Welcome, Christa Allan! It's so good to have you this week!

For a chance to win her book, please leave your comment and an email address!

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 started writing in high school after I discovered I couldn’t sing, dance, paint, play sports or act. When I started writing for a newspaper after my second child was born, it was the first time I saw my name in print. My own byline. I was hooked. The line and sinkers came later when my husband bought me a laptop several years ago, and I actually began writing my novel.

Sounds like my experience. :) What is the genre you write in? Would you explain what it is?

I write Women’s Fiction, which I would categorize as a genre where romance is not an integral part of the story, but rather how a woman or women change as a result of life circumstances.

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 am generally teaching high school full-time, but I am on a semester sabbatical. So, at least until January, I have the luxury of writing all day if I choose to do so. I’d like to say I’m one of those words a day people, but I’m not. My goal is to get the novel finished and turned in on deadline…no matter what it takes!

Groan. I know what you mean. What is the spiritual message in your book? What can readers expect to get from reading it?

The Edge of Grace released in August, and it’s currently a free Kindle download. Readers can purchase it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Christian Book distributors, Books-a-Million and other online sites.

It just received a starred review from Library Journal, and I think the reviewer truly captured the novel:

“Forgiveness, acceptance, and family ties -figure prominently in Allan’s second novel. She does not avoid tough subjects (her Walking on Broken Glass deals with alcoholism). Widow Caryn Becker is having a hard time raising her young son while getting her new business off the ground. When her brother David tells her he is gay, she is unable to cope and rejects the one person she has been able to count on. When her brother is attacked, his partner, Max, asks Caryn for help standing up against the attacker. Reluctantly, she agrees. Throughout the trial, Caryn comes to accept David and finds the grace to stand up for what is right.

VERDICT: This sophomore effort deals with a difficult subject for many Christians with sensitivity and grace, exploring Caryn’s feelings honestly while never shirking from the issue of justice and forgiveness. It is difficult to find a comparative CF novel, but readers who believe in a more forgiving and accepting God are sure to enjoy it.”

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 feel like giving up several times a day. When I’m writing, I’m checking my brain waves and asking myself why on earth do I subject myself to this torture. When I’m not writing, I’m asking myself why on earth am I wasting all this great material that surrounds me.

I learned with my debut novel, Walking on Broken Glass, that readers can be the kindest, most generous and exceptional people in the universe. They can also be mean, petty, and arrogant. So, I have to ride the waves and understand that it’s the direction of the boat that ultimately matters, regardless of the waves getting me there. I remind myself constantly that, even on those days when I’m baking a cake for my pity party, God doesn’t want me to write for me. He wants me to write for Him, and I have no idea who He has in mind that will read my novel and possibly be changed.
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?

After nine immediate rejections for Walking on Broken Glass, my agent pitched the novel to Abingdon Press and Barbara Scott, the Acquisitions Editor at that time, loved it. They also opened the door for me to write The Edge of Grace, and I could not be more proud of them for having the courage and faith to do so.

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

Likes: Coke Zero, cheesecake, and seafood (not all at once), reading, pens, pulling weeds, Bruno Mars

Dislikes: Mustard Greens, duck, deer, folding clothes, emptying the dishwasher, potty-mouths on students

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

WEBSITE: http://www.christaallan.com/

TWITTER: ChristaAllan

FACEBOOK: Christa Allan, Author

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Thanks so much, Christa, for visiting.
Readers, a comment and your email address will enter you in for a chance to win her book.
 
Blessings!

Please Welcome my Friend and Critique Partner, Roseanna White!

I'm thrilled to have Roseanna here on my blog again. Make sure to leave your comments and email addresses for a chance to win her book!

Tell us about your latest release. The cover looks fantastic!

