simply faith. It’s a hard lesson to learn for most, but it’s also a very important lesson.

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’ve never felt like giving up, and doubt I ever will. Sure, I’ve felt discouraged. One of the hardest lessons to learn (and I’m still learning) is this: Not everyone is going to like my books. Above all, I want to remember this: I write for an audience of One. If my books are God-honoring, and I’ve done the best I can and told the story He’s given me, then let the arrows fly. Again, easier said than done. The Lord knows the hands my books need to fall into, and from what I can tell, that’s happening. There was a glitch in the ratings system on the Barnes & Noble website that sent my rating for my debut novel from a five-star to a 1-1/2 star rating (on Mother’s Day!). They manually corrected it one place, but it’s still messed up overall. That really hurt. I had a blogger who couldn’t finish my debut novel, and yet I’ve had several messages from readers telling me it’s the best book they’ve ever read! It really is a rollercoaster at times, and I honestly wonder if I’ll ever develop that “armadillo” skin (a reference to my first book with a pesky critter). On the other hand, I believe it’s that same sensitivity that makes us more observant and better writers.

Bottom line: being an author isn’t for wimps. We certainly don’t do it for the money. We do it for the love and the passion we have to write, and I think it shows in our writing. There are days I’d love to crawl in a hole and hide, but I’d still want to write while in that hole. My books aren’t literary, but I like to think they’re intelligently written with a good story and a solid Christian message. As much as anything else, they’re the books of my heart, and what the Lord has given me to share. He’s blessing my efforts, and as long as I stay true to Him, I have no doubt He’ll continue to open the doors of His choosing−in His time, not mine. He hasn’t failed me yet. The story of my journey to publication is posted on my website at http://www.joanndurgin.com/, and I hope readers will visit to learn more about my own adventures in writing.
Amen. You've expressed it very well. Who’s inspired you the most?

My grandmother on my dad’s side is one of my heroines. She’s been gone for almost 30 years, but she was funny, humble yet also proud, and possessed a quiet but strong faith. And talk about creative! She was the inspiration for Lexa’s “Nana” in Awakening, down to stringing pearls, sipping iced tea on the summer porch, and even her reference to Heaven as the “happy hunting grounds.” Like Lexa’s grandmother, my “Granny” didn’t care about a messy house or fussing to make everything perfect. When we spent time together, she fully invested herself, her humor and her beautiful spirit in my brother and me. She was so full of life−an avid doll collector and painter, and she knew how to find the joy in every situation. I never saw her upset, worried or cross, although I’m sure she had her moments. Until she died, she was active and lively; she had a heart attack, and the Lord gave her enough time to draw all three sons around her to tell them how much she loved them and her grandchildren, and then she passed peacefully in her sleep. If only the Lord would bless us all to have such a lovely woman in our lives. I was indeed blessed.
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?
Even though I got the attention of a top Christian agent, I tired of going the rounds, trying to make those first three chapters what someone else wanted them to be. As a result, I lost my own unique “voice” somewhere in the process and had to go back to square one. I’m somewhat impatient as I’ve gotten older, and a couple of years ago, I decided to google “small Christian romance publishers.” I printed out the list and systematically checked the websites. Some were out of business, some wouldn’t work in terms of their needs and current releases, but I was particularly drawn to the name of one: Torn Veil Books. Don’t hate me for this, fellow writers, but I realize I’m in a small minority when I tell you that−based only on an e-mail query with brief synopsis of Awakening, Torn Veil asked me to send the full manuscript. So, I boxed it up and $25 later, in mid-January 2009, shipped it up to Winnipeg, Manitoba (they later told me that process helps weed out the seriously committed–makes sense, but I’d never thought of it that way). My manuscript was the very last one they received before they cut off submissions (they’d started accepting submissions in July 2009). Put it this way: it was the best $25 I ever spent. On May 1, 2010, I opened my e-mail to read the words every writer longs to see−telling me they wanted to publish my book and attaching my contract! I’ll never forget the euphoria of that day!

And no, I don’t think many serious authors can ever sit back and fully relax since there’s always that itch to write. As long as I have breath and can do it, I’ll write and pray the readers will be there to read my words. A valuable lesson, however, is to learn when to sit back and momentarily rest and relax. It’s every bit as important. If I get tired, I put the writing aside. Family is crucial, and my children still live in the home, and they deserve my equal attention. As does my husband, of course. It is definitely be a juggling act, but it can be done.

I love authors tales of getting published. Yours is super. Do you mind telling us some of your likes and dislikes? Hobbies, interests? Where would you like to travel if you could?

I adore traveling, and I’m thankful I was able to do quite a bit before I married and had children. I always say the best semester I spent at college was the one where I wasn’t on campus, but part of the overseas program−we lived in London for ten weeks and then toured the continent. Ah, to be so young and carefree… That trip fostered my independent spirit, and I learned how many freedoms we take for granted in this marvelous country we call home. It was a great lesson to learn at that particular point in my life. Italy was my favorite country, and I’d go back there in a heartbeat. Maybe one of these years. We’re celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary next year, and my husband would like to go on a cruise. I joke that it might be a cruise around the block, and I’d love to return to Hawaii (where we spent our honeymoon). We’ll see… At this point, it’s good to get away for even a night or two, and I’m so thankful for the opportunity every now and again.

As far as hobbies, I used to cross-stitch, but haven’t done so since I was pregnant with our son, Matthew (he’s now 15). Since I work a demanding, full-time job (and a part-time one until this past February when something had to go), all my “hobbies” concern activities with our three children or something writing-related. I’m at that stage in my blossoming writing career where it’s pretty much all about the writing, but I love every minute.

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.joanndurgin.com/. I’m actually starting my own blog in the very near future, as soon as my wonderful website designer can get it set up for me. It’ll be a combination of musings about daily life and the musings of a writer. I’d like to make it for writers as well as readers/non-writers, and I aim to make it very interactive by sharing what I’m currently working on in terms of my writing and asking for suggestions for character names, settings, and that type of thing.

My third book in The Lewis Legacy Series is called Twin Hearts, and I anticipate it will release in the early spring, perhaps earlier. With its title, we’d love to get it out for Valentine’s Day. I’ll keep readers posted on the release details via my website.

