Tag: Interviews

Tracie Peterson | Author Interview

Published on by Amanda Tero2 Comments

Beyond the Silence by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley WoodhouseToday, bestselling author Tracie Peterson has taken some time out of her writing day and answered some questions.

How have you been able to write so many books? Is writing your full-time career? What does a normal writing day look like to you?
Writing is a full-time job for me as well as my ministry.  Years ago when I first got started, I knew that I wanted to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Bible application in each book to offer encouragement to the reader.  I also wanted to entertain the reader, as well as educate them.  I call it my 3E’s – Entertain – Educate – Encourage. I believe God has given me the creativity and imagination to come up with the various book ideas. Most writers would agree that stories are everywhere around us—you just have to open your eyes and see them.  A normal writing day?  There’s no such thing. 🙂 I try to start each day with prayer and Bible although that doesn’t always happen and sometimes it comes in the middle or latter part of the day. I try to write a chapter each day – that’s my overall goal when I’m actually writing the book.  Usually I have several books going on at once so while I’m writing one, I’m usually researching another, plotting out a third and sometimes reading galleys for a fourth.
When you get a new idea, what usually comes first (spiritual theme, plot, characters, setting, back story, other)?  
It just depends on the story – honestly.  Some books were born out of settings like Alaska or events like discovering Yogo sapphires. Others came to me via my impression of a strong character in a difficult situation.  It always various with each book.

What is the easiest part of writing for you? 
Writing the book. The writing is the easiest for me and the most satisfying.

What is the hardest?
Again it really depends on the book or series.  Sometimes the research is hard to get my hands on. Other times the characters are difficult to get my mind around. Sometimes plotting out the story gives me a hard time.  It really just depends on the story.

A Treasure Concealed by Tracie PetersonOut of the many books you have written, does any book, theme, or series stand out to you as a favorite — or one that holds a special place in your heart? 
They’re all really precious to me, because I know they were given to me by God.  One that comes immediately to mind was a book called The Long Awaited Child.  I think of this one in particular because of a letter I just received from a reader.  The book is about a woman who is struggling with infertility and longs for a child of her own.  I’ve never had that problem myself, but I felt led to write about it after hearing the sorrow of others who did.  The letter written by this reader left me no doubt that God’s hand orchestrated the story because she said, “I know you must have suffered this heartache like me, because you wrote so clearly about the deep emotional longings and daily problems I faced.”

Do you find your real life reflected on the pages of your novels?
Occasionally. Authors can’t help but put a part of themselves into their characters and conflicts.  What’s fun for me is when I think a character is going to respond to a situation in the way I would, but by the time I write the story I can see that a character of this particular nature would never respond that way.  It’s fun when characters take over the book.

20665062What are three non-writing things you enjoy doing?
I’m not sure anything about me is non-writing.   However, here are some things I enjoy.

Spinning wool.  I just recently took this up so that I would know how my book character felt about spinning and what all was involved.  I find it really relaxing and a lot of fun.

I also enjoy what my mom and I call, “porch time”.  I have a large porch that wraps ½ of my house.  I love to sit out there with my mountain view and read.

Long drives.  We live in such a beautiful place and long drives are extremely satisfying as we enjoy the beauty around us.  It really gives me a special time to praise God for all He’s given.

When did you realize that writing was your ministry? Was it easy for you to accept this calling, or did you have some struggles?
I always knew I was going to do some sort of ministry for God.  Even when I was very young I began to seek this out.  I thought for a long time I might be a missionary nurse or doctor as I had an interest in medicine.  I always loved writing, but wasn’t really sure how I could use that for God’s glory.  When He showed me how, I have to admit I was elated and that joy carries on.  I get to do something I love, travel, meet interesting folks, minister about God’s love and give it all to His glory, plus get paid.  What more could anyone ask for?

What is the #1 tip you’d give an aspiring writer?
28561657Go to conferences.  In this day and age of traditional publishing and even self-publishing, I believe the writer conferences are the best bang for your buck. Many editors and agents attend these conferences along with other authors and almost every conference I’ve ever participated in offered the attendee a fifteen-minute one-on-one appointment with editors and agents. This is a valuable opportunity to present yourself and what you write and while it seldom will net you a contract on the spot, it will often get you past the door in a far more personal way than just sending in a proposal.  Added to that are all the great workshops and speakers.  It can be expensive, but is definitely going to benefit the career of any aspiring writer.


Second, I encourage writers to read.  Someone once said good writers are good readers.  I believe that to be true.  I have encouraged new authors to read best-sellers as well as books that aren’t best-sellers.  I tell them to read the book once for pleasure and then go back through it and tear it apart.  Figure out why you think worked and didn’t work for the book. Write out the details of the characters – what they look like, what they do, what they’re afraid of, what their goals are.  Write out details about the settings, etc.  An aspiring writer can really teach themselves how to create better plots, characters and settings by doing this simple exercise.



Thank you so much!! I love reading about how writing is your ministry! What a blessing to have the focus of God first. I have enjoyed reading your books and look forward to what God allows you to write next!

About Tracie
Tracie Peterson

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than one hundred books. Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. She and her family live in Montana.