Thanks, Carole! Very pleased with the cover myself, LOL. =) JEWEL OF PERSIA is a combination of the book of Esther and Herodotus's HISTORIES, the Greek account of the Greco-Persian war. I combine the accounts through my fictional heroine, Kasia, a passionate Jewish girl who is the true love of Xerxes, king of Persia and Media. But because of her choices to love her Lord more than her king, she ends up turning the court against her people . . . setting the stage for her childhood friend, Esther.

What was the hardest part to write?

The hardest parts were the historical accounts I really wished I could ignore, LOL. Xerxes was sometimes . . . well, a monster. He did things no CBA hero should ever do, so it was a challenge to write those into his character in a believable way, yet keep him a sympathetic character.

We all have choices of items that help us write. What’s yours? Can you give the readers a glimpse into your writing space? What’s your favorite writing reference tool?

Coffee!!! ;-) When we set up a schoolroom for my daughter this summer, I put my desk in there, right under a shelf that holds homeschool material and beside the window. I adore this space. It's bright and cheerful, and nowhere near a TV, LOL. I've taken to taping a calender of my story to the wall, maybe a character picture, and of course my Jane Austen action figure keeps watch over me. =) My favorite reference tool . . . hmm. Probably, boring as it sounds, the internet. I have a hard time writing when I can't tab over to do searches for simple questions.

If you had to choose one person to go with you for encouragement to a secluded cabin, who would that be?

My hubby, for sure. =) He brainstorms with me, he reads my books as I write them (which often keeps me writing fast, since he demands a new chapter every morning), and he can often give me insights into my characters I may have overlooked.

What are you working on now?

At the moment I'm polishing and trimming my next release, Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland, which will be coming out this December from Summerside Press. It's set in Annapolis of 1783-4, for that brief 6 months when it was the nation's capital and peace with England was still uncertain. When I'm between edits on that, I have several other projects I'm eager to finish up.

What is one of the happiest moments of your life or an accomplishment that you’re especially proud of?

Hmm . . . going through natural childbirth twice, without the aide of drugs? ;-) Can't think of anything more impressive than that, LOL, and of course it came with an awesome reward at the end. =)

How do you choose names for your characters? Do you do a lot of research on them?

I do, yes. Since most of my stories are historical, my choices are limited by what names were actually around in my time period. With my more exotic settings, I'm often tongue-tied by some of the names, so I pick ones I can pronounce, LOL. I'll also choose by meaning, or whether they just sound like my characters. =)

Can you tell us some of your favorite books or characters that you cherish?

Oh my—I am such a book lover! I love the classics, but I'm also a sucker for romances. Some of my favorites include all things Francine Rivers, Julie Klassen's The Silent Governness, Trish Perry's The Guy I'm Not Dating, Orson Scott Card's Enchantment and Pathfinder, Laurie Alice Eakes' Lady in the Mist . . . I could go on. And on. And on. =)

Any fun things about yourself that the readers might enjoy knowing?

Deep dark confession time—though my grandparents own a produce farm, I hate all but a handful of vegetables. And then I wonder why I can't get my kids to eat them, LOL.

Is there one piece of advice that’s been especially valuable to you?

Well, to paraphrase a lot of advice and put it through a recently polished lens, “Give it all to God—hopes as well as fears.” I always try to seek His will, of course, and when I'm afraid of something I give it to him regularly. But recently I realized I also have to entrust him with my hopes, not just my fears.

Please share information where readers can check out and buy your books:

A Stray Drop of Blood and Jewel of Persia are both available from most online retailers and can be ordered through your local stores as well, though they're not likely stocked. (Well, JoP's paperback won't release until June, but . . .) Digitals are available through Kindle for both, and Jewel of Persia is also available through all the other digital retailers. Plus if you want signed copies, you can order (or pre-order as the case may be) through my family's online store, http://www.crosspurposesbooks.com/

You can find links on my website (http://www.roseannamwhite.com/) and my blog (http://roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/)

It's been such fun to have talented Roseanna here this week! You'll not regret reading any of her books. She's that good!

Comments and email addresses, my friends.

