Andra Loy shares her debut novel "The Roman Holiday Rule"

 Join me in welcoming friend and award-winning Christian fiction author, Andra Loy, to the Diamond Mine! Andra's debut novel (yes, I've been lucky enough to get an early read) is a fun adventure of romance and magic. If it isn't on your "buy as soon as it releases" list, add it! You won't be disappointed. Without further ado, here's Andra!

ANDRA LOY writes contemporary rom-coms with elements of magical realism. Her unpublished works of fiction have received multiple awards. She lived in Europe for twenty years, where she was locked on an empty train, was shown a super-secret mushroom hunting spot, and fell in love with the only American man in her small Czech town. Now, Andra lives with her husband and three children in Michigan, where she works at the elementary school teaching ELL students and dreaming of more travel. As long as there’s more of the world to discover, there will be stories and secrets to tell. (Except the mushroom location. That one goes with her to the grave.)

First let’s learn a little bit about you. Can you share a few things about yourself that have nothing to do with writing?

I went overseas to teach English and met my husband there. After we got married, we lived in the Czech Republic for over twenty years. I have three children and play the piano. I really wish I could paint. 

That could be a romance novel in itself! What drew you to write?

A thousand hours reading on my mom’s lap, at bedtime, on the bus, and a teacher who prophesied that she’d see my books on our town library’s shelf some day. 

I love that! What’s your writing process? 

Find a premise I’m excited about, draft it without planning as if I were reading the book and have no idea what’ll happen, then spend forever fixing it, because that doesn’t work very well for making tight plots.

Your story ideas are so unique. How do you come up with them?

I think about a lot of weird things, like what if someone could look at a building and be privy to all the conversations that went on there. Or what if we could see emotions as color? Then I sift through and see if anything could make a good storyline.

Well, now I want to see both those explored in books! Fascinating! Tell us about your most recent book. 

The Roman Holiday Rule is magical realism rom-com about an event planner whose late mother left her four sealed envelopes to open at Rome’s most iconic spots. While she’s in Rome — locked in an impromptu bet with her attractive Italian-American seat mate from the flight to find the heart of Italy this week — her mother’s artwork from the envelopes starts appearing in real life. As she follows the letters around the city and falls for Mark, her carefully planned trip turns into something unpredictable. Everyone knows you can’t fall in love with someone who lives somewhere else and expect a happily-ever-after. But maybe with a little magic and a lot of mishaps, they can break the Roman Holiday rule.

Are there certain themes explored in the story?

The story explores the dynamic between mother and daughter, grief, relationships vs plans, and finding a way to notice the life you’re living instead of protecting your heart.

Yep. A must read! Do you have any favorite characters in your books?

Favorites? Will they be reading this? 

(Maybe Lillian from my second manuscript I wrote, and Mark’s Italian grandpa in The Roman Holiday Rule, shhh.)

LOL. What are you working on now?

I’m in edits for my second book for Haven Fiction, The Trouble with Paris, a rom-com with a love cynic who is caught in a magical, glitching series of meet-cutes in the City of Love. Is this her worst nightmare, or can Paris change her mind?

When you’re not writing, what do you enjoy doing?

Reading

Walking with my family (which I’m putting here just so it doesn’t look like all I ever want to do is read)

Thanks for chatting with us Andra!

You can't fall in love with someone who lives somewhere else and expect a happily-ever-after.

Lexi Walker has finally committed to the Italian adventure that she and her late mother dreamed of for years--complete with a meticulously crafted itinerary, four sealed letters to open at Rome's most iconic sites, and her mother's final painting to present at the art festival Lexi is helping organize. She's ready for the perfect Roman getaway. What she doesn't expect is for her mother's artwork to start manifesting in real life, turning her carefully planned trip into something unpredictable.

Italian-American architect Mark Russo has sworn off American tourists after having his heart broken, and he's certainly not about to let another one distract him from winning the restoration bid that could reunite his estranged father with his grandfather. But when the captivating woman next to him on the flight to Rome proposes a photography challenge--whoever captures the heart of Italy in seven days wins--Mark can't resist the bet or her charm.

As Lexi follows the letters from her mother around the city, she encounters Mark everywhere she goes. Their competitive banter turns to undeniable chemistry, but they both know the cardinal rule of holiday romances. Will a little magic--and a lot of mishaps--break the Roman Holiday Rule?

Pre-order Here:

https://schulerbooks.com/book/9780764245954

Connect with Andra at: www.andraloy.com

Our own Voni Harris and her New Release Burning Rivals

Popping in to say, Voni is celebrating! And all of us here at the Diamond Mine are so excited for her. Her sophomore release, Burning Rivals hit the virtual shelf just a few weeks ago. It's an Alaskan adventure just in time for the boiling heat of July! Leave all that humidity behind along with those temperatures pushing passed ninety and pull up a iceberg for our chat with Voni!

Hey, Voni! So excited to highlight your new book. Refresh everyone’s memory and tell us where you are from and where you live now.