Visit Tracie’s web site at: http://www.traciepeterson.com

Roseanna White | Interview

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment
22383696This week, I’m excited to be interviewing one of my top favorite authors, Roseanna White. Granted, I have not read all of her written work (yet), but everything that I have read has had a great balance of realism, Christianity, and history.
Writing is only a part of your life. How do you juggle being an author, homeschooling mom, and everything else that life entails?
It’s mostly a matter of priorities. I get up at 5:30 every day so I have 2 solid hours of writing time before I need to worry with starting the day in terms of feeding children and doing our school. Throughout the rest of the day, I rely on a handy-dandy list (I’m NOT a list person, but this became necessary, LOL) that helps me remember all my many jobs and order them according to the most pressing. Housework, ahem, usually gets pushed pretty far down the list. School and writing come first, then editing and my design work.
Lists are amazing! My days definitely go much smoother with them.
Your books have a lot of depth to them with both plot and spiritual themes. When you get an idea, what usually comes first (the plot idea or spiritual theme/lesson)?
Actually, step one for me is usually the characters. =) From the characters come both the plot and the spiritual themes. My best friend/critique partner and I always joke that we know the characters’ backgrounds and the journey we want to take them on, but when we’re talking about it, we usually say, “And then, you know, plot stuff happens.” Those details get filled in later, LOL. For me, it’s all about that character journey. Who are they, and who are they going to be by the end of the story? The paths God might take them on to get them there are usually not too set in stone.
Ah, characters. That would probably be my weakness. 😉
What is the easiest part of writing for you?
Generating ideas, I think. My agent once called me her “idea girl.” I just love coming up with new book ideas, or even new possibilities for where to take my characters in a book I’m already writing—which certainly makes the editing process more fun than it might be otherwise!
What is the hardest?
Execution. Finding the time to turn that sparkly idea floating around in my brain to words worth putting to paper. There are many days when it’s hard to write—but it’s also an integral part of who I am, so always worth the effort!
Have you had a character you just didn’t want to let go after “the end?” If so, which one(s)?
I’m honestly usually ready to move on to the next project (shiny new ideas! LOL), but I also know I’ll spend a lot more time with my characters in edits, so that helps too. I usually don’t get too sentimental about leaving them behind until I’m at the end of a series, when I won’t get to sneak them into the pages anymore. 😉 I think with my Ladies of the Manor Series, I was particularly sad to say goodbye to Whitby. He wasn’t a main character, but he was in many ways a driving force of the whole series. And just such a cool father for Brook in The Lost Heiress. =D
I think I’m going to be sad to say “goodbye” to a few of those characters in the Ladies of the Manor series! 🙂
15709082I know many authors say that “to pick a favorite book is to pick a favorite child,” but do any of your novels stand out to you as being more of a personal favorite than the others?
It is like that! LOL. But there are a few that are super-special, yes. The Lost Heiress because it’s a rewrite of the first book I ever wrote, when I was 13. And A Stray Drop of Bloodbecause it took me 6 years to write it, so it traveled with me for a looooong time before it became my first published book.
Do you find your real life reflected on the pages of your books?
Bits and pieces make their way in. =) Not generally anything recognizable—I certainly don’t dine with dukes and duchesses, LOL. But clever things my kids say will find their way into the mouths of the children in my stories. Lessons I learn are learned by the characters—or, actually, quite frequently I learn a lesson throughmy characters. And love, of course. The love my heroes and heroines find, with each other and with God, are always a reflection of what the Lord has given me. =)
Who are the authors that have most inspired you?
L.M. Montgomery was my first favorite—I was definitely a kindred spirit of most of her heroines. =) Lori Wick’s Kensington Chronicles are what made me fall in love with British settings. Then came Francine Rivers, who showed me how to make a story weep with emotion. Orson Scott Card, for his dialogue and wit. Frank Peretti for spiritual conflict. Those are just a few of dozens of authors I love, but they’re the ones who shaped me most early on.
What is the #1 thing you’d say to an aspiring writer?

We all have a journey. Sometimes our writing is for its own sake—it doesn’t need publication or praise. Sometimes it’s for others. But no matter the journey, we need to remember that it’s ours. That it shapes us into the person and the writer God wants us to be. Our path will never look like anyone else’s, and that’s as it should be. If you love it, respect the dream and fight for it. But never think you’re at the pinnacle, either of your path or your skill. There’s always something new to learn. New steps to take. Enjoy every step!
Love that! Thank you so much for taking your time to answer my questions!

About Roseanna

Roseanna M. White grew up in the mountains of West Virginia, the beauty of which inspired her to begin writing as soon as she learned to pair subjects with verbs. She spent her middle and high school days penning novels in class, and her love of books took her to a school renowned for them.

After graduating from St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland, she and her husband moved back to the same mountains they equate with home.

Roseanna is the author of two biblical novels, A Stray Drop of Blood and Jewel of Persia, the historical romance, Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland, and the historical, romantic suspense Culper Ring Series (Ring of Secrets, Whispers from the Shadows, and Circle of Spies). She is also the senior reviewer at the Christian Review of Books, which she and her husband founded, the senior editor at WhiteFire Publishing, and a member of ACFW, HisWriters, and Colonial Christian Fiction Writers.


Anne Mateer | Author Interview

Published on by Amanda Tero3 Comments

Today, let’s welcome author Anne Mateer, author of Playing by Heart, At Every Turn, and more Christian historical fiction.

In reading the “about you” on your page, you mention that writing is only a portion of your life. What does a “normal” writing schedule look like to you? Or is there nothing normal about it?
17350821I prefer to have a “normal” writing schedule—though 2016 has not brought any such days thus far! My best schedule is to write an hour or so mid-morning, then a couple of hours in the afternoon. I can usually get my word count done in those few hours of intense writing, and its about as much in a day as my brain can take. The harder writing times are at the research and brainstorming stages of a book. Those are much more time consuming for me than the actual writing, though revisions are also times where I work many, many hours each day!

