Author Interview and GIVEAWAY with Elaine Stock!!!

Hi guys! V. Joy Palmer here! Since we are all friends here, you guys can call me Joy. ; ) And since we are all friends, one of my favorite things to do is talk with my friends, family, the teens I mentor, and everyone else at coffee shops/bookstores. Books and yummy drinks are the perfect combination, after all. So, consider this our virtual coffee shop. I’ll wait a second for you to get your warm drink and a fuzzy blanket before we chat with today’s guest. ; )

Today, I am very excited for you guys to meet my friend, Elaine Stock! I met her at the 2016 American Christian Fiction Writer's Conference. She is such a kind woman who is dedicated to helping other authors.

Elaine Stock is the author of Always With You, which released in January 2016 and has won the 2017 Christian Small Publishers Association Book of the Year Award in fiction. Her novels fuse romance, family drama and faith in a clean fiction style. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, and Women’s Fiction Writers Association, and contributes to the international “Happy Sis Magazine” and “InD’tale Magazine.” In addition to Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads, she hangs out on her active six-year-old blog, Everyone’s Story, dedicated to uplifting and encouraging all readers through the power of story and hope.

 Elaine's short story, In His Own Time, won the People's Choice Award in the FamilyFiction Contest and has been published in a printed anthology: The Story: 2014 Anthology. Her short story The Forever Christmas Gift is published in the Amazon bestseller Christmas Treasures: A Collection of Christmas Stories.

Look for her Christmas romance novella, And You Came Along, to release December 2^nd, and her next novel, Her Good Girl, releasing January 2018.

 Born in Brooklyn, NY, Elaine has now been living in upstate, rural New York with her husband for more years than her stint as a NYC gal. She enjoys long walks down country roads, visiting New England towns, and of course, a good book.

Connect with Elaine ~ Website, Everyone's Story Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads,

and Amazon Author Page.

Interview ~

First things first, would you order coffee, tea, or hot chocolate in our virtual coffee shop? Something else altogether? This is possibly the most important question…


I’ve been an unapologetic coffee lover since the age of eight, so if it’s morning, I appreciate need my two mugs of coffee. Please. If it’s a cool afternoon, herbal tea is nice. A cold, as in wintry, post-coffee afternoon is always more pleasant with a hot chocolate, but hold the whipped cream.

 

Yes, yes! All of the above! On to our second most important question: if you could order anything in the world to eat, what would it be?

Probably an assortment of things. Ha—you didn’t want to hear that, right? Actually, I love “healthy” foods, so I’ll choose a scrumptious salad, the freshest of fish and stir-fried veggies like carrots and Brussels sprouts served over a bed of barley and quinoa. As a snack leading up to this feast I’d have dried non- sulfured figs. But, I’m not totally weird. For dessert I’d love either a heavenly huge slice of chocolate cake with mocha cream filling or the gooiest chocolate chunk chocolate chip cookies. You know, let’s just make it both desserts.

Haha! I love salad, and you speak my language when it comes to dessert! Where is your favorite place to write? And why is that your favorite place?

I don’t have an office. Yet. So, right now it’s “my” corner on the living room sofa, about four feet away from the woodstove (cozy nice in the winter!!) and with a view out of three 6’x3’ windows. We have a new/antique-old glass topped table on our back deck, which is lovely to work at in the warmer months when the sun is angled right and not beating down. Have laptop will travel.

Those sound like nice, cozy spots, and that antique table sounds lovely! Do you have an odd habit that is only explained by your bookish, writer tendencies? Safe space. ;-)

Not really. However, I do begin my writing-days with the classical music radio station playing as I warm up my brain cells and fingers by sorting through any urgent emails and promotion. I love Bach and Beethoven. Once I open my writing files I must have quiet so I can slip into my character’s world and totally tune out my world, my thoughts, my angst. It’s all about the character and what she or he feels, experiences, and fears.

Classical music can be so soothing! What inspired you to write Always With You?

