Samantha is the winner of Johnnie's book! But we don't have your email!!! Please leave a message if you are Samantha from the comments below! Thanks!
Ah-oo-gah. Ah-oo-gah! Welcome back, faithful readers! So glad you could pull over and chat awhile. I've got Johnnie Alexander visiting today. She just zoomed into the driveway and she's revved up to go. And guess what? She's giving away a copy of her book, Where Treasure Hides~print or ebook! Your choice! What could be better? So put your Deuce Coupe in neutral, and let's meet her!
Ah-oo-gah. Ah-oo-gah! Welcome back, faithful readers! So glad you could pull over and chat awhile. I've got Johnnie Alexander visiting today. She just zoomed into the driveway and she's revved up to go. And guess what? She's giving away a copy of her book, Where Treasure Hides~print or ebook! Your choice! What could be better? So put your Deuce Coupe in neutral, and let's meet her!
PT: Hi, Johnnie! So glad you could sit a spell and visit with us while your engine cools. Tell us a little about your background and what genre you write in.
JA: I’m a Buckeye native who has lived in Missouri, Nebraska, Florida,
and now Tennessee (with a short stay in Birmingham, England many years ago). I
dream of taking a road trip through all 48 continental states but I’m not sure
I can do that in one fell swoop.
For fifteen years, I worked in the district office for two
different Members of the Florida House of Representatives which was a great
experience.
But I always dreamed of writing, and I’m thankful “to unite / My avocation
and my vocation” as Robert Frost says in his poem “Two Tramps in Mud Time.” (I
memorized that poem for a grad class, but had kind of forgotten it until I was
answering this question. J)
My writing journey includes both historicals and contemporary
romances. Even my contemporaries, though, are deeply rooted in heritage.
PT: I love Robert Frost. I'll have to look that one up. I couldn't help but notice you won the ACFW Genesis back in 2011. Tell us how
that spurred on your career.
JA: My debut novel, Where
Treasure Hides, won the Genesis
historical category that year. Winning was such an honor and also a tremendous
surprise. I was at my home in St. Cloud, Florida (Eastern time) while the
ceremony took place in St. Louis (Central time). Forgetting all about the time
difference and not really having a clue how long the awards ceremony lasted, I
sent a text around 9:30 p.m. to close friends saying I hadn’t won and I was
disappointed but it was okay. Not long after, I received a text from one of my
critique partners followed closely by a text from my agent giving me the good
news. I was ecstatic and immediately called everyone I had texted and a few
more people, too.
Anyway, an acquisition editor with Tyndale was one of the final
round judges so the contest brought the story to her attention. The novel
released a little over a year later.
Similarly, I have a friend who was contacted by an agent during
the judging process so entering contests may get your story in front of
publishing professionals.
Even when that doesn’t happen, a contest can provide helpful
feedback on your writing. About three years ago, my entry received the Bronze
Medalist Award in the My Book Therapy Frazier Contest. After carefully
considering the less-than-positive critiques about my heroine’s attitude, I
wrote a new first chapter. That novel, a contemporary romance called Where She Belongs, releases in January
from Revell. So I owe those judges hugs and chocolate!
PT: Wow! What an opportunity! I love when everything just falls together. Let's get a little outside the lines. Tell us 5 things about Johnnie Alexander that have nothing to
do with writing.
JA : 1.
I have an alpaca herd which includes three babies born this past
spring. I missed witnessing one of the births by only a few minutes.
2.
My papillon, Rugby, is a fluffy little guy with the courage to tree
raccoons.
3.
I’m not a “good eater,” but I love jalapeños.
4.
Even though I work from home, my 2009 Pontiac Vibe has over
130,000 miles on it. We’ve been in over twenty states and the District of
Columbia together.
5.
This past May, I flew to New York and fell in love with the city.
I’d like to live there, for just a few weeks, and bask in its energy.
PT: Who knew there was a little city in the farm girl! LOL Does living on a farm influence any scenes in your writing?