I can definitely understand the research-and-brainstorming stages being more difficult!
Besides writing, what are some of your favorite things to do?
I consider myself a reader first and foremost, so I still read a lot. I usually have three or four books going at any one time: a non-fiction book, a fiction physical book, and a fiction ebook—with often a research book added to those. I also enjoy crocheting and any kind of tangible history—visiting museums and historic homes, that kind of thing.

Sounds like a ton of fun!
What is the easiest part of writing for you?
Characters. They just seem to appear in my head and take up residence, pretty much fully formed.

What is the hardest?
Plot. While my head is peopled with characters, they don’t come to me already living their story. In other words, I have to work at making things happen to them rather than just enjoying their company!
10329469
Do you find your real life reflected on the pages of your books?
Absolutely! It might be in little ways, such as a character dealing with whatever is irritating me at the moment, or in bigger ways, such as creating a character based in large part on someone close to me. Or sometimes it’s just using stories to address the issues I see those I love dealing with on a daily basis.

That is very neat! 
Why historical fiction?
I’ve always loved history. Even in elementary school I gravitated to the books in the school library that revealed life in another place and time. Books like The Little House on the Prairie series orStrawberry Girl or Caddie Woodlawn. As I grew older I discovered that I loved reading real history, too, and ended up majoring in history in college.

Which story has been your favorite to write? Which character?
That is such a difficult question! I have loved each story and character for very different reasons. But I think the favorite book to write was probably At Every Turn. It was my second contracted book, so I didn’t have that nervousness of wondering if it would ever find a publishing home. Plus its historical setting and premise was a brand new topic for me, and I loved learning about it. Also, the story itself was just plain fun.

13432068My favorite character to write is even tougher, because there are so many! I’ll have to go with two: Irene, the older woman who befriends Rebekah in Wings of a Dream and Blaine, the self-sacrificing hero in A Home for My Heart. Both were wonderful characters who exemplified Christ in their actions toward others. They are who I want to be.

At Every Turn was a fun book! 
Who are the authors that have most inspired you?
There are so many! In my early years, Laura Ingalls Wilder, L.M. Montgomery, and Louisa May Alcott. Others include: Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and Eugenia Price.

What is the #1 thing you’d say to an aspiring writer?
Don’t be afraid to write books that don’t get published. My first 4 novels are still in my computer, and while I might someday re-write them (and I mean completely re-write, using only the basic story premise from the original!), I am fine with them never being published because they were HUGE in my personal development as a writer. They were not failures. They were building blocks to being published. They made me a better writer.

Resounding “yes” to that tip!! 🙂 
Thanks again for taking your time to “visit” my blog!
My pleasure! Thanks for asking!

About Anne


Anne Mateer has loved reading and writing stories since childhood. In 2000, she began studying the craft of fiction and working toward publication. Ten years later, she received her first book contract. Anne is a three time Genesis contest finalist, a Carol Award finalist, and a contributor to A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts.

Anne and her equally history-obsessed husband live in Texas. They are the proud parents of three young adults who spent many family vacations touring historical sites.

Jen Turano | Author Interview and Giveaway

Published on by Amanda Tero7 Comments
I’m beyond thrilled to have Jen Turano here on my blog today. A few months ago, I saw one of her books come up for review and, after finding out that my closest reader friends hadn’t read her (and thus couldn’t give an opinion of her), I decided to try her out. Wow. I don’t know that I’ve laughed quite so much at a book before! But you can read her books later. For now, the interview.

When did you first begin writing? How long after that was it before you got published?
In Good Company CoverI first began writing when my son was in the third grade.  We’d gotten through this rather horrible series –  okay, we only got through book six and I’ve never owned up to the fact there are…six more books – but…he said that the stories I made up for him about dragons when he little and needed to stay in his jogger stroller while I ran were more interesting.  So…we decided to create our own book.  It was called Fanglers, had smelly creatures in it, and while it certainly never got published, I realized that I’d missed using my brain.  Not that I didn’t love staying home with my son, it’s just, brains are a horrible thing to let just sit.  As the years went on, I wrote here and there, some middle grade, some YA, some contemporary romance, and over those years I was getting a lot better with query letters.  Agents didn’t seem to want to sign me on, but they would call me, talk about my unusual writing voice, and then they’d give me pointers.  Apparently I had a bit to go with my actual writing craft.  I started really looking at all the books I read, figured out what I was doing wrong, and then by the time my son reached middle school, I landed my first agent and then she sold my first book a year later – so…yeah…it took me a while to get published.   
That is so neat!
Your books have many “laugh out loud” scenes. Does humor just flow from your fingers or do you work on tweaking scenes to make them humorous?
Playing the Part CoverIt takes about four edits for me to start getting funny.  I’ll have the scene down, but the dialogue might not be clicking as well as it should.  However, by the fourth edit, the characters are really developed, so it’s easier for me to know how they’re going to interact, and that’s when the humor happens.  I delete a lot of words – I never save anything that I’ve written because I’ll think that something is brilliant, a quirky turn of phrase, or a specific scene – but it just doesn’t work, so if I don’t delete it, I’ll try to force it into the story and it won’t come across as humorous, just dumb. 
I think that’s encouraging to a lot of aspiring writers. We all like to think that if someone’s published it means they’re talented — not that they had to work to get there.
What is your favorite type of character? Bold? Shy? Secret? Independent?
I like strong women who have a sense of humor, but who are, at heart, kind. 
Just reading one of your books, I can clearly see that. 🙂
Besides writing, what are some of your favorite things to do?
I love walking, or more on the lines of power-walking.  I do about five miles a day.  Then, I love meeting friends out for dinner, and Al (husband person) and I love to visit little towns out here in Colorado.  We browse in obscure little shops, looking for unusual things.  I found the coolest metal junkyard dog sculpture a few weeks back, but oddly enough, Al was not exactly as enthusiastic about it as I was, so I didn’t bring him home with me.  That right there is why we’ll be going back this weekend to see if it’s still there (I’ve named him George) because…George shouldn’t have been left behind, and did I mention he’s got a spike collar made out of old metal – oh, he’s fabulous…   
A Match of Wits Cover
Haha! That’s great!