I attended a local RWA workshop many moons ago in Saratoga, NY, the home of the Saratoga Race Course for all horse racing fans (which I’m not part of). In keeping with the summer racing theme, the workshop leader that day distributed copies of the local newspaper racing-thingies (see, I warned you I’m not into horse racing—LOL) that listed the horses’ names. We were instructed to choose a name and develop a story based from the name. Thoroughbreds often have long, elaborate names. The one I chose, Don’t-Tell-Isabelle, eventually became my working title before my editor suggested Always With You. I had to know what Isabelle didn’t know and why, who kept things from her, and if she ever found out. The story incubated for many years.

The horrid sad day of 9-11 happened (interestingly enough, I was heading up to Saratoga that morning to be the presenter of a workshop, but ended up turning around to go home). This tragic day changed me as a writer, as a person, as it did for many, if not all of us. That’s when Always With You became alive enough for me to write about, focusing on why people hate, what hatred can do to families and individuals, and what or Who can intervene to set things straight.

That is an intense story! I love how you built a story around the horse, Don’t-Tell-Isabelle – it’s so unique! What message do you hope to convey to your readers with your stories?

That with faith in God, we can have hope in a tomorrow and bless each other with love and respect. This is essentially my author theme.

Love! What a wonderful theme! Can you tell us a little about your next project?

I have 3 I’d like to share about. First is my Christmas romance novella, And You Came Along, which will release independently December 2^nd. However, it’s releasing in its original format as part of a novella collection, Winter’s Kiss, with a handful of other awesome Christian-fiction authors. It’s up for pre-sale for only $.99 on Amazon with a release date of November 7^th. The story centers on the theme of whether true love is ever mistaken.

 

 

A Mother's Christmas Wish

All single mom Jacey Tucker wants for Christmas is for her young son to have a home and a smile. What she never expected was an eviction notice from her apartment, or the loss of her job. Now she can’t leave Kindred Lake, Pennsylvania fast enough.

A Wounded Detective’s Second Chance

Zander Paxton, wounded on duty while trying to save the life of his partner, needs a new residence for the second half of his recovery. His hometown of Kindred Lake offers promises, but it may be too late to make up for his past.

She heads south. He heads north. In the middle of a blizzard, five days before Christmas, they collide and wreck their vehicles, and nearly each other, on an ice-covered road. The kindness of two strangers provides a cabin for shelter, a place where pain is soothed and hope is renewed . . . until their pasts catch up to their present and threatens a forever separation. Is true love ever mistaken?

I’m also excited to share that I have another single-title releasing in January. Her Good Girl is a coming of age story of a whole family. I’ll be revealing more about this family-drama, psychological suspense in the next few months.

 

Excuse me a moment. *frantically adds books to Amazon Cart* And I’m back. What is your favorite Bible verse or story that inspires you on a soul level?

Both the story of Noah and Joseph have inspired me since I was a child. Noah grabbed my heart since I was very young because what’s not more wonderful than the Father of the whole universe loving His creation so much that He wanted to give us a new beginning to follow Him and be with Him . . . talk about an Author’s Theme! And then, because I come from a very fragmented family, the story of Joseph and the huge troubles he faced within and by the hands of his own family and how he not only survived but also prospered because he followed God, definitely speaks to my heart, still to this day.

The story of Joseph is a favorite of mine, too! What are you currently reading? Inquiring minds – mine – want to know. :-)

I just finished an excellent compelling fast-read creepy suspense novel, The Marsh King’s Daughter, by Karen Dionne. Now I’m reading A Fragile Hope by Cynthia Ruchti who I had the pleasure of her autographing the book at the Christian Fiction Readers Retreat 2017 back in August.

Ooo! Love autographed copies!  #win

Thank you so much for answering all of my prying questions, Elaine! I had a lot of fun talking with you!



Giveaway ~



Elaine has generously offered to giveaway 1 Kindle copy of Always With You!

In the heart of the Adirondacks, Isabelle lives in the shadow of a dark family secret whose silent burden strips her family of emotional warmth and faith in God. Tyler belongs to the religious sect called The Faithful. When families and values collide, they marry and believe they're on the right track for happiness. But, when the truth comes out, Isabelle faces two choices: Staying could endanger her child. Leaving could cost her life.