JA: Where
Treasure Hides takes place in WWII Europe, primarily Rotterdam and London but it
does have one farm setting. Actually that particular scene may be one of the
most intense in the novel.
My next novel, Where She
Belongs, centers on an old house I lived in as a teen in rural Ohio. Since
there aren’t any alpacas in my stories, at least so far, I’d say that growing
up on a farm had more influence on my writing than living on one now. The promo
copy for the novel says my writing “evokes a strong sense of place and personal
history.” I believe that comes from my childhood influences.
PT: Gotcha. So what are your next plans for writing and are you in the
middle of a novel right now?
JA: Where She
Belongs is the first book in my Misty Willow Series. Earlier this month,
I turned in the second book in the series.
Now I’m heading to 1870s Nebraska, the setting for a novella tentatively
called “The Healing Promise,” which will appear in Barbour’s Courageous Brides Collection (releasing
next July). I’m also in the pondering phase for the third Misty Willow novel.
I’m very excited about both stories and eager to see how they turn
out.
PT: How exciting! I can't wait to see that collection. It sounds fab. Well, I'm sure you're ready to grind the gears and get moving. You've got lots to tinker on!
JA: Thanks, Peggy, for having me as your guest. I can’t wait to chat
with your readers and thank them, too, for stopping by.
NOW! Here's your chance! Johnnie would LOVE to have to leave a comment for her. AND! When you do, you will be entered to win for free~no fooling~ this award-winning novel by Johnnie Alexander! Boom-chicka-boom-boom!!! That's right! So easy! So don't waste any time! Comment away!
Johnnie
Alexander writes inspiring stories that linger in the heart. Where Treasure
Hides, her debut novel, won the ACFW Genesis Contest (2011) and Golden Leaf
Award (2014). Her
first contemporary romance, Where She Belongs (Misty Willow Series; Revell), and
her first novella, “The Healing
Promise” (Courageous
Bride Collection;
Barbour), release in 2016.
She
also has won Best Novel and Best Writer awards (Florida Christian Writers
Conferences), and Bronze Medalist (My Book Therapy Frasier Contest). She volunteers as a category coordinator for the ACFW
Genesis Contest, judges
various contests,
and serves as marketing director for the MidSouth
Christian Writers Conference.
A graduate of Rollins College (Orlando) with a Master of Liberal
Studies degree, Johnnie treasures family memories, classic movies, road trips,
and stacks of books. She lives in the Memphis area with a small herd of alpacas and Rugby, the princely
papillon who
trees raccoons.
Catch up with Johnnie here:
23 comments:
Johnnie, I just LOVE your book covers! So beautiful! And since I lean toward contemporary, I think Where She Belongs will be a great read for me to pick up. Thank you so much for stopping by the Diamond Mine.
Peggy - Awesome interview!!!!
Hey, everyone. I am just sittin' here grinning after reading Peggy's revvin' introduction! Makes me want to hop in my Vibe and take off for places I've never been. It's a lovely morning here in Tennessee. The alpaca are lazing in the hay, and Rugby is stealing bites of dog food from my kitten Addie who doesn't want to eat the food--she loves to bat it across the kitchen floor. That's my morning!
Hi, Rebekah and thank you! I am so delighted with both covers and very appreciative for the designers who created them. Just so you know and for anyone who is interested, Where She Belongs is available for pre-order. It's a very special story for me and I hope it resonates with readers. I'm on pins and needles waiting for January to get here :)
Hi Johnie, welcome to the Diamond Mine! What an awesome mornin'! I'm listening to a hubby pound on the roof. I like yours better! LOL
Hey, Renee! Hope that pounding has come to an end. It's 5:00 here (I don't drink but typing the time made me think of Jimmy Buffet), and all's quiet here except for the occasional bark of a neighbor's dog and the answering bark of one of our own. Thanks for the warm welcome!
I am reading this on a morning that I am actually able to relax and enjoy a beautiful morning view from my recliner. I am so happy for all of the success you are enjoying right now.
Blessings!