What is the easiest part of writing for you?

Editing is the easiest part for me.
What is the hardest?
The first draft – all of those pesky blank pages – staring back at me – day after day after day. 
Do you find your real life reflected on the pages of your books?
Not much, although I have a really odd sense of humor, so some of that does come through on the pages.
Who are the authors that have most inspired you?
Susanne Elizabeth Phillips, Julia Quinn, Jayne Anne Krentz, and J.K. Rowling
What is the #1 thing you’d say to an aspiring writer?
Don’t rush to publish.  It can kill any chance you have at a successful career if you put stuff out there that’s just not ready.  Take your time – concentrate on the writing at first – not on your platform, not on your pitch – you need to write the book.  Not everyone is a storyteller, no matter that you hear otherwise all the time.  If you can get a complete story written that’s compelling – that’s the trick.  And, more importantly, if you want to be published – it’s not about the author – it’s all about the reader.  You have to know your target audience and what they expect in a book of that particular genre, and then you need to deliver that. 

Great tip that we need to be reminded of! Thanks so much for joining me here today!

GIVEAWAY
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Jen has graciously offered to give away a print copy of After a Fashion! Because of shipping issues, this is open to US RESIDENTS ONLY.


About Jen
JenTuranoA USA Today Best-Selling Author, Jen Turano has written the critically acclaimed Ladies of Distinction series, and A Class of Their Own series, published through Bethany House Publishers. Her novel, After a Fashion, was chosen as a top pick from Romantic Times, as well as being named a top ten romance of 2015 from Booklist.  It is also a nominee for Romantic Times 2015 Reviewers’ Choice Award. Her book, A Most Peculiar Circumstance, was chosen as a top ten romance by Booklist in 2013. Her seventh book, Playing the Part, released in the spring of 2016, and will be followed by a new four-book series, Apart from the Crowd. When she’s not writing, Jen spends her time outside of Denver with her husband and neurotic Cattle Dog, enjoying herself as an empty-nester since her son recently abandoned her for the college life. She can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/jenturanoauthor/ or visit her on the web at www.jenturano.com. She is represented by the Natasha Kern Literary Agency. Her books may be found in fine bookstores, or follow the Baker House Publishing link to find additional places to purchase her work –http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/authors/jen-turano/1761

Sara Beth Williams | Author Interview

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment

This week I’m pleased to have Sara Beth with me on the blog!

In a nutshell, what do you write​?

I write Contemporary Christian romance currently.

Fun genre! What spurred on the desire for writing​?​ 

I’ve always loved writing. What has inspired me to write in THIS genre is finally discovering decent christian fiction within the last five years. 

I can agree that there’s a need there! How do you balance writing with living — or is writing your full-time job?

Oh I wish I could write full time, but alas, not being published means not earning anything, which means I get to stay home and watch my 2 girls 🙂 I usually write/edit at night time after 9pm until 11 or 12 

I’m also trying to maintain a noticeable presence online, so I usually sneak in blog posts and other stuff throughout the day.

Who do you hope to reach with your writing?

Ah that tricky audience question. Anyone who loves romance. Hm if I’m serious, I’d like to reach young women who are in that new relationship stage in their life. This first series I’m writing delves a lot into themes of second chances in life. But, I just love to tell a good story, and these happen to have faith weaved in. 

Sounds neat. If someone asked you for your best writing tip, what would it be?
Finish your first draft without doing any major editing. The only way I was able to actually finish my entire first draft was to sit down and write it through almost all the way. (making an outline also helps) In the last decade, I have written many stories, but every time I would write a portion, I would go back and edit again and again until it was all perfect and beautiful. Unfortunately, doing so will 1) derail your flow of writing and ideas 2) cause discouragement because the story seems to be taking forever to finish, and 3) cause you to edit unnecessarily over and over again a portion of your story that might not even need to be in the story. 

When you do major edits, you need to begin looking at the entire project first, and then hone in on the details. You can’t look at the entire project if you haven’t written the entire project or almost the entire project.

Good tip and good reasons to “just write.” What are three things that you greatly enjoy doing?

I love reading, and singing/playing guitar. I also love balloon twisting. Yes, read that right 🙂

Neat! I’ve enjoyed finding out more about you! Hope your writing goes well, Sara!

ABOUT SARA
Sara Beth Williams is a Christian, writer, blogger, wife, mother of 2 girls. She loves a good story, regardless of platform. Therefore, she hates watching TV episodes out of order! (God forbid she should miss something vital to the overall story line!) She lives in Sacramento, CA with her husband and children. Her time is currently divided between working, raising her daughters, and writing every spare moment she can.

Current Work in Progress: Second Chances: A 3 book Contemporary Christian romance series. You can connect with Sara Beth on Twitter @WilliamsSaraB and through her blog.


