Sorry to do this, but this week's spotlight will be featured on Thursday instead of Tuesday. The spotlight author is on a deadline, and I've been swamped today dealing with my wallet and cell phone getting stolen.
Thankfully, only minimal items were in there, but it's still a hassle to backtrack and file a police report, then follow-up with places where the card was used checking for security cameras, etc.
Needless to say, my time has been otherwise usurped...which works out good for the author being featured. I'll be back on Thursday with the winner from last week's spotlight and the new interview.
If you haven't posted a comment from last week, now's your chance. You have 2 extra days!
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Spotlight on....Susan Page Davis (Feather)
Before we begin, I wanted to share that our spotlight guest has recently lost a loved one, but our Heavenly Father has given her the strength to still be with us here this week. Prayers are definitely with Susan Page Davis.
The last time she was with us, we highlighted her historical romances. This week, we are spotlighting her brand new children's fantasy, Feather. It releases later this month, but you can read a sneak summary here.
Don't forget to leave a comment for the chance to win a FREE AUTOGRAPHED COPY from the author. Whether you enjoy fantasy or know a young reader who will, this is the perfect opportunity to get a unique gift.
Now, on with the interview:
1. You've established yourself as an historical romance author with Heartsong Presents. Now, you shift into children's fantasy. What inspired you to take on this project and where do you feel it will take your career?
This was a story that had been on my heart for some time. It developed in my mind, and I felt I should write it.
2. Feather releases later this month. Tell us more about the book and the story.
Feather is a 12-year-old girl who is captured by a hostile tribe and forced to work for them. When the Blens discover she is skilled at making arrows, they put her to work doing that, but Feather soon learns her arrows will be used against her own people. She and her new friend, Tag, plan to escape from the Blens and try to warn her people.
3. What was your most difficult part to write? Your favorite?
The most difficult parts were those where Feather is threatened and injured. My favorite was the battle scene near the end.
4. The fantasy genre seems to be 'taboo' in certain circles of the Christian world. How do you feel your reception has been or will be for this book?
The publisher (JourneyForth) has committed itself to developing a fantasy line for children that does not include magic. I hope this book is unobjectionable to all Christians, and I think it will make a wonderful addition to any home, school, or public library.
5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?
My next Heartsong is also coming out in late November. In it, a young woman in 1858 Virginia is caught up in a lie that she detests.
My next children’s book will come out in 2007 with JourneyForth, and it is the story of Sarah Piper, who loves long-distance horse riding. When her mother dies, she goes to live on her uncle’s ranch. Will Sarah be able to continue competing in the sport she loves?
Thank you, Susan, for being in the spotlight again.
The last time she was with us, we highlighted her historical romances. This week, we are spotlighting her brand new children's fantasy, Feather. It releases later this month, but you can read a sneak summary here.
Don't forget to leave a comment for the chance to win a FREE AUTOGRAPHED COPY from the author. Whether you enjoy fantasy or know a young reader who will, this is the perfect opportunity to get a unique gift.
Now, on with the interview:
1. You've established yourself as an historical romance author with Heartsong Presents. Now, you shift into children's fantasy. What inspired you to take on this project and where do you feel it will take your career?
This was a story that had been on my heart for some time. It developed in my mind, and I felt I should write it.
2. Feather releases later this month. Tell us more about the book and the story.Feather is a 12-year-old girl who is captured by a hostile tribe and forced to work for them. When the Blens discover she is skilled at making arrows, they put her to work doing that, but Feather soon learns her arrows will be used against her own people. She and her new friend, Tag, plan to escape from the Blens and try to warn her people.
3. What was your most difficult part to write? Your favorite?
The most difficult parts were those where Feather is threatened and injured. My favorite was the battle scene near the end.
4. The fantasy genre seems to be 'taboo' in certain circles of the Christian world. How do you feel your reception has been or will be for this book?
The publisher (JourneyForth) has committed itself to developing a fantasy line for children that does not include magic. I hope this book is unobjectionable to all Christians, and I think it will make a wonderful addition to any home, school, or public library.
5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?
My next Heartsong is also coming out in late November. In it, a young woman in 1858 Virginia is caught up in a lie that she detests.
My next children’s book will come out in 2007 with JourneyForth, and it is the story of Sarah Piper, who loves long-distance horse riding. When her mother dies, she goes to live on her uncle’s ranch. Will Sarah be able to continue competing in the sport she loves?
Thank you, Susan, for being in the spotlight again.