Thanks so much for allowing me to share with you today!
Blessings.
Matthew 5:16

JOANN DURGIN BIO:


Awakening, JoAnn’s popular debut novel featuring the adventures of Sam Lewis and Lexa Clarke, released in November 2010. Second Time Around, the second in The Lewis Legacy Series, released in September 2011. A winner and finalist in several writing contests, JoAnn is a full-time estate administration paralegal and lives in southern Indiana with her husband and three children. She is an active member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and its Indiana chapter, as well as the Romance Writers of America. It’s her desire to touch hearts with the redeeming love of Jesus Christ. She’d love to hear from you at http://www.joanndurgin.com/ or send her a friend request on Facebook.


And thank you for visiting, JoAnn! Comments, folks!
Happy day.

I Love Having Children's Writer,
Diana Symons on My Blog Today!

Please read on to find out a little about her . . .


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 have always loved writing and making up stories. When I was young, I would go through magazines and cut out pictures that I liked then write poems about them. It never occurred to me that I could actually be a professional writer until I was laid off of work sometime back and I had the time to write more. Since then, different people who don’t know me well have prayed over me to write, so it was a good encouragement to keep it up.

What is the genre you write in? Would you explain what it is?

I have two genres that I write in: children’s fiction and adult fantasy. I like to write for young readers, 8-10ish. For some reason, I love those stories. They’re just fun. I also like adult fantasy, though not science fiction. I like to think of how God would show Himself in other cultures or how the angelic world interacts with our world.

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

Where the Jewels Are is a fairytale about a princess who wants more than she needs. Her Father knows her heart and sends her on a journey to find a rare jewel, but that jewel turns out to be an old friend. There are study questions at the end to talk about how we should value other people and how much God values us. It’s available on Amazon and http://www.christianbooks.com/.

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 gone through that phase of questioning my decision to be a writer. It was dark. I came out of it when I read somewhere that EVERY writer goes through it. I’m not sure why it made me feel better to know that everyone else also goes dark at some point, but it snapped me out of it. It’s almost a good sign when you think about it. If you are successful in your calling, then you will probably attract attention from the enemy. You just have to remember who you are and why you’re working. We make a difference in the world.

Who’s inspired you the most?

I was inspired, or kicked in the butt, by my sister for years. I would write something and show it to her and she always loved it long after I put it down and forgot about it. She told me for years to get it together and write seriously. She’s been my biggest fan and best butt kicker. I really needed it.

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 started my own company to print my children’s books. I sent them out to a few places with no response, so I just decided to do the work myself. Honestly though, I had no idea how much work it would be. For the adult novel that I’m working on now, I met an editor and agent at a writer’s conference, Mt. Hermon. It was a great place to pitch my story and get feedback on what they were looking for.

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

• I love gardening and cooking. I absolutely love to come in from the garden with an armful of veggies and pull together dinner that’s as fresh as it can get. I spend a lot of time in the garden just enjoying the flowers and checking on how the veggies are growing.
• I love road trips.
• I like to stop at historical sites, especially very old ones where there’s been archeological discoveries.
• And I love to eat local lobster in Boston, conch in Key West, garlic soup at a Basque town in Nevada. I had a bad reaction to a Cajun dish in New Orleans so eating local actually bit back once.

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.dianasymons.com/. I love to hear from people. It’s just a joy to hear that someone read my book and liked it. The kids are so delightful to hear from. It’s the mighty Amen to why we write.

Thanks so much for visiting today, Diana! I've loved having you.
 
Blessings!

Giveaway and Interview with my Friend Maureen Lang!

Please make sure you leave your comment and an email address for a chance to win Maureen's 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’m one of those writers who found my love for writing early in life. I remember finishing my first “epic” when I was around ten years old, and passing it around the neighborhood for others to read. I also invited friends over and sometimes instead of playing a game, I’d beg them to sit down and write stories with me. How many games of Kick the Can or Monopoly can you play, anyway? Not all of my friends went along with it, and no one else stuck with it. (I often wonder what the world is missing if only they’d persevered!) So I suppose the realization that I was wired to write began early, because I was different.

What is the genre you write in? Would you explain what it is?

I’ve written contemporary and historical novels, women’s fiction and romance. I think the difference between women’s fiction and romance can be subtle, at least it is with the books I’ve written. My Sister Dilly, for example, would be considered contemporary women’s fiction, but a romance is included in the story. The difference between the kind of book I like to write and a classic romance is more a matter of page time focusing on the romance. Romance is definitely part of all my stories, but it might not be the main focus.

Lately, however, I’ve been following my preference for historical settings, and my books have been getting more romantic, which is just so much fun! This newest release, Whisper on the Wind, has a mix of war tension as the backdrop, but the focus is definitely romantic. Maybe that’s why it’s one of my favorite stories…

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’m on a nine-month schedule with my publisher (Tyndale), which has worked well for me. That might sound like a long time, but between research, revision, family demands and marketing other work, those months just fly by. I write every school day, just as soon as my boys get on the bus, leaving the house nice and quiet! Sometimes I aim for a minimum of 7 or 8 pages in a day, which is less than 2000 words, but when things are going well I can do far more—20 pages or so, depending on my time and energy. Those are the best days, when it’s hard for my fingertips to keep up!

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

Whisper on the Wind is one of my favorites. For me, the spiritual lessons aren’t just on the pages—I began this book years ago, with God sitting right next to me at the computer, reading along, affirming for me that after many years of not writing, I was doing what He wired me to do. Finally writing a book He wanted to read! I’d written secular historical romances years before that, but given it up when life took some turns and I could no longer afford the luxury of staying home to write. When I finally returned to writing, this was the story on my heart.

I love the First World War era. Not the war itself—it was as horrific as any other. But the time period seems to have one foot in history and another in more modern times. Sometimes I would read history books from that era and I noticed references to an “illegal newsprint” call La Libre Belgique. It originated in Belgium when they were occupied by the German army, and illegal because the Germans censored everything—except this little newspaper that found a way to give hope to those who suffered under the occupation. What a brave band of people they must have been! And so I imagined my characters getting involved—a rich, spoiled young woman who falls in love with a heroic young man wanting to do whatever he can against the occupying army. He thinks she’s too young and spoiled to be noticed, until she risks her life for the same thing he believes in. Faith, for both of them, is never more real than when they lose almost everything.

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?