Hope Ann | Author Interview

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment
Today, I’m delighted to have Hope Ann here with an interview!

1) In a nutshell, what do you write​?​

Fantasy! Christian themed fantasy mainly, both novels and novellas. I love the genre. I also really enjoy futuristic fiction and work with that sometimes too (ok, so I’ve a trilogy set two hundred years into the future that I’m working on sporadically, but that doesn’t really fit into the ‘nutshell’ portion of this question. 😉).  

2) What spurred on the desire for writing​?​

I enjoy writing about 64% of the time, but my main drive to write is simply that I have all kinds of stories fluttering about in my head and I have to write them out and share them with the world. I want to provide inspirational and exciting fiction for Christian readers…the kinds of stuff I had a hard time finding when I was younger. My greatest hope is that I’ll inspire readers to live a stronger Christian life.

3) How do you balance writing with living — or is writing your full-time job?

At this point, I live at home and help around the house. And, after I get married, I plan to stay at home as well. So writing is my main job, though not really a full-time job. I also have a part-time job knitting hats.
As to writing itself, I deadline out for myself what I want to get done and when I want to have it done by. And then I write as I’m able, around housework and noisy siblings. I normally get two to three house of writing done in the morning and another hour or two done in the afternoon. I tend to write in short chunks, working on at least two stories at one time, along with articles or blog posts. But even when I’m not writing, I’m thinking about stories, titles, plot holes, idea…the thought process invades as much of my day as I let it.

4) Who do you hope to reach with your writing?

Follow Hope on her blog

My main audience is Christian teens and young adults. I want to give them good material to read, which will also teach them Biblical truths and inspire them. 


5) If someone asked you for your best writing tip, what would it be?

Don’t ever give up. Just keep writing. I know that’s one of the oldest pieces of writing advice, but it’s true. There’s times where I (and I think all writers) feel discouraged. Or we feel that our work is utterly awful and should never be seen. Or that it will never get done. Or that no one will like it. But keep working and writing though those down moments…or days, or weeks. Get the draft done. Then edit it. Then edit it some more. Don’t give up because, in the end, you will have a good story which can touch people’s lives.
A second tip, closely related, is that any story you write won’t be for everyone. There will always be someone who won’t care for it. It’s not their style or they can’t get engaged. Don’t be discouraged. It happens. Write for those people who love your work and don’t worry about those who don’t care for it.
​6) What are three things that you greatly enjoy doing?
Reading! Fantasy, of course, but also Greek and Roman history as well as anything about spies I can get my hands on.
Climbing trees. What can I say? I love climbing…especially in strong winds.
Archery! I’m not very good, but I own a recurve bow and enjoy shooting it.

7) What is your newest release about? What do you hope readers will learn from this story?

Song of the Sword is a retelling of Rapunzel, complete with high towers, dark mistbenders, a blackened rose, and a powerful sword. Intermingled with the story are strands of allegory. Each of my Legends of Light novellas focuses on a different aspect of the Fruit of the Spirit. For Song of the Sword, that focus is joy and I hope the story will inspire readers and help them realize that our joy does not come from events and situations surrounding us, but Christ alone.

Books and Links
Books: Rose of Prophecy 
Free on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Rose-Prophecy-Beauty-Novella-Legends-ebook/dp/B01BEGXNWU
Blog: https://authorhopeann.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hope-Ann-185066388495997/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writing.in.the.light/

About the Author

Hope Ann is a Christian wordsmith, avid reader, and dedicated authoress. With the help of her resident realm leapers, Kirin and Elena, she loves to research published legends, like Lord of the Rings, as well as recount her own tales of undiscovered lands. Her time is taken up with writing, reading, archery, knife throwing, playing with inspirational photos, helping care for the house and eight younger siblings, and generally enjoying the adventures of life on a small farm at the crossroads of America.

Faith Blum | Author Interview, Book Release, and Giveaway

Published on by Amanda Tero3 Comments


Once again, welcome Faith Blum onto my blog!

Most of my blog readers are probably pretty familiar with you, since I’ve been a part of several of your blog tours, cover reveals, and what-not. In fact, I’ve already interviewed you twice (here and here). My readers can get to know you there, so this time, I want to focus primarily on your writing craft.
Are you a pantser, plotter, or pantser/plotter hybrid?
For those of you who don’t know these terms, a basic explanation is that a pantser starts a story with only a vague idea of how things are going to be and “flies by the seat of his pants” as he writes. A plotter knows what’s happening when, and follows his plan. A hybrid is a mix of both.
 I’m a hybrid. I usually do mostly pantser, but sometimes when I get really stuck, or just need to focus in on my plot, I’ll do some planning/plotting. For example, the novel I’m working on right now I started knowing a little bit, but not much, of what will happen and am pantsing it. Soon, however, I’ll need to start plotting a little more and deciding how many years to jump and when.

I think our writing styles are very similar, Faith! 🙂 About how many hours do you write a day?
 That totally depends on the day. Some days I don’t write at all and other days I write for probably four or more hours. I’ve recently decided I need to set a specific goal of words to write every day. For now, that goal is 750 words or more per day (not counting weekends), and when I am not editing, I’ll probably up that to 1,500 per day.

Yep, still nodding in agreement over here. 😉 How do you deal with writers’ block or just simply not wanting to write?
 I have a few ways of dealing with writers block. Sometimes I do a rough outline if I haven’t already done that. Other times, I’ll jump ahead to a different scene and come back later to fill in the gaps. When I simply don’t want to write, I usually don’t write. There are days when I’m just too burned out to do any writing. In which case, I’ll usually do some editing, proofreading, reading, marketing, or some other writing related thing.