Blessings!

Meet Prolific Writer, Susan Page Davis!
Don't forget to leave your comment and email address for a chance to win her historical book! Sounds fantastic.

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 written stories, since I was a young girl. I started writing “books” in junior high. But then life got in the way. There was College and Work and Marriage and Children. Then I wrote nonfiction for many years, for a newspaper and magazines. When I was 45, I decided to try a serious attempt at writing fiction. It took a couple of years for me to begin selling short stories, and four years to sell my first book. It was published the year I turned fifty.

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

I write in several genres. The book we’re featuring today is historical romance. These are romantic stories set in the past. They might include real events, places, and even real people sometimes. In The Blacksmith’s Bravery, I made up a town in southeastern Idaho, and all the characters are fictional. But the setting is the Idaho mountains in the 1880s. This series couldn’t have taken place anywhere else.

I also write in the romance, mystery, and romantic suspense genres, and I have a couple of book for young people on my backlist. Whatever strikes me as a compelling story, I write.

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?

Right now I usually spend most of the day at writing or writing-related tasks. I am blessed to have a room for my office. The amount I write per day depends on my deadlines. Right now I am writing an average of 2,000 salable words per day, as well as doing some editing and promotional material.
You recently had a book published. Would you take this time to describe it to us? How and where can readers buy your books?

The Blacksmith’s Bravery

This is book 3 in The Ladies’ Shooting Club series, about a group of women in 1880’s Idaho who support each other while learning to shoot in order to protect themselves.

By age twelve, Vashti Edwards was orphaned and working her way west in saloons. Life in Fergus, Idaho, has given her new hope in Christian friends from The Ladies Shooting Club and an employer who turned her saloon into a restaurant. But money’s tight, and Vashti tries to get the job she’s dreamed of—as a stagecoach driver. Griffin Bane, local blacksmith, is overseeing the stagecoach line and admits he needs more help. But can a woman—even one known to be a good markswoman—handle the challenges and dangers on the trail? And can he brave the beautiful distraction she makes riding alongside him?

Vashti and her boss, Griffin, turn to the Ladies’ Shooting Club of Fergus for extra gun power when the stagecoach line is targeted by robbers. Members willing to defend the passengers and mail can ride the Fergus-to-Boise route for free. Throw a little unforeseen mayhem and romance, and you’ll find this journey unforgettable.

The Blacksmith’s Bravery is the third installment in the Ladies’ Shooting Club series, from Barbour Publishing. These books are available in stores or online at Christianbook.com, Amazon.com, bn.com, and other booksellers’ sites.

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

Acceptance and forgiveness are very important to this story and the entire series. Vashti and Griffin must learn to accept themselves and each other as they are. Forgiveness from God, from others, and from themselves brings them along their journey.

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 had days like that, when I asked myself, “Why am I doing this?” But those days are fewer and farther between than they were five or six years ago. Before I had an agent, I remember I always tried to keep at least ten short stories or book proposals in the mail to editors. While they were out, I would write away on the next one. I remember one day I got back three rejections in my mailbox in one day. That was very painful. Now I’m in the delightful position of not usually writing the book until after it is bought. That doesn’t mean I don’t have discouraging days. I received a rejection on a book proposal—cushioned through my agent—just a few days ago. It definitely helps to have a squishable agent. He /she can take the worst hits for you and help you put them in perspective. (One of my agent’s stock lines is, “She doesn’t hate you, Susan.” So I guess that tells you I do still have “those” days.)
Who’s inspired you the most?

Many, many people have taught me things that have helped in my writing—other authors, teachers, my parents, my critique partners. But there are three people who always encourage me and make me want to do better, and I’d like to recognize them here. Pat, you taught me to read and so much more. You always have a word of cheer for me. Pam, you’re always ready for whatever comes next, and you urge me to get out of my own little box. Mim, I’ve tried to emulate your graciousness and generous spirit. These are my sisters. We didn’t pick each other, but we choose to remain close friends.