I live in the constant beauty of Kodiak, Alaska—a rain forest island— fishing village homes, mountains, the gorgeous and powerful Pacific Ocean, towering spruce forests, and the sky with a mix of colors, and bears, fish, sea lions, otters, all reminding me of God every day. Even on the rainy, icy, wintry days.

Of course it was also beautiful in Southern Indiana—rolling hills and farm country— where Rich and I lived after we were married…

…In Iowa, where we met in college in Des Moines. Also beautiful with corn farmland around and the Des Moines River running through town.

But I grew up in Wyoming, with mountains in the distance, and wind blowing with gusts that wanted to blow me away some days. Oh, the beauty and power of God!

Do you have pets?

You don’t know me if you have to ask that, lol. I’ve never been without dogs in my life, except you know, college where they weren’t allowed in the dorms. Rich and I have a black and white Australian shepherd (Sting, who thinks we exist to play tug every moment of the day.) and a black and white Boston Terrier (Kip, who thinks she must dart around and make us laugh, and beg for food every moment of the day).

What’s the most unusual animal you’ve seen in person not just in a zoo.

On our first hike in Kodiak, we saw Kodiak bears in the distance. A Kodiak bear several years later walked down our street. Another left some scat in our yard. Also, bald eagles are abundant here, majestic and threatening to small pets—one sat in our yard and ate our neighbor’s chicken with his partner.

Let’s talk favorites. Favorite recipe? Favorite dessert? Favorite color? Favorite book? Favorite Bible verse?

Recipe: I keep thinking of white chicken chili lately.

Dessert: Chocolate lava cake. Or butter pecan ice cream.

Color: I would say I don’t have a favorite color, but I love yellow with a soft green, yellow with blue, yellow with black, yellow with white, yellow with gray, yellow with red (not like a convenience store)…so, anyway, I’ll have to say yellow, especially a buttery yellow.

Book: Anne of Avonlea series from my childhood, or any Nancy Drew book. As a grown up, Dee Henderson books or Ronie Kendig or Lisa Phillips. I can’t pick one, lol.

Bible verse:

 [Jer 18:1-6 ESV] 1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: "Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words." So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. Then the word of the LORD came to me:  "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the LORD. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.”

God goes on here in Jeremiah to talk about His power to shape Israel and the countries of the world. But I also see here God shaping me and the awesome life He has given me. May my heart always be soft like the clay in the potter’s hand.

Do you have a job outside of the home? Did you ever work outside the home, and if so, where?

I worked in restaurants as a server for a while. I worked in a company who was putting newspaper articles online for searches. I tutored (sometimes still tutor). But mainly, I homeschooled our daughter all the way through. Now, I write.

How did you get into writing, and how did you get into writing suspense?

I was an obsessive reader—reading while standing on my head and I had to be reminded to stop reading while walking. So there’s that. Also, Mom was a newspaper reporter, then editor of the paper. And Dad was the law enforcement instructor at the community college, friend and teacher of the cops in the local police department. So how else could I NOT end up writing suspense?

Your book Burning Rivals is set in Alaska. Tell us how your experience in Alaska fed into the setting.

When Rich and I were in Anchorage, we drove out to the city that inspired the setting of the Chasing Fire: Alaska series. It was so fun, and so full of people driving from Anchorage to Denali, or just touristing. Such interesting pictures to take and send to the other authors in the series.

What was the most exciting scene to write in Burning Rivals?

You know, I really enjoyed writing the scene where Cadee and Vince have to go to help rescue the people in the village she grew up in. They choose to, but they are smokejumpers, so if they’re needed, they go. It helps open their eyes to each other, especially Vince seeing Cadee’s past, like her growing up years.

Oh, and the scene with the river filled with dead salmon…fun to write, since they end up in that oily water. Typical Alaska during the salmon life cycle.

Can you come up with 5 things about Voni Harris that have nothing to do with writing?

1.      I am a whole 4’6”. My life is unique! Anyone wanna go shopping with me to reach the stuff on the top shelves for me? LOL.

2.    I have a degree in Radio-Television (Journalism)…but fiction writing is where I’ve always been headed, even while I thought it was just a hobby.

3.    I may be obsessed with movies—but call me a film buff. Okay, TV series as well. NCIS, Blue Bloods, etc. But doesn’t “film buff” sound so meaningful and consequential?

4.    Hubby and I love to travel. Of course, how else are we going to see family?

5.     Our family fills my heart. Daughter, Son-in-law, Grandson, and Granddaughter. 

What’s your next writing move? Writing? Editing? Publishing?

I am planning out my next book (I am a plotter!), but working on figuring out the backstory of the crucial computer…this is hard for some reason. But SO fun to travel down some fascinating research rabbit holes.

 Thank you for the opportunity to share the beauty and fun of the life God has created for me. And the fun of your questions!

And thank you for your answers and sharing your new release with us! Win a copy of Burning Rivals by leaving a comment of entering your info on our contact form. If you can't wait (and why would you?), follow the links to grab your copy of Burning Rivals by Voni Harris right now!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a super-spectacular reading day!