That’s what most people don’t realize: life as an author isn’t just about getting a story on paper. There’s so much more involved. Good idea to focus on different aspects of the writer’s life during writer’s block. What are some important lessons you’ve learned about the writing process?
 Just keep writing. If you’re stuck, move to a different scene in the book. If the story isn’t going well, start a different project or start that one over again. The goal is to keep writing. Which I should really listen to for myself. *ahem*

Haha! Yeah…
What is probably the biggest blunder you’ve made in writing?
 The biggest blunder I made was publishing my debut novel too quickly. I wanted it published before Christmas, so I rushed it. Now I’m working on getting it edited better to remedy some of the mistakes I made in it.

I’ve seen this blunder in several authors before. I know from experience that it’s so, so hard not to rush! When do you seem to get the best ideas for your stories?
 I think I get some of my best ideas while I am writing. Sometimes those ideas are for the current book and sometimes they are for a future book.

How do you develop your characters? Do you find images online, create Pinterest boards, do character sketches, develop your character as you write, other? 

I mostly develop my characters as I write, but I often use character sketches as well.
Thanks so much, Faith! I thoroughly enjoyed your answers!

– – – –


Faith is releasing another novella right now! I’ve not had time to beta read all of her newest releases, but I did just happen to do this one and I enjoyed journeying with the twins, Eve and Eva!

About the Book

Just as I am, without one plea
But that Thy blood was shed for me
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
 Eve and Evangeline Collins are adventurous twins who decide to take a risk and head west as mail order brides. Their parents are less than pleased, but do nothing to stop them. Eve and Eva don’t realize their danger until they stop just outside Cheyenne. Will they ever see their family again?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HF4UOFE
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30740818-just-as-i-am


About the Author


Faith Blum started writing at an early age. She started even before she could read! She even thought she could write better than Dr. Seuss. Now that she has grown up a little more, she knows she will probably never reach the success of Dr. Seuss, but that doesn’t stop her from trying.

When she isn’t writing, Faith enjoys doing many right-brained activities such as reading, crafting, playing piano, and playing games with her family. One of her dreams is to visit Castle City, Montana, to see the ghost town she chose for her characters to live in. She currently lives on a hobby farm with her family in Wisconsin.

Giveaway

Tour Schedule

Tuesday, July 26
Bookish Orchestrations-Tour introduction
Rachel Rossano’s Words-Excerpt #1
Wednesday, July 27
Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections-Character Interview
Jaye L. Knight-Excerpt #2
Potter’s Word Publishing-Author Interview
Thursday, July 28
With a Joyful Noise-Author Interview
Friday, July 29
Letters from Annie Douglass Lima-Excerpt #3
Saturday, July 30
God’s Peculiar Treasure Rae-Excerpt #4
Majestic Golden Rose-Author Interview
Zerina Blossom’s Books-Excerpt #5
Monday, August 1
Rebekah Lyn Books-Review and Character Interview
Honey Rock Hills-Review
Abrahamic Adventures-Review
Tuesday, August 2

Bookish Orchestrations-Giveaway Winner

Katie Carpenter | Author Interview

Published on by Amanda Tero3 Comments
One of the fun things about writing is when you can share that love with family! This week, my cousin, Katie, is here, talking about her writing experiences.

In a nutshell, what do you write?
For fun ​I write poems, stories, and journal a LOT. For work, I edit papers, novels, and resumes as well as write academic papers.

Sounds like you – helping people in your writing. 🙂 What spurred on the desire for writing?
​I have enjoyed writing for as long as I can remember. A friend of mine and I used to write stories together, which was inspired by another friend of mine in high school who was writing stories and I decided to test out my skill.

How do you balance writing with living? Because I know you have a TON on your plate right now!
It’s a really delicate balance for me. I have a career as a therapist, so most of my writing to-date has been academic. Journaling has helped me tremendously as a person and a writer. It has allowed my perfectionistic nature to learn to be okay with mistakes and has provided invaluable insight, clarity, and the ability to view emotion-riddled circumstances in a more objective manner (which in turn, helps with my career). An added bonus is I can look back on past experiences and see themes and patterns of behavior, thought, feelings, and even writing!

Good point about journaling. I have heard over and over how much that helps a writer (you’d think I would journal more since I “know” this). Who do you hope to reach with your writing?

I hope to reach others who are struggling in an inspirational and encouraging way.

If someone asked you for your best writing tip, what would it be?
Get everything out on the page. Don’t worry about errors/typos, just get it all down on paper then go back and edit it. I’ve found for myself that I would oftentimes get stuck in the editing process and miss my original, intended message. Also, writing is a gift and you are a gift to the world – so write with confidence! You have a story to tell.

​Yes indeed! Love those tips! What are three things that you greatly enjoy doing?
Encouraging, inspiring, and helping others to become the best and healthiest version of themselves that they can possibly be.


ABOUT KATIE

Katie developed a love for writing in the first grade when her teacher assigned a short story for a class assignment. Throughout her teenage years, inspired by her own and many others’ stories of trauma and abuse, she wrote poems and short stories with themes related to abuse, betrayal, grief/loss, trauma, and abandonment. Her passion for assisting others, birthed through a heart of compassion, has landed her with a Masters in Social Work, where she currently works therapeutically with individuals and families to navigate through past or present histories of abuse, trauma, grief/loss, abandonment, and life’s daily stressors. From academic papers to books, Katie has utilized her natural, intuitive abilities to write and edit from both personal and objective standpoints. Having been credited with “a gift for writing”, Katie has been able to utilize writing therapeutically (both professionally and personally) to encourage, inspire, and assist others to become the healthiest (and best) version of themselves they can possibly become.