Since I regularly meet with a number of newer writers, I haven’t forgotten how that first goal of publication looks and feels. Any bit of success is heady, but the real prize seems to be a book contract from a traditional publisher. The myth: just get that first contract, and more will follow. I wish it were true, that we only need to be published once for a writer to find an audience and readers who will follow (no, demand!) everything they want to write. But the truth is the book industry is just as competitive after publication as it is before. As most writers know, at least those who’ve attended a writer’s conference, there are many more aspiring writers than published ones. Having critiqued many manuscripts, judged many contests, I know there are a number of talented aspiring writers out there. There simply isn’t room for everyone, which makes staying published almost as hard as getting published in the first place. That means sticking with it, not giving up, writing when we don’t feel like it, meeting deadlines (whether from an editor or self-imposed).

I also have a family, which includes my wonderful Fragile X child who is functional only at a two-year-old level even though chronologically he’s fifteen. So my days are full, and I must admit there have been times when I realize life would be so much easier if I could concentrate on my family’s needs.

But the truth is there is absolutely nothing more exciting than recording all of the stories that fill up my head—those stories that sometimes keep me sane when the rest of life is demanding, disappointing, or overwhelming. There is nothing like capturing on the page some of those every day moments that can really be poignant – faith moments, learning moments, loving moments. And then—the real icing on the cake—is hearing from readers that one of my characters helped them articulate some of their own struggles, define some of their emotions, or just helped them escape for a little while the same way I do when I’m imaging all of the story scenarios. That’s why, even if I weren’t writing for a publisher, I’d still write. The escapism is just too important to my every day sanity!

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?

Like most serious aspiring writers out there, I investigated which publishers produced books similar to the ones I wanted to write, and basically targeted every one of them. I’m not sure any aspiring writer singles out one publisher, because that so narrowly limits options, and few of us have the confidence to think whatever we write will be eagerly snapped up by our favorite publisher.

I was first published by Kregel, which is a well-established, family owned publisher. And while it was a great experience for me, I did want to broaden my exposure. I met the founder of WordServe Literary Agency at a writer’s conference, and not long after that I began working with them. It was through WordServe that I connected with Tyndale—which has been a special blessing to me since they’re local to me in the Chicago area. The Tyndale campus is less than an hour away, so I’ve occasionally stopped in for marketing meetings or to drop off Christmas cookies as a thank you to the staff for all they do to help get my books out there.

But I don’t think there are many authors who sit back and relax after getting published. If your books sell well, the pressure is on to keep those sales up. If the sales sink, the pressure is on to get them back up. Regardless of sales, if one book is received well by an audience, the pressure is on to write something new and different but still please our reading audience—an audience that wants something at least a little familiar from us. In some ways, the time before being published is easier because a writer can write with passion and has the time to explore different genres and interests. But I’m not sure any aspiring writer would see it that way, or that I saw it that way before getting published.

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

I’ve always considered myself a reader first, and I just write the kind of book I’d like to be reading. So reading is always first on my list of things I like to do. I also enjoy movies, both old and new (no one in my family—except me, of course—ever makes it all the way through a viewing of Wings, the first—silent—Academy Award winner for Best Picture). And I’m sorry to say most of my hobbies have been left behind now that I spend so much time writing. I used to like painting ceramics and embroidery, but it’s been years since I had the time. And travel! I love it, but that’s a challenge, too, with our son who is so unpredictable with his disability and unable to travel well. So we’re limited, but we did manage to visit Belgium, which is the setting for Whisper on the Wind. That was an amazingly memorable trip!

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 newest novel is Whisper on the Wind, which is a romance that takes place during the First World War. Here is the blurb from the back cover:

She risked everything to rescue him. But what if he doesn’t want to be saved?

Belgium, 1916

The German Imperial Army may have conquered Belgium on its march through Europe, but the small country refuses to be defeated. An underground newspaper surfaces to keep patriotism alive and bring hope and real news of the war to the occupied country. It may be a whisper amongst the shouts of the German army, but it’s a thorn in their side nonetheless—and Edward Kirkland will do anything to keep it in print . . . even risk his life.

Isa Lassone is a Belgium socialite whose family fled Europe at the first rumblings of war. Now, two years later, she sneaks back across enemy lines, determined to rescue Edward—the man she has loved from afar since she was a child.

But will he ever see her as more than the wealthy, silly girl his mother once cared for as a daughter?

When Edward refuses to leave, so does Isa, and soon she is drawn into his dangerous double life. But the Germans are closing in on the paper, and Edward had never planned to put any one else at risk . . . especially the beautiful, smart, yet obstinate young woman who has inconveniently managed to work her way into his life—and into his heart.

My books are available anywhere books are sold, or online at Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Whisper-Wind-Great-War-No/dp/1414324367/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270657535&sr=1-8

Or at CBD:

http://www.christianbook.com/whisper-the-wind-the-great-war/9781414324364/pd/324364?item_code=WW&netp_id=754871&event=ESRCN&view=details

Or Barnes and Noble:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Whisper-on-the-Wind/Maureen-Lang/e/9781414324364/?itm=10&USRI=Maureen+Lang

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

I love visitors to my website and blog! On my blog, I’m be chatting about the “story behind the story” and this week I’m hosting a contest to win a free copy (a contest separate from the one here, so stop by my blog after this if you have another moment).

http://www.maureenlang.com/ and http://maureenlang.blogspot.com/

At my website, you can sign up for my newsletter which I send out with every new book and in the spring and at Christmas time—usually that means two or three newsletters a year, just as an update about what’s going on in my little world. Or you can sign up to be a follower on my blog, which I update every Monday. On Wednesdays I feature new fiction from friends and colleagues, whenever I have a friend who’s promoting a book. It’s fun!

Thanks very much for having me, Carole.

Isn't the book cover beautiful?

Blessings, dear readers.

GiveawayScout is promoting this blog and giveaway at http://giveawayscout.com

I'm thrilled to have Shelley  on my blog today. Please welcome her with your comments.

Every comment and email address will have a chance to win one of her beautiful books and a handmade Amish handcraft!


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’ve always loved writing, but I never even considered writing until the last year I taught school. Then I just wrote for fun. When we moved to Ohio, my husband suggested I go to the Ohio Valley Romance Writers of America meeting. An announcement about their Saturday meeting was in the paper. After my first meeting, I began to try to write a book in earnest.

What is the genre you write in? Would you explain what it is?

I write inspirational Amish romances for Avon Inspire. I like writing stories about men and women falling in love, but also deepening their faith. I also love writing about the Amish. Soon, I’ll be also writing historical western romances.

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 usually write 6 days a week. Right now, I aim for 10 pages a day Monday-Friday, and 5 pages on Saturdays. I take Sundays off. The length of time it takes me depends on the deadline and how the book is going. I’ve written a book in six weeks before, but I wouldn’t recommend it! Three months is my idea amount of time.