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?

I’ve been privileged to work with several publishers, and I believe the connection is in God’s hands. But I believe in taking steps as you seek God’s will. For my first published book, I deliberately targeted Barbour’s Heartsong line. I’d already received several rejections on a police mystery series, and was beginning to think that would never sell. (It hasn’t. Any editors out there want to see it now?? )

But seriously, I began to study the Writer’s Market for publishers open to unagented unknowns. Ones that would publish books from a Christian world view. Ones that paid royalties. The intersection was Heartsong. I read several of their books and determined to sell to them.

I sent Tracie and Jim Peterson several manuscripts and got several rejections (encouraging rejections, but still “NO’s”) before Jim finally called me on the phone and told me that Heartsong was buying my book. I’ve had a great relationship with Barbour ever since, and I say that even though ALL of their editors subsequently gave me rejections. So far I’ve published 14 Heartsongs, three mysteries, two novellas, and three trade books with Barbour, and more under contract.

For my other publishers (including Summerside, Harvest House, Love Inspired, and JourneyForth) it’s been a case of sending or having my agent send the proposal to the publisher where it seems it would fit best. Guideposts was a little different—I auditioned for a spot in their Patchwork Mysteries series by submitting a sample chapter, and they chose me from a fairly large pool. I’m now working on my second book for them. And no, I’m not sitting back and relaxing yet. I don’t plan to retire for a while, and it’s still vital to find the right publisher for a story and vice versa.
Do you mind telling us some of your likes and dislikes? Hobbies, interests? Where would you like to travel if you could?

There are tons of places I’ve never seen and would love to see. I wonder if one of my editors would be interested in a story set in Switzerland…or Tahiti…or New Zealand. I’ve always loved animals (right now we have a cat, a dog, and a horse), and I enjoy puzzles and reading and genealogy. I also like needlework but haven’t had time to do any for a while now. I hate to cook. I also dislike vinegar and mustard.
Would you give us your blog or webpage so everyone can check it out? Anything else you’d like to share? Promotional information?

Come see me at http://www.susanpagedavis.com/. At the end of each month I draw at least one name (sometimes several) to win a free book, and the winners choose the books they want. I won’t use your name for anything else, so feel safe in entering (there’s a little “enter the monthly contest” form on the left side of my home page).

The Blacksmith’s Bravery can be read as a standalone if you haven’t read the other books in the series—but why would you want to miss the fun? Look for The Sheriff’s Surrender and The Gunsmith’s Gallantry too.

I also have a page on FaceBook that my daughter Amy maintains for me. I can’t answer your comments there, but she tries to post my interviews, book signings, new releases, and other events: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Susan-Page-Davis/139580589399172?v=wall


Don't forget those comments, readers, and your email address! You don't want to miss a chance to win this book!
 
Blessings!

Interview Questions

Welcome, Cerella!

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?

As a child, I ADORED books. I ate them up like they were candy. I attribute a lot of it to my mother, who used to read to me nightly. She’s a drama/theater-lover, so every story’s telling contained dramatic dialogue and sound effects. It made stories come alive for me. As I grew, I continued to consume books rapaciously. Of course, children love to discuss what they’re going to be ‘when they grow up’, and like most children, I had a varied list of what I wanted to do as an adult.

Then, one night when I was ten years of age, I watched a movie in which the heroine was a novelist. I can’t say there was a choir of the heavenly host or a booming voice, but a light bulb did go off in that moment – this was a career. The books I was reading began with an author. I latched onto this and throughout the rest of my childhood and teenage years, felt that desire grow into a calling.

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

My current book is a modern-day romantic comedy, although I’ve been known to write in other genres. For a long time, I wrote historical novels but had no luck getting them published. After years of receiving rejections on the manuscripts I was submitting, I decided to do a 180 and try something completely different. Love Finds You in Hershey, Pennsylvania was born out of my ‘foodie’ personality – it’s light, fun and sweet…like Angel food cake. =)

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?