Jonas and Olivia | Book Review and Interview

Published on by Amanda Tero3 Comments
ABOUT THE BOOK
Fourteen-year-old Olivia Wilkerson is left desolate and grieving when her patriot father passes away. Directed by his will to be placed in the care of an old friend, Olivia is forced to venture away from all she’s ever known to make her new life among people who are strangers to her.

Unaware of the new responsibility about to be thrust on him, Jonas Carmichael lives the life of a reclusive in an attempt to ignore the painful memories of the past. His heart has grown hard and bitter over the past thirty years of solitude, and his hatred towards people has only multiplied.

Suddenly burdened with Olivia, Jonas’s only burning desire is to shove the girl off on somebody else. But Olivia, still suffering from her loss, is only looking for someone to love her as her father did–and soon realizes that there is more to Jonas than meets the eye.

With the Revolutionary War pressing closer around Jonas’s secluded bubble of safety and threatening to burst it at any moment, Jonas discovers that there are choices to be made–choices that will not only affect himself but those around him as well.

MY REVIEW
What happens when a bitter old man has a serious-minded, talkative little girl thrown into his life? What would break sooner? Her happiness, or his crustiness?

Jonas and Olivia was a super sweet story! The writing will probably be best enjoyed by younger teens, but I liked it. 

Olivia made me think of Pollyanna, seeing the good in everything and practically portrayed as a perfect child. In some ways she seemed younger than fourteen, but she was still a delightful character. Jonas and Ishmael were both well-developed characters and I liked them very much for who they were.

Set during the pre-revolutionary era, it didn’t quite have a strong historical feel, even though a lot was mentioned of the upcoming war. I realize this could just be my personal opinion.

This was a very clean, Christian, and uplifting read. The main Christian theme was trusting God as a loving father. There weren’t any scenes that made me cringe. I would hand it to an eight-year-old without any qualms.

Some favorite quotes:
“If there is a piano,” Olivia decided, taking a deep breath, “it will be all right.”

“A broken heart is not easily mended, but a hardened heart has to be broken again in order to mend.”

*I received this book from the author in exchange of my honest review*

TO LEARN MORE about Jonas and Olivia and order your own copy, visit here.
Victoria is having a giveaway on her website for this book!

​ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 Victoria Minks is an everyday teenage MK in Japan, with oodles of daydreams and ideas. She loves historical fiction, chocolate, music, horses, and old books, and firmly believes that there is whimsy and beauty in any day. She was saved at age 5 and desires to write for God’s glory.
INTERVIEW
What is your first memory of the baby idea for “Jonas and Olivia?” It sounds a little strange, but I “met” Jonas, one of the main characters, in my head. I wasn’t even brainstorming or anything, he just popped into my thinking like “Hi there! My name is Jonas!” All I knew at first was his name and the basic feel of his character. I liked him so much that I wrote about him in my journal. And the more I found out about him and his story, and how Olivia came into the picture etc, the more I grew to like the entire story. 🙂 

That’s pretty neat! Jonas is definitely an unforgettable character. 🙂 How long did this story take from idea to published? I planned and wrote it in April of 2015. Then it got put aside for a long while till around January 2016 when I started editing. So a little over a year.

What is the most important lesson that you feel you’ve learned in writing “Jonas and Olivia?” Oh… Well as far as writing goes, probably that sometimes you need to take a step back and actually pay attention to your characters, to dig a little deeper. And for the most important life lesson: To stay dedicated and focused on what God has you doing right now, even when you might want to do other things or you get annoyed with what you’re supposed to be working on. 

Very true for both of those. What lesson do you hope your readers will glean from reading “Jonas and Olivia?” I hope that people are reminded of how good a Father our God is to us. That He’s always there for us, ready to help us, forgive us, and hold us.

That was definitely a very present theme. 🙂 What is your favorite part about writing? I love planning and then that wonderful part of writing where you’re just bubbling with excitement and you’re finding out so much about your book, and everything falls into place (even if it’s silly and cut out later). 

Totally agree there!
How long have you been writing? It’s hard to say. I’ve been an extreme bookbug my whole life…I’ve told stories for as long as I can remember. I started writing them all down at around 6 or 7 and haven’t stopped since. 😉 

And then the random questions:
Would you mind sharing your salvation testimony? I’d be happy to! 🙂 I had just turned five years old, and Thanksgiving was approaching. Other than that I have no idea when the actual date was…but that’s ok because I know the Lord saved me and that’s what’s important. My dad and I were talking about Jesus and salvation in front of our rice cooker one evening (we live in Japan). I was impressed deeply by the gospel for the first time that night and realized I was a sinner, and that all the verses Daddy was sharing applied to me. But I was unsure about making a choice–didn’t realize just how very important it was. So I went to bed and didn’t really think about it for a few days more. Then one night soon after, when we were all in bed, I started thinking of it again. I never was afraid of the dark, but that night I kept remembering how Hell is a place with no Light, and I realized in the darkness of my room how awful it would be to go to a place like that–a place without the Lord! That’s when I understood that if I died right then, I would be going to Hell, because I understood the gospel and had been raised in it but so far hadn’t done anything with it. I was really scared, and definitely crying! I called out to the Lord and asked him to save me and wash away all my sins and be my Heavenly Father. I cannot even begin to describe what peace filled me when I prayed that! I knew I was safe forever, and the Lord felt so very near me. 