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

My newest release is titled Autumn’s Promise. It’s the third and final novel in my Seasons of Sugarcreek series. It’s an Amish romance with a twist. My heroine is English, and my hero is Amish. They’ve both been through a lot, and must decide how much they are willing to give up for love.

I depended on a verse from Philippians to guide me. Basically, the spiritual message is that we’re all ‘works in progress’, and that the Lord gives us obstacles in life to discover more about ourselves. Both my characters lean on that verse.

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 might be in the minority, but I’ve never felt like giving up. For me, getting the opportunity to make up stories is such a blessing. But, yes, I completely agree with you, writing is a very solitary job, and it can be extremely challenging and discouraging.

Before writing Amish romances for Avon Inspire, I wrote sweet romances for Avalon Books. It took me quite a while to sell a book to them. Then, after that, it took me another three years to sell to Harlequin American Romance, where I write for them as Shelley Galloway. Now I’m juggling big work loads and lots of deadlines. Sometimes I get just plain tired!

On those days, I give myself a break and go for walks or shop~anything to be out of my house and around other people. I also find a lot of support from my critique partners. We’ve been together over 10 years, and have each had our ups and downs. They know what I’m going through, so talking to them helps.

Once I give myself permission to take a break, within a day or two, I’m anxious to write again. : )

Who’s inspired you the most?

I would have to say my father inspired me the most. He’s been gone for some time now, but his success in life made me realize that anything was possible. So, I often try to have big dreams and work as hard as I can.

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

Ha! I could spend an hour on likes and dislikes! I really enjoy baking and reading cookbooks. I also love spending time with my kids. They’re older now, so any moments I’m with them make me very happy. We also have two dogs. The miniature dachshund is my little buddy. I love taking her on walks.

I love to travel, too, and have been fortunate to have traveled to a lot of different places, both in the United States and in Europe. Lately, I’ve been telling my husband I want to go on two different cruises. One is a transatlantic cruise, and stop in Casablanca. The other is a northern European cruise, and stop in St. Petersburg. Obviously I’m still dreaming about big things!

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.shelleyshepardgray.com/, and I write a blog on it about once a week. I’m also very active on FaceBook, and have two pages there, a Fan Page and a regular page, where I post little things about my days. If people are interested, I’d love for people to ‘friend’ me there!

I give a lot of books away, and offer contests and drawings with almost every book release. My next release is GRACE, which will be published in October. It’s a Christmas romance, and a continuation of my first series with Avon Inspire, the sisters of the heart series. I’ll post information about that book on both my website and on FB.

Thank you so much, Shelley for sharing with us a bit of your life!

Folks, don't forget that comment and email address! You don't want to miss a chance on winning a book from Shelley!

Blessings!

Please Welcome Anita Higman and Janice Thompson . . .



Your Barbour Heartsong 3-in-1 collection is entitled, Ozark Weddings. Tell us a little bit about the three stories.

Anita: All three stories are set in Arkansas—Eureka Springs, Little Rock, and Hot Springs. Larkspur Dreams and Castles in the Air are romantic comedy, while the middle story, The Love Song, is more dramatic in tone.

Janice: Larkspur Dreams is a lighthearted, whimsical tale that will appeal to inspirational romance readers, particularly those with artistic leanings. The Love Song reaches into the depths of the reader’s soul, dealing with the topic of overcoming past hurts. Castles in the Air provides a humorous look at the way we are perceived by others, and teaches us that our prejudices (comical as they might be) often keep us from the very thing God has planned for us.

Anita, you and Janice co-authored the three stories in Ozark Weddings. How do writers go about co-authoring?

Anita: There are a number of ways to co-author a novel. One writer might do the research and the other writer may actually write the story. Or co-authors may each choose a character and write from that character’s POV. In the three novels, I guess you could say I wrote the body and wings of the stories, and Janice helped to make them fly. She has a gift for critiquing.

Janice: Working with Anita is a breeze because she conceives and fully plots the stories then lets me add my thoughts/tidbits to give them flavor. She is so quirky and fun to work with, and I am very proud of the stories we have co-produced.

Were there times when it was hard to work together?

Anita: Janice is not only talented, but easy to work with. There were a few times in one of the novels that I found myself writing in a way that strayed from the general concept of a Heartsong romance. Janice made some good suggestions, which steered me in the right direction.

Janice: I can honestly say that I’ve never worked with anyone who was so willing to accept critique and/or take suggestions as Anita. She is a precious friend and collaborative partner. I already knew she was talented (even before we began this project) but had no idea how gracious she would be. Since I’ve written for the Heartsong line for years, I was able to “teach her the ropes” (as it were) and she was a ready learner! That’s not to say she hasn’t taught me a thing or two. I’ve learned much from her throughout this process, particularly as it applies to romantic tension. She’s far better at that than I am, and I’m happy to admit it.

Why did you choose to be a writer?

Anita: Ever since I was a little girl, I had this need to express myself in some sort of artistic medium. I’ve tried a number of things: piano, painting, decorating, and acting. But I’ve never been very good at any these endeavors, except writing. I guess really then—writing chose me.

Janice: Like Anita, I’ve always been artistic. As a youngster, I sang, danced and played the piano. I was also very involved in theater as a young person. I’ve been writing since childhood. I wrote my first novella in 6th grade, then went on to write musical comedies for the stage before turning to books in the mid-90’s. Like Anita, I can truly say that I didn’t choose writing; it chose me. Or, perhaps I should say that God chose it for me, as a gift.

When did you have your first success as a writer?

Anita: After several years of writing, I had some gradual success—books for children, books of one-act plays, and nonfiction for women. These successes were enough to keep me going toward my ultimate goal, which was to write novels.

Janice: This may sound a bit silly, but my first real writing “success” happened my senior year in high school, when I was chosen to help write the senior production. I had a blast, and the scene I crafted (a 1930’s/Busby Berkeley-esque “The Show Must Go On” scene) was a huge success. I can’t tell you what fun I had, or how great it felt for people to respond as they did.

Do you have any special methods of getting into the writing zone, such as favorite scents, music, or certain foods?

Anita: In the past I used to go to a French café, order coffee and scrambled eggs, and then write a rough chapter. The noise, music, and bustle always energized me creatively. But now I’m more of a homebody, so I sit for long hours in my office, working on my stories.