The system varies. A lot. Like many writers, I work a full-time job in addition to my writing, plus I’m taking college courses at the same time. Time is precious! Right now, I’ve been consumed with the necessary promotion and details that go along with the publication of my first book. It’s exciting but leaves little time for the actual writing!

Love Finds You In Hershey was mostly written in two large spurts. I wrote the first half and then walked away in the dreaded middle, feeling drained. I returned to it some months later, re-inspired, and finished the second half. The actual writing is the least time-consuming part of the process – editing, fact-checking, polishing, researching, plotting…these are what take up the most time. I would say it probably took me about a year, from conceptualization to finished product. It all depends on how much real life interferes with one’s plans!

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

My character’s struggles are often born out of my own. There’s usually an issue I have to work through before I can help my character resolve it.

In Love Finds You in Hershey, Sadie Spencer is forced to face her inner perfectionist: that she cannot be the very best in everything she longs to excel at. It’s a hard lesson, and one I’ve had to face myself – this need to be something more than I am.

Sadie is a talented woman when it comes to food and her restaurant. But the one gift she doesn’t have is the skill to create a truly delicious dessert. It’s her Achilles heel, and she nearly loses some very priceless relationships in the pursuit of it.

Of course, there are some very comedic (and chocolaty!) moments along the way, as well.

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

Love Finds You in Hershey, Pennsylvania is part of Summerside Press’s Love Finds You series, which takes place in unique, real-life small towns across America.

Love Finds you in Hershey centers around Sadie, a single mom who is juggling raising her precocious five-year-old daughter and managing the restaurant she owns. She’s a little bit jinxed and finds herself in several hilarious (and occasionally alarming) circumstances. Her best friend, Jasper, sticks by her and helps her raise Kylie, her daughter, and begins to realize he feels a lot more for his lifelong friend than mere friendship. There’s also a mysterious Russian entrepreneur threatening Sadie’s business and the return of her erstwhile father, seeking amends.

It’s a story cooked up with a little bit of everything: humor, romance, drama, redemption, relationships and obviously, chocolate.

Love Finds You in Hershey, Pennsylvania is available wherever fine books are sold: Amazon.com, Borders, Barnes & Noble, Christian bookstores, etc. You can find links on my website (http://www.cerelladsechrist.com/) as well as read the first chapter and discover more information on the story – including recipes from the book, character bios, merchandise, tidbits on the town of Hershey, soundtrack recommendations and more!

Where do you get ideas? Character names? Do you find your characters similar to you in any way?

I think writers find their inspiration just about everywhere – at least, I know I do. The surest way for an idea to take root and bloom for me is when I ask that fateful question, "Well, what if…"

As for character names, I used to be extremely fussy in regards to this. I’d spend hours trying to find names that were ones I liked. In recent years, I’ve learned to let go more and allow the name to find me. The better you know your character, the more they’ll end up telling you about themselves – and the name is usually included in that for me. Characters often name themselves.

Whether my characters are similar to me or not – absolutely! Not in every way, but there’s a small part of me in each of them, for better or worse. For instance, with Sadie – I can definitely see her drive to succeed in myself, especially in the way she beats herself up for the skills she’s lacking. On the other hand, I will never possess her flair for withstanding public humiliation.

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?

Wow, this is a big one. Okay, it’s true – the writing life is hard. Super hard. Especially when you’re writing day in and day out with no acknowledgment or return on your efforts. I wrote my first novel at age 16 and started submitting for publication when I was 17 years old – it took 13 more years to finally see something published. Everyone knew this was my lifelong dream, but along the way, most people stopped asking me how it was going. In a way, this was a relief – telling people ‘nothing yet’ grew wearing after several years.

