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and beautiful, Cora Stephens has it all - including the perfect football-star
boyfriend - until one fateful afternoon. Facing heartache and betrayal, Cora
turns to long-time friend, Landon, for comfort. While his love for her grows,
she does everything in her power to avoid getting hurt again - including
flinging herself into the arms of another boy.
Then, just as Cora’s shattered world
starts putting itself back together, life throws something her way that’s more
horrific than she ever could have imagined. Through the emotional and physical
pain, she begins to lose hope and abandon her faith. Will this once
light-hearted, happy prom queen find her way back home?
Emily Paige Skeen |
Hi Emily!! Good to have you here on The Diamond Mine.
Thanks so much for having me on your blog, Nancy! I’m excited and
grateful for the chance to share a bit about myself with you and your readers!
As authors, we often
come up with lots of story ideas. What was it about this story that prompted
you to focus in on it and write it?
It’s been such a long time since I began this particular
story that it’s hard to remember the initial pull! But I think a big reason I
chose to pursue it is because I really connect with the characters. A lot of
the experiences Cora has are reminiscent of my own adolescent trials (though
not exact and certainly not the abduction part). Writing Magnolia Lake took me
back to that time in my life and helped me to express some bottled up emotions.
Writing can transport both the writer and the reader! What do you like best
about your main characters in Magnolia
Lake?
Cora has a lot of admirable qualities. But probably my
favorite of those is her sweet nature. She always thinks of others and there
are several times throughout the story when she takes someone else’s feelings
into consideration over her own.
And Landon...well, what’s not to love about him? He’s the
ultimate good old-fashioned country boy! He’s kind, considerate, patient, and
romantic - all while being athletic and a bit rough around the edges. He also
makes a mean fried chicken dinner!
My nephew's name is Landon! I hope he ends up with some of those qualities, too. Do any of your
characters share qualities or experiences with you?
Like Cora, I was pretty naive in my teens years, completely
unaware of the evils that exist in our world. Cora’s entire perspective shifts
after her abduction as she realizes that not everyone is who they seem and that
people are capable of truly horrifying things.
A hard lesson to learn for all of us, and often difficult to accept, too.
What’s your favorite
part of crafting a story: the character developing, the plot, the setting, the
struggles? Explain why.
It’s all pretty amazing, watching an entire world unfold
before your eyes. But for me, writing the struggles is the best. That’s the
time when I get to really dig deep into the emotions of my characters. It feels
the most intense.
I so agree with you on that! Do your characters
become real to you before you write, or as you go along?
Before I put pen to paper (or more accurately, fingers to
keyboard), I create detailed outlines of each of my characters. I include
things like personality traits, occupations, fashion style, etc. The more
detailed the character descriptions, the more thoroughly I can connect with
them. But even after doing that, I find they become more real as the plot
develops and they encounter different situations.
Sounds like a good method. What’s your favorite
genre to write in? Why?
Romance - any kind of romance! Whether it’s Young Adult, Contemporary,
Historical...whatever the case, I thrive on creating heart-stopping,
soul-searing love stories. I suppose I’ve always been a romantic at heart. You
could say my head’s a bit in the clouds.
Nothing wrong with that. I like it up there, too! What were your
favorite books as you were growing up?
It depends on what age we’re talking about! As a youngster,
I really enjoyed the Goosebumps series and the Sweet Valley Twins/Sweet Valley
High books. (Don’t laugh!)
I’ve also always had a place in my heart for the classics.
All the books they made you read in high school that other kids grumbled about?
I loved them!
Ah yes, the classics. What's not to love, right? What kind of movies
do you favor?
You can probably guess, but for me nothing beats a good
romance. Though I do enjoy having the wits scared out of me on occasion. But
when it comes to horror movies, I prefer suspenseful and maybe paranormal, not gory.
I have to cover my eyes with anything gory or scary! My sons think it's funny. Is there an
underlying theme in your stories, or a concept you try to convey within them?
I think of my writing as a way to honor God. My sincere hope
with every story I create is that at least one person will come away feeling
inspired or encouraged.
Amen to that! What are you working
on now?
I currently have two works in progress. The first is part of
the “Christmas Cowboys” series with Prism Book Group. It follows a young, newly
divorced woman as she attempts to manage the ranch that she won in her split
from an abusive husband.
The other, For Better or Worse, is part of Prism Book
Group’s “Love Is” series, which has already begun releasing. My story detailing
the marriage of a young couple who has lost a baby to miscarriage will be out
in February 2017.
That sounds great! I've got books coming out in those series, too. Prism Book Group is a wonderful publisher! I look forward to reading both of yours when they're released. Thanks for the interview!
Okay readers, here's an excerpt from Magnolia Lake:
I changed clothes and made it just in time to plop down on
the hard floor and get into a stretching position before the coach noticed.
Valerie must have seen something in my expression. “Looks
like somebody’s been up to no good.” She winked as we stretched.
My eyes were wide with innocence as I asked, “What do you
mean?”
“Oh, come on, Cor! Your face is all flushed,” she whispered,
“and you were the last one dressed. I may not have a boyfriend right now, but
that doesn’t mean I forgot how to read the signs. You managed to fit in a quick
make-out session and still get here with one minute to spare!"
Although her accusations made me blush, the corners of my
mouth turned up into a mischievous grin. There was no use trying to lie to her.
She had a strange sixth sense about these things. “Well, maybe a quick one,” I
answered. “But, in my defense, there are only so many unsupervised hours in a
day. Jeff and I don’t get much alone time.”