Janice: An "ideal" writing situation for me would involve someplace like Starbucks (or otherwise) with a cup of my favorite hot beverage in my hand (to be discussed below). Ironically, when I'm at home, I can't stand having music going. I find it terribly distracting... something about the "beat" drives me nutty. Having the television on is okay, but it's often muted. Crazy, I know. I'm a fanatic about my Diet Dr. Pepper and several flavors of hot tea. I particularly love Earl Grey and Chai Latte, among others. And I'm nuts about hot chocolate in the wintertime. I'm also crazy about my puppies. I have two red mini-dachshunds named Sasha and Copper. They usually settle in next to me on the sofa, Sasha on my right, Copper on my left. When we're all in place (with a cup of tea or a Diet Dr. Pepper on the end table, depending on the season) I'm ready to begin. Of course, I usually have to weed through several emails (clearing a path) before I can actually start writing. Whew! Sounds like quite a process, doesn't it?! It's a wonder I get anything done at all!

What is your best advice for aspiring writers?

Anita: If you feel called to write, don’t let people discourage you. I’m sure they don’t realize the impact of their words, but negative remarks can undermine our courage and joy. Comments similar to: “Maybe you weren’t really meant to be published.” Or, “Are you making any money at this yet?” Perhaps you’ve heard, “Why can’t you write like my favorite author?” Honestly, I could go on and on here. Writing is a great and honorable profession—one that can challenge, inspire, and change people’s lives. If you love words and love arranging them into stories, then don’t let the battering influence of dispiriting comments shatter your dream. Keep pressing on!

Janice: I often say this to young/new writers: Learn the craft, but don’t necessarily write what the publishers/agents/houses tell you to write. Trends change. Stick with the stories God places on your heart and if He intends them to be published, He will find the right publishing house in the right time.

What are your writing plans for the future?

Anita: I’d love to just keep doing what I’m doing. But I think I’d also enjoy writing novels for the young adult market.

Janice: I’m open to whatever God wants (and I really mean that). If He shifts me in a new direction (women’s fiction, for example) I’m following His lead! If He asks me to lay the writing down for a season in order to accomplish a different task, I’m open to that, too.

We’d love for you to visit our websites at http://www.anitahigman.com/ and http://www.janiceathompson.com/. If you’re interested in our Heartsong collection, Ozark Weddings, it can be purchased in bookstores or ordered online at http://www.amazon.com/.

Thanks for inviting us to your blog!

Meet My Friend, Ramona Cecil

For a chance to win Freedom's Crossroads . . .

Leave your comment AND your email address

so that you can be contacted if you win!

Thanks for visiting; now, meet Ramona . . .

Good morning, Ramona. 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?

 

Writing has been a part of my life as far back as I can remember. I first began writing poetry when I was about four or five years old. I remember telling my mother the poems and she would write them down for me. I’ve always had an active imagination and did write some prose in my early years, but considered myself a poet, first.

I didn’t attempt a novel until I was a busy young mother. But without any formal training or guidance, I tabled my dream of becoming a published novelist. Between the mid 1980’s and mid 1990’s, about 90 of my inspirational poems were published by Dicksons Inc., a leading publisher of Christian gift items. I still hear from people who enjoy those verses.

 

What is the genre you write in? Would you explain what it is?

 

I write Christian romance, which are romance novels written from a Christian world view. A spiritual theme i.e. faith or forgiveness runs through the stories. By the end of each story, the main characters should exhibit obvious spiritual growth.

Most of my stories have historical settings, though I have written a few contemporary novellas and short stories as well. But my passion is history. I’m most interested in American history, especially Indiana history. Except for one, all my novels have Indiana settings.

I was thrilled and honored to author the three Indiana historical novels for Barbour Publishing’s Heartsong Presents line. This month, those stories were re-released by Barbour as a part of their Romancing America series in their Indiana historical three-in-one collection titled Freedom’s Crossroad.

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?

 

Because my husband works a late second shift, I do the bulk of my work in the evenings. My word-per-day goal is 1000 words. If I have to stop to do research, I don’t always make my goal, but on good days I can exceed it. I have trouble turning off my internal editor. I would rather come up short on my word count and be happy with what I’ve written. It depends on the size of the novel. I can do a 50 K word novel in three months, but for a 90+ K word novel, I’d need at least six months.

 

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

 

As I mentioned earlier, my latest book out is Freedom’s Crossroad—a three-in-one collection of historical romance stories set in Indiana—released May, 1, 2010 by Barbour Publishing. As a life-long Hoosier, I’ve always loved the history of my state. I really enjoyed writing these three stories set in the central and southern part of Indiana.

Each story features a different member of the same family. The overarching spiritual message that runs through all three stories is forgiveness. I hope my readers take away these spiritual truths; that every soul is loved and valued by God, that however dismal life may become, God never leaves us, and that it is as important to forgive ourselves as it is to forgive others.

Besides the family connection and the theme of forgiveness, another aspect that binds these stories together is that they are each set along an Indiana waterway. Sweet Forever showcases the charming Ohio River town of Madison, Indiana, during the town’s heyday of the mid 1840’s. Riverboats, riverboat gamblers, and the shadowy doings of the Underground Railroad weave through the plot. Everlasting Promise is inspired by the several canal towns along east-central Indiana’s historic Whitewater Canal. The story spotlights the concerns of those along the ill-fated waterway when they learn of a coming railroad that could spell either prosperity or ruin for their town.

Charity’s Heart is set in post Civil War Vernon, Indiana, nestled along the winding banks of southern Indiana’s Muscatatuck River. The story deals with the emotional trauma and hard feelings that still linger after the war.

Ask for Freedom’s Crossroad at:

• your favorite Bible bookstore,
• Barnes & Noble,
• and Borders Books,
• or look for it in the Inspirational Book section of all Wal-Mart stores.
• Online, you can find it on http://www.barbourbooks.com/, http://www.christianbooks.com/, http://www.amazon.com/. and http://www.alibris.com/.

 

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?

 

I feel like giving up on a regular basis. Sometimes the whole process just seems too overwhelming. But I know God put this desire to write in my heart for a purpose. I am convinced this is the work He wants me to do.

I keep a flip-card devotional beside my computer. It’s always turned to the page that bears this wonderful quote by Teresa of Avila. “You pay God a compliment by asking great things of Him.” Beneath the quote is one of my favorite scripture verses I lean on when discouragement weighs heavily on me. “Glory be to God, who by His mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare ask or even dream of. . .” Ephesians 3:20.

 

My first inspiration to write came from my parents who both shared my love for writing. They always believed in me and encouraged me to nurture my God-given desire to express my feelings in the written word. I like to think they are smiling down on me from heaven.