I think the most important thing you can remember, though, is that success does not define you nor your ability. If you like to write, then write. Don’t do it to be published – do it for you. Do it because you enjoy the telling of a story and appreciate the value in them. If you do it because you love it, the discouragement is still there, but it rolls off easier than if you’re doing it to prove yourself. If I didn’t love the art of words, I would have given up a long time ago. And if I wasn’t being published, I’d still be writing anyway – because stories matter to me. Immensely.

For me, inspiration comes from other stories – the kind that make you dig deep and recognize that who we are and what we do matters.

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?

Ha ha! It’s so facetious of you to place this question after the last one. I’ve only heard of one or two writers in my lifetime who had the pleasure of selecting from a platter of eager publishers with their first book. I was extremely fortunate in receiving an offer from Summerside Press, who maintain a high standard of quality in their titles. I’m blessed and grateful that they chose to take a chance on me.

As for relaxing….um, no. =) There’s always more work to be done.

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

Well, beyond the obvious answer of reading and writing... I love history, and I love touring historical places. My dream is to visit Scotland one day, since I have family history there and love all things Scottish. I’m enamored with pug puppies (including my own, named Bronte after the classic Charlotte and Emily.) Obviously, I’m a bit of a foodie and derive great interest from anything related to food and cooking. I’ll try just about anything except some of the stuff seen on Andrew Zimmerman’s Bizarre Foods. (I admire that man’s fortitude in the face of gastronomical horrors.)

I’m addicted to coffee, but I’m trying to drink more tea since I’m taking classes in holistic health and recognize the health benefits of the latter. And I’m so excited for the final season of the TV show, Lost.

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

I try keep my websites interesting with lots of goodies to be found, both on my author website and my personal website and blog. Definitely check out my sites:

Author website with fun book content (recipes, soundtrack, character blog and bio, etc.): http://www.cerelladsechrist.com/

My personal website and blog (with fun, random info. about me):

http://www.thecerellalife.com/

Join me on Facebook at:

www.facebook.com/thecerellalife

And make sure you check out Sadie’s character blog at:

http://www.suncatchersadie.blogspot.com/

Wasn't that fun? Thank you, Cerella, for joining me today!

Blessings!

My Guest Today is Author,

Loree Lough, promoting Prevailing Love and Tales of the Heart:

Loree is a fun person who loves people and writing. Read on for an insight into what makes her "tick" and such a success in this business. (NOTE: I’ve heard she has over 70 books in print. Whooee!)

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?

First, thank you, Carole, for providing authors this opportunity for readers to get to know them a little better! You’re gracious and generous and everything a true Christian should be, and I’m proud to know you!

As a teen, I entertained the kids I babysat by telling stories, and even the most unruly brats grew calm and quiet, hearing themselves as stars of the tales. I moved from those to non-fiction stories in magazines and newspapers, and when publishers started messing with the facts to appease advertisers, I decided as long as I was sorta writing fiction anyway, why not be up front about it and write short stories! I sold quite a few (confession mags, etc.), but I didn’t take the gift seriously until after my first novel hit the shelves. Reader mail made it clear, for the first time in my life, what God wanted me to do. And I’ve been doing it ever since!

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

Most of my stories are in the ‘inspirational romance’ genre, and of the 75 books on the shelves, half are historicals. The way I explain "inspirational"? The novels include all the traditional elements of popular fiction, with one fundamental addition: Spirit-based storylines, based on biblical principles, that are tightly woven into the plots.

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 work 6 days a week, 8-10 hours a day (and when I’m on a tight deadline, I’m in my office on Sundays after church, too). I don’t set a ‘word count’ goal when I sit down to write. Instead, I review whatever I worked on yesterday, clean it up, and move forward. Depending on the condition of the prior scene(s), editing could take anywhere from an hour to my whole work day, so I might not add to the overall word count at all!

Most novels require a full week’s worth of research and interviews. Then I spend a day charting out the storyline, another developing characters (background, motivation, conflict, etc.). Once those essentials are complete, I dig in my heels and don’t quit until I’ve typed The End… which for a novel that’s 80,000 words long, usually takes an additional eight weeks.