The little quirk in my testimony about not knowing the date came because I didn’t know I should tell my parents I had gotten saved, so they didn’t know till a few months later when we were singing “One Door and Only One” in school and I announced I was a

​ 

Christian

​

. 🙂 


What are three things you love doing? Only three? lol. It’s so hard to narrow it down, but I’d say web/graphic/book cover design, singing/playing piano, and travelling. 

The Old River Road | Book Review, Giveaway, Interview

Published on by Amanda Tero3 Comments
Meet Ivy Rose and her debut novel, The Old River Road. This book is the first in a series of a yet-to-be-determined number of books based on the lives of the author’s ancestors. Written in a style similar to that of Janette Oke and Laura Ingalls Wilder, this is a story you won’t want to miss.

1885
When seventeen-year-old Clara Boutwell married her dashing coworker, William McDonald, she was convinced her life was near perfect. The journey before them as newlyweds in the great city of Chicago was promising and exciting. But a frightening disease soon takes William in its grip, forcing them to the clean air of the western frontier in a desperate attempt to save his life. But pioneering doesn’t prove to be easy, with miles between neighbors instead of fences. On the eastern Washington prairies, the McDonalds face hardships and trials in a new world where everything is tested, from physical endurance to emotional strength—down to their relationship and faith in the Lord.
This novel tells the incredible true story of Clara and William, the great-great grandparents of the author, in a sweet narrative full of laughter, tears, and the struggles of an early pioneering family. Prepare yourself to share in their experience as you read this account of a pioneer family in Washington state, and see their lasting legacy that has endured into the fifth generation.
Available now in paperback and ebook on Amazon
Add on Goodreads
MY REVIEW

This was one of those nice, cozy, sweet, charming reads. In a way, it made me think of Laura Ingalls Wilder. I would recommend it for those days when you just want a good read. Nothing too deep and thought-provoking but gentle and … yeah, just sweet. A lot of events happened as William and Clara met, courted, married, and went through trials and difficulties, but daily life was kind of skimmed. Which set the tone for the relaxed read, not deep-in-thought.

The main “disclaimer” I’d put is that William was the perfect husband — he was always patient and understanding. And, actually, now that I think about it, Clara’s faults were never depicted either. They were pretty much the perfect couple who had trials and such come their way. Usually “perfection” turns me off, but I don’t know. It was just truly and honestly sweet. Maybe I was just in the mood for an easy, relaxing read.

There definitely was romance in it, as it started when William and Clara met. Nothing too deep was mentioned though. They had feelings for each other, kissed and hugged, etc., but nothing that made me feel uncomfortable.

Honest, this was one of the best books I’ve read by a teenage author. I look forward to more!

*I received this book in exchange of my honest review from the author.*

About the Author
Ivy Rose is an 18 year old history lover and literary enthusiast. Aside from writing, she enjoys being outdoors, chocolate, travelling, reading, and ATVing (preferably if there is mud involved). She resides with her family of 9 on the banks of the Long Lake in eastern Washington.
You can connect with Ivy via her blog, Goodreads, and Pinterest.
 INTERVIEW
Added to the exciting book release, Ivy Rose agreed to an interview. Let’s find out more about her!
How long have you been writing?
My parents tell me that I was dictating stories from the age of 3, and I remember putting pen to paper around age 7. It wasn’t until I was 14 that I really began wondering if I could become a published author.
Sounds kind of like me. 🙂
How long have you been thinking about writing The Old River Road?
I stumbled across Clara’s memoirs when I was 10, and remember thinking, “Wow, this is so cool. Someone should write a book about this!” 🙂 But in honesty, I’ve only been actively working on it for about about a year and a half.
I agree: this is so, so cool!! And the story is amazing! It needed writing down. 🙂
Who has most influenced your writing?
An author by the name of Avery E. Hitch. She wrote three absolutely incredible books and doesn’t get near enough attention for them (in my mind). I love how she did things differently—she didn’t follow all the ‘proper’ storyteller rules, she wasn’t grammatically correct for the time period she was writing in—yet I was able to connect to her characters in a way that I’ve never been able to do before.
Has there been one verse that has highly encouraged you in the writing process?
2 Chronicles 30:9 “For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn his face away from you.”
What are some fun things you enjoy doing?
Reading, for sure. Other than that, swimming, ATV-ing, playing various instruments, and singing with the oldest two of my five amazing brothers (the youngest three are pretty young still). 

GIVEAWAY


The Old River Road Prize Pack
International Prize

~Blog Tour Schedule~
Friday, July 8th (release day!) 
Emily  — Review, Spotlight
Jesseca Wheaton — Review, Interview
Saturday, July 9th
Olivia K. Fisher  — Interview, Spotlight
Faith Blum  — Review, Interview, Spotlight
Hannah E.  — Review, Interview
Monday, July 11th 
Faith Potts  – Review
Rebecca Morgan  — Review, Interview
Tuesday, July 12th
Abigayle Ellison  — Review, Spotlight
Kenzi Knapp  – Review, Interview
Hosanna Emily  — Review, Interview
Wednesday, July 13th
Blessing Counter  — Interview
Victoria Minks  — Review, Spotlight
Thursday, July 14th
Deborah C.  — Review, Spotlight
Anna S. Brie  — Review
Leona G. — Review, Interview
Friday, July 15th
Hope Ann — Review, Interview
Amanda Tero — Review, Interview
Anika Joy – Review, Interview