We are having a give away going on. What item are you giving away? (Anyone can win the item by going to the rafflecopter on the right hand side of the pg.)
I’d like to do a giveaway of an ebook.
First why don't you tell us a little about yourself?
I’m a mother of three and a wife and an author of Inspirational Romance. Writing novels happened purely by chance for me a few years ago. I started it as a way to help relieve some stress, get my emotions out. But now that I’m writing, I don’t think there will ever be anything else I could see myself doing. Except sleeping. And drinking wine. But writing is right after that!
Newest release?
My newest release, that came out yesterday, is called Forever Grateful. It’s the second novel in a four part series. But don’t worry, each novel can be read as a stand-alone so if you haven’t read the first one (Shame on you!) you won’t be missing anything.
Grateful is the story about a young woman, Melanie, who was raised as an agnostic. She goes through some traumatic events and becomes an atheist. The hero in the story, Alex, is a recently retired Navy man who wants nothing more than to help Melanie get past her disbelieving ways and to guide her into the way of Christianity. But there are some unforeseen issues that get in their way, and as they try to build a relationship they have to fight just to keep it alive.
What can we expect from your stories, action, drama, romance,sex, blood and guts?
There is some love making but it is not explicit. There is a little cursing but, again, not a lot or explicit. I do write Inspirational after all. There is a lot of suspense in this novel because of the struggles that get in the way of the hero and heroin as they build their relationship. But also because of the heroin’s past. She has some violent flashbacks from a rape. So if that type of thing bothers you be warned.
Do you have a favorite character in your stories? Who? and Why?
I think my favorite characters are always going to be the heros. I mean, who doesn’t love to read about a hunk of a man going to the ends of the earth for the woman he loves? Is it realistic? Hardly. But that’s what makes reading so much fun. You get to imagine that the impossible is possible. And if he happens to be wearing a uniform or a Stetson… all the better!
Give us an interesting fun fact or a few about your book or series:
Fun Fact… Ok. Most people don’t know that the characters in my books are based on real people that I’m close to. Now, it should be noted that their stories are not identical to their real life personas. But I draw a lot of inspiration from my friends and family that have characters based on them. A lot of what my characters say were actually said in real life as well. I think that makes it easier to connect with the characters. Or so I’ve been told.
Has there been any other authors who have inspired your work or helped you out with your stories?
I have an amazing editor who has really helped me over the last year. As far as other authors, not so much. But hey, I’m still what you would call a newbie! Maybe one of my favorite authors will help me out in the future. Like Francince Rivers who happens to be a huge inspiration to me. Redeeming Love is probably one of my most favorite books and I hope that one day people will say the same thing about my work.
What can readers who enjoy your book do to help make it successful?
Leave. A. Review! And I don’t just mean that little star click when you finish a digital copy. Go to the actual site and write out a review. Even if it’s only 2 words. Reviews help authors to know how they’ve done, what they should change and what readers think of their book.
Another huge help is to spread the word. Share info on your Facebook page, tell a group of friends, whatever it takes to get the word out on that book. If you like it, tell people!
Do you have any tips for readers or advice for other writers trying to get published?
Never give up. Never lose heart. And don’t ever let a bad review get you down. There are always going to be people who don’t like your work. That’s fine. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But if you let 1 person’s negative voice rule out 5 people’s positive voices, then you might not make it. Get yourself a thick skin (even if that means laying out in the sun all day to turn leathery) and stay optimistic!
Do you have a favorite author? If yes, what draws you to that person’s work?
Well, like I said earlier, I love Francine Rivers. She and I are a lot alike because we make our characters real. People assume that being a Christian means you’re perfect. You’re not. No one is. So why make your characters perfect robots? Francine doesn’t and I think that’s what drew me to her work. And also what inspired my to have my characters written in the same light.
Can you remember one of the first things you wrote? What makes it memorable?
I was eight years old and I wrote a short story called “Skateboard Granny.” What makes it so memorable is that I based it on my Granny. Who had never been on a skateboard. Who was in her mid-sixties at the time. But she was zooming down the highway on her skateboard, passing cars, bumping elbow pads with other skateboarders. For an eight year old, there was a lot of humor in that story. I might have to put it out for the world to see one day. But until then, just picture a sixty-five year old woman with gray hair skateboarding down the highway.
Where do you gather most of the inspiration for your work?
Again, like I said earlier, most of my inspiration comes from people that are close to me. Usually those people feel good, honored, that I’ve chosen to place a character after them. And those that aren’t happy about it will probably end up getting killed off. (I’m kidding!! I would never kill off my mother!)