Connie
I enjoyed meeting you Johnnie! I live in Nebraska :) I would love to read your book.Thanks for the giveaway!
I'll be watching for Courageous Brides Collection too..
Thanks, Connie. It's been a whirlwind after a long journey. I do feel blessed but I'm also hard at work. You're a sweetheart!
Hi, Deanna. I lived in Norfolk, Nebraska ages ago. My daughters are native Cornhuskers but lived most of their lives in the Sunshine State!
The novella is based on a newspaper article I read way back then and saved all these years. Here's a hint: it's inspired by a speech made by a Ponca dad when his daughter died as the tribe was being forced to move from their home to the Oklahoma Territory. I wrote the first pages on Tuesday, and I'm really excited about it.
Thanks for being here.
I have heard great things about this book. I can't wait to get my hands on it. Thank you so much for the interview and giveaway!
campbellamyd at gmail dot com
LOL Nice time for some good music!
Enjoyed reading the post. I have read and loved Where Treasure Hides, but I read it in e-book form and would love to win a print copy for my library.
Hi, Amy. that just warms my heart--that you've heard great things about the novel. Yay!!!!
Renee, it's 5:00 somewhere!
Hi, Ann! Thank you for the shout-out! I appreciated your review so much.
Both Where Treasures Hide and Where She Belongs sound great! :)
Great interview, Peggy!
I would love to see some alpacas in your books, Johnie ;)
Thanks for the giveaway and good luck everyone!
Hello Johnnie, You are a new-to-me author. Where Treasure Hides sounds like an amazing story. I look forward to reading it soon.
psalm103and138[at]gmail[dot]com
Just stopping in to say hi, Johnnie. I learned yet another new fact about you here - worth the stop!! Love the WHERE SHE BELONGS title, btw.
Hi, Samantha. So funny about the alpacas. When one of my beta readers finished reading my last manuscript, she said, "Where are the alpacas?!" I guess I'll have to be sure they make at least a cameo appearance in my next story! LOL
Hi, Caryl! So glad to connect with you. I loved writing Where Treasure Hides, and the characters still have such a hold on my heart. My hope is that they hold onto their readers' hearts, too. Thanks for participating in the giveaway.
Gail!!!! So glad to see you here. Was it the bit about the jalapenos?? Or about my Vibe. (I love that vehicle.)
I like the Where She Belongs title, too, but I can't claim credit for it. I gave that manuscript so many different titles that, to myself, it became simply Shelby's Story. The new title fits perfectly though. I'm so excited for January to get here!
BTW, congrats on your newest release!
Johnnie, what a great writing journey and novel! Congratulations on your award, and it's a blessing to have someone like Tyndale publish your book. How inspiring. I am from Memphis, so I was happy when you found me on Twitter and now we're Facebook friends. :) I hope I win your book, of course, but regardless I will read it!
Hi Johnnie! I'm so happy to have learned more about your everyday life and your books. I'm an Ohio gal myself though I'm originally from Michigan. I have lived in Ohio for 40 years and I have neighbors up the road that raise Alpacas too! I enjoy doing cross stitch and have stitched with Alpaca fibers many times in the past 10 years, having used it to stitch a very realistic furry cat. Do you shear your Alpacas and sell their wool? I would love to win your book. Thanks so much for the opportunity!
Hi, Katy. Thanks for your sweet and encouraging comment. I'm glad we connected, too. It's fun when God orchestrates our connections, and I so enjoy chatting with you.
For those who don't know, Katy is launching a magazine, available via email, called Refresh. Be sure to find her on Twitter :)
Diane!!!! That is so cool about the cross stitching with alpaca fibers. I didn't know that was possible. We shear the fiber once a year and sell it raw on Etsy. We plan to send some of it to a mill though to have it spun into yarn.
I hope your years in Ohio have turned you into a Buckeye fan (LOL) because the hero of my contemporary novel (the one that's releasing in January) is a huge OSU fan and wears an OSU ball everywhere he goes. Thanks for being here. I'm glad we've connected.
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