Monday, October 09, 2006
WINNER - Wishing on Dandelions
You'd think I could find a more creative way of announcing this each week. Using the same words is getting boring. Maybe I should hold a contest for most creative winner post idea. :)
Hmm, let me think on that.
In the meantime, I have another winner to announce. The winner of an autographed copy of Mary DeMuth's Wishing on Dandelions is....
Shannon McNear
Congratulations, Shannon! You'll be hearing from me and Mary shortly. Thank you to everyone for your support.
Up next? Susan Page Davis with her premiere release of a children's fantasy.
Hmm, let me think on that.
In the meantime, I have another winner to announce. The winner of an autographed copy of Mary DeMuth's Wishing on Dandelions is....
Shannon McNear
Congratulations, Shannon! You'll be hearing from me and Mary shortly. Thank you to everyone for your support.
Up next? Susan Page Davis with her premiere release of a children's fantasy.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Spotlight on....Mary DeMuth
This week's spotlight author was a recent "hit" at the national ACFW Conference in Dallas. Everyone who attended her continuing session came out inspired and encouraged. I'm honored to feature her here so you can learn more about her and her latest book too.
And as always, post a comment for a chance to win an autographed copy of Mary's latest release...Wishing on Dandelions. Please also tell your friends and other fiction readers about this blog. The more the merrier! :)
From Mary: I'm so thankful to be a part of Amber's blog today. Thanks to all of you who've stopped by. I am a nonfiction and fiction author, writing from the south of France where my family and three other families are endeavoring to plant a church. My books include Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God (Harvest House, 2005), Building the Christian Family You Never Had (WaterBrook, 2006), Watching the Tree Limbs and Wishing on Dandelions (NavPress, 2006). When I'm not writing or church planting or cooking or helping my kids with homework, I enjoy hiking, running, making small-scale art projects, and leading worship. My life's message is that God's redemption shines brighter in impossible situations.
1. You once again crafted a moving tale and emotional follow-up to your previous book, Watching the Tree Limbs. In Wishing on Dandelions, Maranatha's longing for the reassurance of God's love--while she sorts through her understanding of other kinds of love--resonated from page 1 to the last. Were there any of your experiences which helped craft Natha's character? What aspects of Natha became traits that were hers and hers alone?
I have struggled my life through trying to understand and feel God's love, so in that sense, I have walked this same path with Natha. Having grown up in a difficult home, I often felt like I deserved what came my way, as did Maranatha. That bred in me a keen need to understand (and often to disbelieve) God’s love for me. What's different about Natha is that she had more folks in her life really trying to help her see God's love. She had a posse of people who made it their aim to help her.
2. What themes exist in in Wishing on Dandelions that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?
Shame and guilt evolved over the manuscript. Initially, Uncle Zane did NOT have a stroke, but adding that helped solidify Maranatha's struggle with overwhelming guilt, feeling like the stroke was her fault. So that one evolved. I also want the reader to see how fear prevents us from really living life, how it keeps us living half-dead. And of course, I want readers to see God's relentless pursuit of love for His children and how He often uses unlikely characters to show us that love in surprising ways.
3. What was your most difficult part to write? Your favorite?
The most difficult was Georgeanne. I wanted to make her really heinous, but as I kept writing her, she started endearing herself to me. Isn't that how our "enemies" are? We try to make them out to be villains, only to see spots and pieces of redemption sticking out from their prickly facades. My favorite part was writing the love story. I have always shied away from writing romance, but I found I really enjoyed setting Maranatha's love story to words.
4. Describe your writing space and schedule. How many words per day do you write? Do you have a minimum goal you hope to reach before you push away your keyboard?
I'm attaching a picture here. I write in my bedroom. We live in this little three story villa, with our bedroom tucked under the eaves of the third story. There is a five foot by five foot nook in one corner where I have my desk crammed, along with lots of pictures, a filing cabinet and a printer. It's pretty cramped, and I long for my own office someday.
When I'm on fiction deadline, I write about 2000 words a day. On non-fiction, about 1500 words. I tend to see my goals in weekly increments, though, so for fiction, by the end of the week I will have made myself type 10,000 words.
5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?
The next book coming out is tentatively titled Postmodern Parenting. It releases next July. It's a book for parents who are trying to raise their kids in this postmodern world. In a sense, it's a response to so many of those do-these-ten-steps-to-raise-godly-kids books. Sometimes formulas fall short. My main premise in that book is that what is inside us as parents (our hearts) is what we will duplicate in our children. We go full-bent superimposing methods upon ourselves, but we neglect to let Jesus change our hearts.
I also have a novel releasing sometime in 2008, but it's not written yet so I can't tell the story.