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

The working title for my WIP is "The Outlaw Wore Skirts". It’s the first in a 4-book historical series, and features a heroine wrongly accused of several serious crimes. So the overall spiritual theme is forgiveness. As the story progresses, she must forgive her step-father, whose abuse started the dominos toppling in her life. Then she must forgive herself for all the erroneous decisions she made as a result of it. And interwoven into it all, a steadily-growing need for the Lord that allows her to practice trust, faith, and acceptance.

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

I’m so blessed to be able to say that Love Finds You in North Pole, Alaska (Summerside Press, released Oct. 1, 2009) has already inspired nearly 100 glowing reviews (from pros and readers). I’m doubly blessed, because it’s my 75^th published book!

This is the story of ex-marine Bryce Stone, forced to return to his home town after being wounded in Afghanistan… and he isn’t at all happy about it. For one thing, The City Where It’s Christmas, All Year Long hasn’t felt like home since his parents died a decade earlier. For another, his maiden Aunt Olive’s retirement puts him in the uncomfortable position of taking the helm of his parents’ gift shop, meaning his life-long dream of building one-of-a-kind furniture pieces must move to the back burner, indefinitely.

Enter spunky Samantha Sinclair, whom he hires to run the shop in the hope he can at least attempt to make his dream come true. The youngest of 8 kids, Sam has a lot to prove… to her 7 older brothers, to her parents, to herself, and especially, to Bryce. She quickly realizes that facing the challenges head-on might be enough to satisfy her siblings, but it’ll take more than physical labor and organizational skills to win Bryce over… especially when he loses the only member of his family he has left!

Faith, trust, and love are a powerful combination… but are they enough to heal old wounds and unite these two very different people…?

Where do you get ideas? Character names? Do you find your characters similar to you in any way?

The joke I often make is that I get my ideas from a little elf who lives under my front porch; I poke him with a stick and he’s usually good for at least a few suggestions! But there’s no ‘under’ to my porch, and no ‘elf’, either. So I’m forced to get ideas from newspapers and magazines, from TV news reports, from stories I overhear in line at the grocery store, from friends and relatives who say "Hey, did you hear…?" Everything has the potential of becoming a novel, once I ask those all important questions: "What if?" and "And then what?"

Choosing character names is getting tougher as more books hit the shelves. My ‘baby names’ book is definitely showing signs of wear!

Heroes and heroines in my books all have faults and flaws, just like real people. I share some of those—along with a few bad habits—and I think that’s what makes the characters seem real. In life, I avoid weak, whiny people. Put me in a room with someone who’s overcome adversity, and done it with their back straight and their chin up, and I’ve got the makings of real friend material! Based on letters from my readers, those are the qualities they most identify with, too.

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?

Taking a break from pounding the keys, yes, but giving up? Not in my DNA! Most people do NOT understand the writing process. My theory? They think ‘cause they can read a book in a few hours, we can write one in maybe twice that long. Only other authors (and the people who share their homes) understand what a tedious, time-consuming job it is.

For the most part, people just don’t ‘get it’. If they did, they wouldn’t say things like "Lucky Loree! She gets paid for her little hobby!" and "I wish I could stay home all day and do nothing…" and "Of course Loree doesn’t want to retire… it isn’t like she’s actually working…" and "Loree can (insert errand or chore) because she doesn’t have an actual job." (Sadly, those are actual quotes, spoken by friends!)

Then there are those times (at family gatherings or parties) when people who didn’t already know I’m an author ask, "What do you write?" My reply: "Inspirational romance." Eyebrows slam into hairlines. "What’s that?" And after a thirty second explanation, foreheads furrow. Not a whole lot. Just enough so I notice. And they say, "So… when are you gonna write a real book?"