Also, I was greatly inspired by the works of the Indiana author Gene Stratton Porter. I read her books as a child and loved them all.

As for Christian authors, Jeanette Oke and Lauraine Snelling were authors I wanted to be like when I “grew up” as a writer. I still do. Over the past several years, I’ve been blessed to know many other great Christian writers who encourage and inspire me on a regular basis. They include my wonderful friends and critique partners, Laurie Alice Eakes, Louise Gouge, MaryLu Tyndall, Kim Vogel Sawyer, and my agent, Tamela Hancock Murray.

 

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 studied Sally Stuart’s Christian Writers’ Market Guide to find publishers interested in novels that fit the genre and word count of my stories. My first book was actually published by a small publisher—Vintage Romance—that publish only historical romances. In 2005, I became aware of a contest they were sponsoring for Christian historical novels.

I entered my first novel, Larkspur. It won first place and was published by them the next year. I proposed my second novel, Sweet Forever, to Barbour Publishing at an American Christian Fiction Writers’ conference knowing it fit what they published. It was eventually accepted by them. Subsequently, they accepted my next two stories as well for their States series.

 

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

 

• I like meeting new people and visiting new places.
• I like traveling and enjoy the journey as much as the destination.
• I like to cook and especially like trying new recipes. I’ve collected far more recipes than I’ll ever be able to try.

As for dislikes; I’m a natural introvert, so public speaking has always been outside my comfort zone. But since my first book came out in 2006 I’ve found myself doing much more of that and as a result, I’ve grown as a person.

• As I mentioned earlier, I have a great interest in history—especially Indiana history. Even as a child, I loved reading stories with historical settings. Compelling characters and their stories made history come alive for me. While many of my classmates found the subject of history a snoozer, I relished it.

• Now I enjoy writing stories set in by-gone eras and my hope is that I can make history come alive for the readers of my own books. Luckily, my husband shares my interest in history, so when time and schedules permit, we like visiting places of historical interest.
• Another of my interests is gardening. Although I don’t have the greenest of thumbs, I look forward to summer when I can dabble in a little backyard gardening.
• If I had the time and money, I would like to travel to the British Isles, especially Ireland and Scotland as my heritage on my dad’s side is Scots-Irish. I would also like to visit the area of Hanover Germany, from where my ancestors on my mother’s side emigrated.

 

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

My web page is http://www.ramonakcecil.com/. In keeping with my love of gardening, I’ve given my web site a garden theme.

 

Carole, I want to thank you for allowing me to appear on your blog. I am very excited about the release of Freedom’s Crossroad. I already have a couple book signings scheduled and hope to add more in the months ahead. I will list upcoming signings on my web site. I love to meet my readers, so I invite anyone who can to stop by one of my signings and meet me.

 

There you have it, readers. An exciting bit of information about Ramona! If you love romance (and if you don't, maybe you need a little in your life. Smile) get these books.
 
Make sure you leave your comment along with your email for a chance to win her Freedom's Crossroads.
 
Blessings!

Whooee! Winners!

Exciting news! Donna emailed me last night that the responses to her interview were so good that  . . . she's willing . . . to . . . give away . . .
THREE SETS of her Lighthouse books!!

Now can good news get any better than that?

After Donna narrowed the choices down to six, I had to make the hard choice of the last three. Here's the names:

Holly
Patricia
Miss Kallie

A huge congratulations to you three. You'll receive an email shortly. Please respond with your snail addresses.

And thanks, all you precious readers and commenters, for visiting! May all of you be blessed.


Wonderful blessings to you all!

Meet My Friend . . .
     Melanie G. Snyder

It's so good to have Melanie with us today. Welcome, Melanie!

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’ve always loved writing and have written stories, poetry and essays since I was a little girl. I was one of those rare (and slightly WEIRD!) kids who LOVED school assignments to write research papers and book reports. I’ve also been a voracious reader my whole life and think that has a lot to do with my love of the written word. The funny thing is, though I’ve always thought of myself as a writer, I didn’t feel that I could legitimately tell others that I was a writer until I had my first articles published in magazines. And I’m finding that, now that I have a published book to my name, that seems to give me more credibility as a “real writer” in the eyes of others. Regardless of whatever public credibility I may achieve (or not!), in my heart, I have always been and will always be a writer.

I know what you mean about loving research. I've got that bug, too. What is the genre you write in? Would you explain what it is?

I write primarily non-fiction, on topics such as education, the arts, parenting and social issues.

How do you spend your writing days? Do you set goals to reach a certain number of words per day?

I wish I could tell you that I have some type of discipline or structure about my writing. In addition to being a writer,

• I have numerous clients for whom I do a variety of (non-writing) projects,
• I teach writing courses and other courses for several area colleges, and
• I’m heavily involved in restorative justice and mediation work as a volunteer (along with numerous other volunteer commitments in the community).
• And I’m a wife and mother of two college-age kids (and a neurotic Golden Retriever).

So, every day is vastly different, and it’s difficult to find quiet, focused time to simply write.

But when I do get time to focus on writing, at the moment, it’s mostly spent on writing speeches and presentations to promote my first book, Grace Goes to Prison, which has just been published by Brethren Press (http://www.brethrenpress.com/)

You are busy! Tell us about your book. What can readers expect to get from reading it? How and where can readers buy your book?

Grace Goes to Prison tells how one unassuming, ordinary woman challenged conventional wisdom in our prison system during her 33 years as a prison volunteer, by practicing a radical form of LOVE for those who have committed crimes. Regardless of one’s views of our criminal justice system, this book is, at its core, about how one ordinary person can make an extraordinary difference in the world. Marie Hamilton’s example offers powerful lessons for ALL of us!

Grace Goes to Prison is available directly from the publisher, Brethren Press, at:

http://www.brethrenpress.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=1497

You can find recent reviews of the book on Amazon at:

http://www.amazon.com/Grace-Goes-Prison-Inspiring-Humanity/product-reviews/087178128X/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

Though the book is listed on Amazon, it is constantly “out of stock” and you’ll get much faster service ordering directly through Brethren Press. Also, I really encourage people to order through Brethren Press anyway as it supports this wonderful small, independent publisher.

Sounds fantastic! Where do you get ideas?

I think there are ideas for topics to write about all around us. But I’m especially interested in peoples’ stories. I believe EVERYONE has some incredible stories inside of them, and I love the process of engaging in dialogue with people to draw those stories out of them!