Lacy overheard us and chimed in. “Oh, you are so lucky! To
have such a hot, manly guy. Mike won’t even kiss me on the cheek at school.
He’s so worried about what his friends will think. It drives me crazy! I need a
little action, ya know. A little adventure.”
Coach Rivers shot us a stern glance. Not wanting to be on
the wrong side of one of Coach’s endless tirades, I focused on the hardwood
floor, spread my legs, and continued stretching.
After two hours of running, dancing, and stunting, my
friends and I walked lethargically to our cars. When we reached Lacy’s car, she
hurriedly jumped in with only a quick, “See ya later,” before speeding off.
I looked at Valerie, who gave a quick shrug of her shoulders
before asking, “So, Cor, wanna ride together tomorrow and go to the mall after
practice?”
“Yeah, sounds good. I need new jeans. We can look at prom
dresses too! Just for fun,” I answered with excitement. “I’ll call Kayla and
Lacy tonight. Maybe they’ll wanna meet us.”
We stood in the parking lot, talking about our shopping trip
and which stores we wanted to visit. When we finally finished our conversation
fifteen minutes later, I decided to put up the top on my car since the sky
promised a downpour.
I was proven right just as I exited the student parking lot
and the bottom suddenly fell out of the sky, producing sheets of rain that
caused me to immediately let my foot off the gas and turn my windshield wipers
up as high as possible. It had been perfectly clear for most of the day.
Where’d the sun go in such a short amount of time?
As I came to one of the streets I would normally take home,
I noticed it was closed due to a wreck. Detour signs were set up a few feet
before the crash site, so I turned down an unfamiliar dirt road.
That’s when I noticed Jeff’s truck parked on the grass to
the right of the gravel. My heart started to pound. I knew it was his by the
University of Georgia sticker on the back glass. There was no sign of him, but
no sign he’d been involved in a crash, either—no other cars, no tree limbs
sticking out, nothing. But also no Jeff.
With my stomach in knots, I jerked the steering wheel and
rolled to a stop behind the truck. My imagination ran wild as I pictured Jeff
being robbed at gunpoint or something else horrific. I just knew he was in a
ditch somewhere, left for dead. I practically flew out of my car and around the
front of his truck. There was mumbling and gasping coming from the woods
several feet away.
I started to panic, my mind racing. A million thoughts ran
through my head. Was he hurt? Who was that talking? What happened? Had someone
dragged him from the car?
I didn’t even notice the wet grass sloshing under my feet
and spraying my ankles and calves with mud. It was a good thing I hadn’t
changed back into my school clothes. I was still wearing shorts and tennis
shoes, much better to run in than the high heels I’d sported earlier.
The mumbling noises were getting closer. I saw a path I
hadn’t noticed before. A car was parked at the end of that path in the woods. I
walked closer to the car and peered inside. Through the fog of the windows,
there was Jeff. And there was Lacy pressed against him.
Sounds like an awesome read! Here's a short bio on Emily, followed by her social and purchase links! Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance at the drawing!
Born
and raised in a small Georgia town, Emily Paige Skeen takes from her own life
experiences to create real, relatable characters for her novels. She loves to
intertwine small-town charm with deep emotion and intrigue, creating stories
that inspire readers.
When she’s not writing or chasing
after her two youngsters - both under the age of five - you can find Emily
reading, soaking up the sun whenever possible, or shopping. She, her husband,
and their kids make their home in a tiny little town an hour south of Atlanta,
on a five-acre plot of land right off a bumpy red-dirt road. Emily loves to sit
and listen as the ever-present crickets and frogs perform their harmonious
concerts in the still, quiet evening hours.
Writing
has always been Emily’s passion, ever since she crafted her first sloppily
hand-written story plastered over spiral notebook paper at the
emotionally-charged age of thirteen. Now, she strives to encourage and inspire
girls and young women with her writing. She believes that with a little bit of
faith and a whole lot of love, anything’s possible.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmiPaigeS
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/magnolia-lake-emily-paige-skeen/1115340536?ean=9781530434596
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/620085
13 comments:
Thank you so much for having me on The Diamond Mine! It's truly an honor and I thoroughly enjoyed the interview!
Thank you for the interview. It helped me get to know a new author to me. The book sounds good. Thanks for the chance.
Deana
Thanks for reading, Deana! Best of luck in the drawing! :)
Great interview! Good questions, and the answers really give us insight into Emily's personality and heart. Hoping you have great success with 'Magnolia Lake' and that it can make a difference in the life of many a young girl. (Anita Klumpers)
Thanks so much, Anita!
Thanks for the interview. Author interviews are always fun since I get to learn more about an author I already know or like in this case, a new author! Magnolia Lakes sounds great. Thanks for the chance.
Glad you enjoyed it! Best of luck in the drawing!
Enjoyed the interview and the chance to get acquainted with an author that I have not read her books. This one sure sounds like a good one.
Thanks, Ann! I hope you enjoy Magnolia Lake if you decide to read it!
Welcome, Emily! You know I adore that cover! Nice job, Prism always does an outstanding job. I so glad you're here on the Diamond Mine!
Thanks, Peggy! I love the cover, too. Joan did an amazing job!
Thank you for the interview! I loved the underlying theme of your writing. And Cora sounds like such a wonderful character!
So glad you enjoyed it, Alexa! Thanks for stopping by!
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