Thank you, Mary, for joining me in the spotlight.
And as always, post a comment for a chance to win an autographed copy of Mary's latest release...Wishing on Dandelions. Please also tell your friends and other fiction readers about this blog. The more the merrier! :)
From Mary: I'm so thankful to be a part of Amber's blog today. Thanks to all of you who've stopped by. I am a nonfiction and fiction author, writing from the south of France where my family and three other families are endeavoring to plant a church. My books include Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God (Harvest House, 2005), Building the Christian Family You Never Had (WaterBrook, 2006), Watching the Tree Limbs and Wishing on Dandelions (NavPress, 2006). When I'm not writing or church planting or cooking or helping my kids with homework, I enjoy hiking, running, making small-scale art projects, and leading worship. My life's message is that God's redemption shines brighter in impossible situations.
1. You once again crafted a moving tale and emotional follow-up to your previous book, Watching the Tree Limbs. In Wishing on Dandelions, Maranatha's longing for the reassurance of God's love--while she sorts through her understanding of other kinds of love--resonated from page 1 to the last. Were there any of your experiences which helped craft Natha's character? What aspects of Natha became traits that were hers and hers alone?I have struggled my life through trying to understand and feel God's love, so in that sense, I have walked this same path with Natha. Having grown up in a difficult home, I often felt like I deserved what came my way, as did Maranatha. That bred in me a keen need to understand (and often to disbelieve) God’s love for me. What's different about Natha is that she had more folks in her life really trying to help her see God's love. She had a posse of people who made it their aim to help her.
2. What themes exist in in Wishing on Dandelions that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?Shame and guilt evolved over the manuscript. Initially, Uncle Zane did NOT have a stroke, but adding that helped solidify Maranatha's struggle with overwhelming guilt, feeling like the stroke was her fault. So that one evolved. I also want the reader to see how fear prevents us from really living life, how it keeps us living half-dead. And of course, I want readers to see God's relentless pursuit of love for His children and how He often uses unlikely characters to show us that love in surprising ways.
3. What was your most difficult part to write? Your favorite?
The most difficult was Georgeanne. I wanted to make her really heinous, but as I kept writing her, she started endearing herself to me. Isn't that how our "enemies" are? We try to make them out to be villains, only to see spots and pieces of redemption sticking out from their prickly facades. My favorite part was writing the love story. I have always shied away from writing romance, but I found I really enjoyed setting Maranatha's love story to words.
4. Describe your writing space and schedule. How many words per day do you write? Do you have a minimum goal you hope to reach before you push away your keyboard?I'm attaching a picture here. I write in my bedroom. We live in this little three story villa, with our bedroom tucked under the eaves of the third story. There is a five foot by five foot nook in one corner where I have my desk crammed, along with lots of pictures, a filing cabinet and a printer. It's pretty cramped, and I long for my own office someday.
When I'm on fiction deadline, I write about 2000 words a day. On non-fiction, about 1500 words. I tend to see my goals in weekly increments, though, so for fiction, by the end of the week I will have made myself type 10,000 words.
5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?
The next book coming out is tentatively titled Postmodern Parenting. It releases next July. It's a book for parents who are trying to raise their kids in this postmodern world. In a sense, it's a response to so many of those do-these-ten-steps-to-raise-godly-kids books. Sometimes formulas fall short. My main premise in that book is that what is inside us as parents (our hearts) is what we will duplicate in our children. We go full-bent superimposing methods upon ourselves, but we neglect to let Jesus change our hearts.
I also have a novel releasing sometime in 2008, but it's not written yet so I can't tell the story.
Thank you, Mary, for joining me in the spotlight.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Winners -- 2 Weeks' Worth
Sorry for not posting the winners from the past 2 spotlight interviews. I have an excellent excuse though -- the annual ACFW conference. Needless to say, I was might bit preoccupied before *and* during. :)
But, now I'm getting caught up again and before tomorrow's spotlight, I'm announcing the winners to date:
Kiss the Bride
Winner: Lillian A. Byrd
The Gathering Storm
Winner: Shauna
If you both can contact me with your mailing addresses, I'll make sure the authors get your autographed books out to you.
The winner of Violet Dawn will wait until the end of the week to give others a chance to read and respond.
But, now I'm getting caught up again and before tomorrow's spotlight, I'm announcing the winners to date:
Kiss the Bride
Winner: Lillian A. Byrd
The Gathering Storm
Winner: Shauna
If you both can contact me with your mailing addresses, I'll make sure the authors get your autographed books out to you.
The winner of Violet Dawn will wait until the end of the week to give others a chance to read and respond.
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