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?

Sure, sometimes it is frustrating, trying to get past the writer’s block and the nagging voices in my head to get words on the page. And it’s frustrating to try to get others (editors, publishers) to take notice of what I write. You have to develop a thick skin to be a successful writer, because rejection is a constant. I once heard someone say, “Being a writer should be easy – grab a dictionary, pencil and paper and you have everything you need!” If only it were that simple. But when I get frustrated, or “blocked”, or tired of the “no, thank you’s” from editors and publishers, I think about what my life would be like if I COULDN’T write – and I can’t imagine how sad that would be. That knowledge keeps me moving forward.

So true! 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?

For Grace Goes to Prison, the logical first publisher for me to approach was Brethren Press, because Marie Hamilton’s work was rooted deeply in the principles of her Church of the Brethren upbringing. Though I did send an initial query for this book to 5 other publishers (all simultaneously, by the way!), luckily Brethren Press responded very quickly that they were interested. The overall process of getting this book published was very easy and very fast, according to many of my writer friends who have also had books published. I committed to the project of writing the book in October, 2007, roughed out a first draft, query letter and book proposal by April, 2008, sent 6 query letters out on June 5, 2008, heard from Brethren Press by August 11, 2008 that they were interested in publishing the book, finished the manuscript and submitted it to Brethren Press by December 21, 2008, and the book was released on September 23, 2009, just shy of 2 years after I first took on the project.

I don’t expect to be nearly that lucky the next time around.

As for “sitting back and relaxing” from this success: no way! In many ways, the journey with this book is just beginning, as I now turn my attention to getting out and speaking to as many faith groups, civic groups, book groups, colleges and universities, and others as possible about Marie Hamilton’s work. (Anyone out there know of any potentially interested groups? If so, I’d love for you to contact me to discuss the possibility of a speaking engagement. See my website at http://www.melaniegsnyder.com/ for contact info)

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

• Well, obviously writing is one of my “likes.” Some days, it’s also one of my dislikes!
• As for travel, I’m planning a cross-country book tour for the Spring of 2010. Going cross-country is something I’ve wanted to do for over 25 years. I had planned a cross-country trek with a friend right after college – but then both of us got job offers and decided to do the “responsible” thing and start working. But now, the publication of Grace Goes to Prison has given me the perfect reason to pursue that long-cherished dream!

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.melaniegsnyder.com/

I also have a Facebook group set up for Grace Goes to Prison at

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=85093900457

I’d love to connect with fellow writers and with readers!

Thank you so much, Caroline, for the opportunity to share my publishing journey with your readers! And blessings to you in your own writing ventures!


It's been a real privilege to have you here, Melanie! May God continue to bless your work.
Blessings

Coming . . .

     Cindy Thomson!

Have you read Cindy's Brigid of Ireland? No?

Then don't miss her upcoming interview on March 10th!

She's giving away a copy of her Celtic Wisdom book!


Quote:
Not being able to govern events, I govern myself. --Michel de Montaigne
Blessings!

An Interview with my Friend . . .
Doug Varrieur



I'm so happy to have you on my blog today, Doug. I'm sure many readers will love hearing and learning about your book and your life!

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?

Wow, a calling….if it had only been such a glorious reason! Afraid not though, a bit more mundane than that. J I’ve been an avid dirt bike rider my whole life and occasionally I zig when I should have zagged resulting in more interaction with the dirt then the riding. I ride fast so when I crash it’s usually pretty hard. On this one particular day I broke my left foot which laid me up for a few weeks.





Over the years I’ve been coming up with little one liners, sayings like "You gotta go through what you gotta go through to get to where you’re going" I’ve come up with hundreds of them and have used them to teach my kids and my various employees an easy way to get the message.





I’ve written them down on everything imaginable, the back of a business card, a napkin, a piece of scrap wood, yes . . . even toilet paper.





As I sat at my desk with the broken foot elevated I spied the pile of notes loaded up on the shelf in the corner . . . time to clean the desk I thought and proceeded to open up a .doc file. The plan was simple really, write 'em down and throw away the notes. As I started to write the one liners in succession I found the need to elaborate on their meaning. This in turn resulted in a little paragraph below each one.





As I stared at the screen I recognized that I was writing a book . . . That’s the day THE CHERRY TREE was born. It’s dedicated to my kids, when they ask me for advice now I simply say…."look it up, it’s in the book!" J It begins with my most favorite cherry of all time, here it is;

"The toughest part about getting it done is getting it started! "





It couldn’t be truer! Talk, talk, talk, talk. Quit talking about it and do something about it. Take action, wait no more. Once you’ve begun, the hardest part’s behind you. It makes no difference what it is. Whether it's a project, quitting smoking, losing weight, whatever it is, get it started today and before you know it--it will be done.　

What is the genre you write in? Would you explain what it is?

My chosen genre is weight loss and health recovery. When I reached the weight loss cherry in THE CHERRY TREE I found it needed much more than a paragraph to explain so I opened up another .doc file and FAT TO SKINNY Fast and Easy! was born.



I had lost over 100 pounds a few years earlier and cured my own type two diabetes. Over the years I had been asked over and over and over again, "how did you do it?" I had told the story so many times it was effortless to write it down. Within a couple of weeks it was roughed in and within a few weeks after that it was done. I specialize in teaching the truth about weight loss and weight gain. I uncover the secrets for my readers to reversing insulin resistance and type two diabetes. I give them a simple roadmap to good health and longer life.

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 book?

I'm a deadline kinda guy. I peck away at the keyboard with two or sometimes three fingers until I’ve had enough. Sometimes I’ll put in 8 to 10 hours at a clip, other times I’ll walk away for two or three days and catch up on other things. The amount of time it takes to write my books depends on the type of book I’m writing. Currently I’m in the middle of three books; they are all within sight of finalization.

FAT TO SKINNY Low Sugar Low Carb Cookbook (350 pages)

FAT TO SKINNY Low Sugar Low Carb Product Guide (175 pages) and

FAT TO SKINNY Sugar and Carb Counter (115 pages)

These books are all very detail orientated and require a great deal of time for layout and intricacies. I find it to be very tedious at times but I work through it. I tackled all three at once because they all tie together in my series. I want them all available as a package by mid December.

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

My spiritual message is simple; our bodies are a temple and a gift to be respected. We all have the free will granted us to make good choices, make them wisely.