My brain runs down what I could say: My books all have covers. Spines. Back jacket copy. Pages inside, with words on them. I bite back what I’d like to say, as the image of Jack Nicholson, on the witness stand, floats in my head; you know that scene where Tom Cruise bellows "I want the truth!" and Jack snarls, "YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!"? Well, picture this: I smile politely and give ‘em a friendly hug, then stand back and say, "Aw, I wouldn’t worry about it, ‘cause… you can’t handle a real book."

Works every time! LOL

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?

Tempting as it was (still is! ), I’ve never gone the "inny, minny, miny, moe" route. The simple answer is, I have always studied the market. The more detailed one is, I looked at my work in progress, then asked myself what it was. (Historical? Contemporary? Suspense? Thriller? Humorous? A combination of any/all of those?) Then, I asked, what’s this book’s overall theme? (Overcoming adversity? Man v. nature? Boy gets girl?) And what’s the book’s spiritual message? (Forgiveness? Acceptance? Tolerance?) Next, I asked myself which companies were buying that kind of fiction, and got online to find out how many of those they’d published lately. Last, I learned how they preferred to receive submissions, and gave them exactly what they asked for.

Now that I have a few books on the shelves, and a very capable agent, I don’t have to complete a full manuscript to make a sale. A synopsis and a few chapters, usually, and in very rare cases (when I’ve worked with a particular editor before), an overview will do.

In all honesty, I don’t think I’ll ever reach a point where I can sit back and relax, thinking about my so-called success, because the sad fact is… I’m only as successful as my last book.

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

I like people. Well, most people. LOL! Working alone all day as I do, it’s a blessing to come out of the office and have the ability to interact with others. As I said earlier, I shy away from whiners and complainers, because those attitudes are contagious. I stay away from fibbers and truth-stretchers, because they test my Patience Quota. I pray for both types, but the folks I’m drawn to and become friends with are upbeat, spirit-filled, strong and capable.

Gardening is one of many hobbies, and I wish I had more time for it! I love to paint and sketch (one of my pen and ink drawings hangs in the home of actress Lea Thompson!), bang on the piano and strum my Yamaha.

I find myself satisfying my cravings for new information by reading. Cereal boxes (vitamin info!), recipe cards (caloric data!), milk cartons ("have you seen me?"), even junk mail becomes reading material!

The Lord has blessed me with many wonderful and memorable trips, but the one I haven’t taken yet that I’d like to is… an African safari. When I make that one, hoo-boy the novel is gonna be all kinds of dangerous! LOL

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

I’d love for everybody to visit me via:

• Web site:

http://www.loreelough.com

Blog: www.theloughdown.blogspotcom

Plus

• Facebook, Shoutlife, MySpace, and Twitter.

Shameless self-promotion alert!

• By the time this appears, I will have returned from Detroit, where I taped a segment of the "I’m Just Sayin’" show, hosted by Pastor Dan Willis on the Total Christian Television network (when I find out when it’ll air, I’ll let you know so you can tune in!);
• Be Still…and Let Your Nail Polish Dry (devotional, co-authored with Andrea Boeshaar, Sandie Bricker, and Debby Mayne) hits bookshelves by November 1^st. (All four of us have promised to contribute a generous portion of the proceeds to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, so every sale will increase the amount we can donate!);
• In January, 2010, two new books will be released from Whitaker House… Tales of the Heart (3 complete historical romances) and Prevailing Love (3 full-length contemporaries).
• In June, #1 in the (tentatively titled) "Rockin’ N Ranch" series, The Outlaw Wore Skirts will be released (followed every 4-6 months by another in the series);
• During the summer of 2011, additional "Rockin’ N Ranch" titles, along with One Forsaken Man, #1 in my First Responders series from Abingdon Press;

and

• Love Finds You in Folly Beach, South Carolina (Summerside).

Thank you, Loree, for being on my blog.

Wasn’t that fun, readers? Run to check out Loree’s books. You’ll love them!

Blessings!