Do you have any other interesting hobbies, pets or stories you would like to share?
My family and I live on a ranch. We raise chickens and pigs, hunt for deer and fight off foxes, coyotes and rattlesnakes. Being in West Texas, it’s pretty rough country. But it’s beautiful. We see shooting stars every night. Don’t have to hear any traffic running down the road (a perk of living twenty miles outside of the closest town). And we don’t have to worry about any nosy neighbors poking their heads over our fence and butting into our business.
Favorite places to travel or visit?
My favorite place to visit isn’t near as exciting as, say, New York, Italy, Ireland, etc. My husband, children and I live 6 hours away from the rest of our family. So going to see them has got to be my favorite place to travel to. As of right now, anyway. But I’m sure the day will come where I’d rather go see world renowned vacation spots than family so check back with me in a year or two.
And now, before you go, how about a snippet from your book that is meant to intrigue and tantalize us:( Include links to were we can find your work)
This is from a part in the book where Alex (our Hero) has flown to see Melanie (our Heroin) because he’d felt like she was pulling away from him and their relationship. She has a big secret she knows he has a right to know but is terrified of telling him and losing him. Here you go…
Tossing her key on the entry table, Mel headed into the kitchen and grabbed two bottles of water from the fridge. She walked over and sat in one corner of the couch while Alex unhooked Kassie's leash. He tossed it on the coffee table and sat down on the couch in the opposite corner, took the bottle Mel held out to him.
For several minutes they simply stared at each other, the only sound the gentle lapping from the dog bowl as Kass drank deeply. When the dog laid down on the tile and let out a long sigh as she placed her head across her front paws, the silent spell broke and Alex finally spoke.
"I quit my job at the ranch."
"Wait, what?" Mel asked, her brow furrowed in confusion. "I thought you liked working there?"
"I did. I do. Jax wouldn't let me actually quit so I guess I'm on a sabbatical."
"But, why?"
"Because you need me."
"I never said that____" she started to argue but Alex cut her off.
"I didn't say you did. Sometimes it's just a feeling, something that you just know. And whether you want to admit it or not, I know it's true. You need me, Melanie." He placed his water on the table and scooted over on the couch, took her hand in his which was cold from the bottle. "And I needed you, too."
"I'm here, Alex. You have me."
He gazed at her with a sad smile on his lips, his eyes squinting a little as they moved back and forth between hers.
"Do I? Really? 'Cause it feels like you've been pulling away from me for the last two weeks."
She started to shake her head no, to deny what he was saying, but she stopped because it was true. Ever since she got that letter from Brin she had been pulling away.
"Why? I want to know why, Melanie."
"I don't know."
"Don't do that. Don't lie to me, or yourself."
"Alex, I… it's not some simple answer," she sighed, not liking the feeling in the pit of her stomach. One that made the bottom drop out from anxiety and worry that he wasn't going to let this go. That she was going to have to come clean with him. "You wouldn't understand."
"Try me."
She watched his face, determination making his jaw firm and his lips set in a straight line. His eyes never wavered from hers, like he was looking directly into her soul, and the love he said he felt for her shone through. Mel was terrified of losing that love once she bared it all to him.
The thought of never having him gaze at her with that affection again made her lips tremble and tears threatened to fall.
Mel stood up from the couch quickly, the water bottle she'd placed in her lap falling to the floor and rolling underneath the table. She ignored it. If she was going to do this–actually tell him about the pregnancy–then she couldn't sit still while she did.
She couldn't bear to watch his face fill with revulsion, which she was sure would happen.
She walked over to the windows looking down on Wilshire and paced back and forth. Lights flickering on outside cast long shadows inside They followed her every move like the shame she'd carried for years. She had one hand up near her mouth and was biting her thumb nail compulsively while her left hand was wrapped around her waist, trying to hold in the nausea.
Just get it over with, Mel. Tell him, let him storm out. And when he does, you can start putting the pieces of your broken heart back together.
Resolving herself to the inevitable, Mel stopped pacing and faced the windows. She squeezed her eyes tightly closed and pinched the bridge of her nose, tried to ward off the tension headache that was threatening.
When she opened her eyes and wrapped both arms around her middle like a shield, she stared, unseeing, at a neon sign directly across the street.
And began to talk.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the snippet from Forever Grateful, book 2 in the Lake Shores Series. If you want to find out what happens with Alex and Melanie… you better go get your copy!!!
You can get it here… http://www.amazon.com/Forever-
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