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

FAT TO SKINNY Fast and Easy! is the simplest most straight forward weight loss book ever written--at least that’s what the publisher tells me. J It starts with my personal story beginning at childhood and ends with recipes. Of course the middle is filled with the problem, the causes and the solutions. The beauty of the FAT TO SKINNY program is no exercise is required, I teach you how to use the body’s own natural metabolics to shed the weight. It’s so easy anyone of any age can master it and once the weight is off it stays off unless you choose to put it back on.





The book will be available for delivery starting 12/15/09 from anywhere books are sold as well as from my web site http://www.FATtoSKINNY.com





As a side note it will be featured in the Barnes and Nobles "New Year New You" program in January, all 800 stores.

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?

In my case I really have no option. If you had the cure for cancer would you keep it to yourself? That’s the position I’m in, I have the cure for obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. It’s my responsibility to spread the word. It can be tedious and of course very time consuming; in fact, it will swallow you up if you’re not careful.

My most discouraging times came when the FAT TO SKINNY manuscript was rejected by 56 agents and publishers over a period of 90 days. As all of you know, that’s very disheartening. I self published because I thought they were all idiots for not seeing the magic of the book. My most encouraging times come when I hear from successful readers. To hear from a 75 year old woman thanking me for balancing her blood sugar or from a 13 year old girl who’s no longer the "fat kid" in school is an indescribable reward. Children inspire me more than anybody. Just this week I received news that my program is being taught in my home town schools health class. That’s inspiration J

Would you explain how you "chose" (or was chosen) 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?

In my case it was both, Sterling Publishing chose me and I chose them. As mentioned earlier I had pretty much given up on approaching publishers and agents, I simply had too many people to help. The way I saw it every day that went by with my manuscript nestled away on my hard drive was one more day that I should be spreading the word. The e book was available on my web site but the book needed to go into print.

It was during that time frame that I had a heart attack. All the years of high triglycerides (over 400) had finally caught up to me and even though I was now thin and they were in check (55-60) the plaque, once formed never goes away. The heartburn I was experiencing turned out to be a 95% blockage in my left anterior descending artery; they call it the "widow maker".

As I lay in the hospital bed the evening before my surgery I asked myself the questions one does in such a situation. Was I ready to go? Have I done everything I needed to do on earth before moving on? The only thing that haunted me that evening was the book.





It was that evening that I made a promise, a promise to the lord that if in his wisdom he saw fit to leave me here for a while longer that I would dedicate the balance of my life to helping as many people on the planet as I could before going home. The next day a stent was inserted in the artery and two weeks later I was on the phone to a printer in Korea arranging for hard copies.



It was also at that time that my Aunt Polly Craig, author and actor introduced me to her literary agent, Diana Flegal, Hartline Literary Agency. Diana and I hit it off and I sent her a hard copy of my book printed by LULU.com. Once she committed to my cause we agreed to go to contract for publisher representation. I remember her surprise when I told her that I could care less if I ever had a publisher.

The new books, 3000 copies, were to be delivered to Tampa in mid December 2008. My wife Sherri and I spend our summers in the mountains of Western NC and our winters in the islands of the Florida Keys. It was time to head south, and my intention was to take delivery of my books and go bang on the doors of Home Shopping Network--I had a promise to keep.

When I arrived in the Tampa Bay Area I hooked up with an old friend who as it turned out was now the operations manager for 6 bay area radio stations. I was invited on air the week the books arrived and 600 copies sold within 19 days. I was then offered an exhibit space at the Florida State Fair which I gladly accepted. My wife and I spent 12 days 10 hours a day talking, talking then talking some more. Hundreds of books were purchased and I was interviewed a couple more times by radio stations from the show floor.





The fair ended and it was time to travel back to the Florida Keys. Home Shopping Network had declined my offer but there was no denying the success achieved in the Tampa Bay Area. Sherri and I were exhausted, and we both had laryngitis.



I was driving through the Everglades when the phone rang. An excited Diana Flegal was on the line, it seemed she had some news. Diana told me that Sterling Publishing Company had taken a liking to FAT TO SKINNY Fast and Easy! She asked if I could overnight 5 hard copies to NY that very day. The book was heading for an acquisitions meeting 48 hours later and they needed copies.

Within a week the publisher and I were on the phone together. They wanted to know if we could do business. My attitude was simple, this is what I told them, "I don’t need you unless you can help me help others faster than I can help them myself. If you can, we can do business. If you can’t, I’m not interested."





Then the strangest thing happened, I was told by the Sterling execs that not only did they want to help they also didn’t want to change the book! They liked it just the way it was--other than the fact that I had spelled "exercise" wrong on the front cover J I knew right away that I was dealing with the right company. They chose me, and I chose them.

I also knew that the job wasn’t done. It was just beginning. Don’t kid yourself; publishing a book is like opening a door. Inside the room you’ll not find a comfy couch to sit and rest in, you’ll find a hell of allot of work and commitment. If you’re not ready for it quit now, this is not your path. 　

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

I love to cook for people and I’m a nut for nature. For me happiness is the changing of the leaves and a cool mountain stream, the smell of the ocean and the clatter of the seagulls. It’s the pure satisfaction of recognizing how beautiful and wonderful life is each and every day.





My hobbies mirror these loves, fishing, hiking, diving, and riding my dirt bike through the mountains. Dinner parties with close friends and family are always a joy. These are my foundations for which I build my life upon.



I do have a few dislikes however they are few and far between. I don’t have a big interest in traveling. Sherri and I, accompanied by our 4 Yorkshire Terriers, BJ, Monkey, Bam Bam and Pebbles, have already settled into a wonderful routine. Traveling between and residing in two of the most majestic places in the country feeds my spirit and soul. As I leave the mountains for the ocean and then the ocean for the mountains each year I know I’ve found my path.　

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

I’m not a blogger, I simply don’t have the time. I do however have a couple of web sites:

• My business web site for my books is http://www.fattoskinny.com/ Here you can read testimonials from readers, listen to interviews and watch video.


• My personal family web site is http://www.varrieur.com/ here you can click on my name and visit photo galleries with pictures of our adventures.

Is there anything else I’d like to share? Yes, I’d like to share myself. I’ll address this to you, dear reader. If I can be of any help to you in any way please feel free to write me at:

DougVarrieur@FATtoSKINNY.com

I’ll do whatever I can for you.

Thank You for the interview, Carole, and I wish you and all you dear readers a blessed day!

We have no excuse now, to not get ourselves in shape and live a healthier life! Thank you, Doug, for a wonderful, inspiring insight into your life and most of all, your book!

Blessings!