PT: Hello, Stephanie! Welcome to the Diamond Mine. Let's get everyone on board and start with the basics. Could
you tell us a little about yourself and the genre you write in?
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PT: So you both wrote it together. That voyage must be interesting indeed! What
was it like to collaborate with your husband for your debut novel?
SP: Don wrote the original draft, worked
on it for several years, then asked me to help him. I was going to simply correct
the grammar and spelling, but I fell in love with the story and eventually
became his co-author due to all the changes we made. The “surgery on his baby”
was a little hard on him at first, but as we read how-to books together and
attended writers conferences, we came together on the same page. His strength
is plot and details while mine is characterization and writing skills, so we
melded into a complementary partnership we just love.
PT: I
noticed Stranded, is set
in the Philippines. Have you ever had the chance to visit there?
SP: As an army officer’s daughter, I lived
in several places outside the US but not the Philippines. The closest I got was
Okinawa shortly after I was born, and Japan when I was in elementary school.
Asian life and culture have always held a fascination for me, perhaps because
of that early influence. It would be fun to visit the Philippines, but right
now it’s only a dream.
PT: So let's dig deeper. Really deep—to the hull of the structure. Give us a snapshot of the spiritual backdrop of your story. Just a tiny peek.
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PT: So let's dig deeper. Really deep—to the hull of the structure. Give us a snapshot of the spiritual backdrop of your story. Just a tiny peek.
SP: It's not just the jungle that the poor castaways have to survive. It's also God. The island is sorta like the stomping grounds of the Holy Spirit (and symbolically it is), who pokes and prods the four characters into confronting the obstacles they've put between themselves and God.
PT: What a awesome visual! And so real in all our lives. Now, let's step out on the plank and have you tell us
something that people would not expect to know about you.
SP: Hmmm, fear of arachnids and love of
everything chocolate wouldn’t be unexpected, so I suppose a good answer is that
I’ve studied five foreign languages—Spanish, Italian, French, German, and
Latin. I was fluent in Italian since I lived in Italy for two years during high
school, but now I can’t remember anything but the word ciao!
PT: What is
the next novel you are working on?
SP: Our next novel is a sequel to Stranded, which we intend to make into a
series. Don is working on the draft of the sixth book, while I will start in on
rewriting the second in February. Working with him is sort of like the tortoise
being hitched to the hare!
Let's get a little snippet of suspense from Stranded:
All Marine Corps reservist Jake Chalmers wants is to give his dying wife a last, romantic cruise to the Philippines. Unable to save her in a mass murder aboard ship, he washes ashore a jungle island, where he discovers three other survivors. Heartbroken that he failed to save his wife, he is determined not to fail these helpless castaways.
Federal prosecutor Eve Eriksson rescues a young girl and her elderly great-aunt from the same ship. They badly need Jake's survival skills, but why is he so maddeningly careful? She needs to hurry home to nail a significant career trial. And, please, before Jake learns her secret that she's responsible for his wife's death.
PT: Wow, what a powerful storyline! Indeed, it sounds like a catamaran of white-knuckled mystery. I can't thank you enough for visiting with us, Stephanie! Bon Voyage!
SP: Thanks for inviting me to share on the Diamond Mine, Peggy!
Here's where you can get Stranded and where you can find out more about this writing team!
Buy Stranded: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OQGJBUY
:
Do you feel lucky, matey? Stephanie is giving out a free copy to one very blessed person who leaves a comment. We here at the Mine, LOVE the folks who take the time to let us know how they appreciate these wonderful authors. So don't get, ahem, "stranded" without a chance to enter. Leave a comment and you may be the next winner!!!
9 comments:
Sounds intriguing! I meant that you and your husband collaborated in this and continue to write and live together...just kidding. It sounds like a great plot. Congrats.
I don't know if I could write a novel with my husband. He'd make me plot it! LOL This book sounds amazing! It's great to meet you, and I'm so glad you're on the Diamond Mine. :)
LOL, Julie ~ I often joke that Don and I wrote a novel together and are still happily married! Yep, a challenge! I'll start on his draft of book 2 soon and am wondering if we'll do as well this time when I "suggest" changes. :-)
You must be a pantster, eh? I do love the freedom I have to do what I wish while knowing where I'm headed, thanks to Don. And, yes, thanks ~ it's great to be here on the Diamond Mine!
Yes, i'm a pantser. LOL I guess I kind of know the end of the line, so to speak but not much of it!
Your book sounds really entertaining. I've always wanted to write a children's book with my husband. His sense of humor is perfect for it. Maybe someday! Congrats on your debut novel, and the rest to follow!
Co-authoring actually brought Don and me closer together (and we already had a good marriage), so you might find co-authoring with your hubby a similar joy, Nancy!
I'm so impressed with you both writing together. My husband and I worked on a dropped ceiling in Honduras for a missions trip. I loved working with him. We knew each other so well, I'd hand him a tool before he asked for it! LOL
Co-authoring also revealed abilities in each other that raised our respect for each other. Suh-weet!
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