Available on Amazon!

 

 

Rules, Info, and Such ~

The author is giving away 1 Kindle copy of Always With You. It closes on November 1st, 2017, at 12:00 A.M. for all the night owls out there. If the winner does not respond to our e-mails within one week (by November 8th), a new winner will be drawn.

May the odds be ever in your favor.

Enter using the handy Rafflecopter here ~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for stopping by my writerly, bookish friends! <3 See you next time!

 

Hugs,

V. Joy Palmer

The Diamond Mine of Christian Fiction: INTRODUCING AUTHOR AND FRIEND, LINDBERG CORNELL!

The Diamond Mine of Christian Fiction: INTRODUCING AUTHOR AND FRIEND, LINDBERG CORNELL!: AUTHOR LINDBERG CORNELL Lynn, I’m thrilled to have you on The Rough Diamond Mine blog today And please thank your wife, B...

INTRODUCING AUTHOR AND FRIEND, LINDBERG CORNELL!

AUTHOR LINDBERG CORNELL

Lynn, I’m thrilled to have you on The Rough Diamond Mine blog today And please thank your wife, Beverly, for encouraging you to write! She was right—you are indeed a writer—an excellent word weaver! So, let’s get on with this interview so all the folks can find out what I already know—your first novel The Color of Redemption is beyond Five Stars! I’ve included my review of your book at the end of this interview.

Q. Readers want to know, beyond the back-of-the-book biography, about the authors they read. Will you share a little about yourself and your family?

Thank you DiAne. I’m glad to be visiting with you today. As for me, I’ve been a Christian for forty years and have a passion for teaching verse by verse through the entire Bible. I’ve been married for twenty-four years to my second wife, my first wife passed away. We have five children and thirteen grandchildren. I’m an avid cyclist when not writing.

Q.  With thirteen grandchildren I don’t see how you have the time to cycle and write. LOL. I have three and when they were little they wore me out! When did you know God called you to paint a canvas of words? How did you know and tell us about your journey?

My wife encouraged me to write. Of course, as a typical man, I blew her off, but she kept encouraging me. Finally, and I don’t remember why, she signed me up for a Write to Publish writer’s conference in Wheaton, Illinois. That’s when the writing world opened up to me. From that time, I began the process of learning to write. Of course, now, I don’t have enough time in the day to write everything that’s in my heart. I will say to new writers…learn the craft of writing first. That’ll save you yards of time in rewrites. I had written the entire first draft of The Color of Redemption without knowing how to write.

Q. Don’t think you’re alone. I finished the first draft of Roped (then entitled Silver Buckle Dreams) before knowing I had no clue. And my first conference was Write to Publish in Wheaton also. Small world! I’ve read and reread The Color of Redemption and must ask, is this, in part or whole, about a relative or someone you’ve known?

No, I wrote the book because of current race relations I saw in the church—among Christians in the modern church. I was surprised and saddened how Christians thought and felt ethnically, both black and white Christians. And I was saddened the one place that should have been a refuge for me was actually a place I had to be guarded among my heavenly family. I was surprised how much one’s culture trumps their faith. I guess that might make The Color of Redemption a fantasy book. LOL!

Q. Your characters leaped off the page and into my heart. This novel is a timely and riveting account of life’s reality—then and now—fear, prejudice, tribulations, hate, forgiveness, and love…God’s love for us…in spite of our faults. Do you have a life verse that brought you to and carried you through writing this powerful story?

1 Corinthians 11:17-34. I realized as we celebrate the Lord’s table, we don’t all recognize every believer as partakers of His body and blood. This scripture, of course along with many others, should wake us up that we all have one source of eternal life—Jesus!

Q. In my early teens I read a new book in our church library entitled Red Like Mine. And I know exactly what you mean. The church librarian must not have read the book. My own mother asked what I was reading and when she heard and I returned the book, it suddenly disappeared out of our church library. Shameful! And that book has remained with me all these years. I grew up in the deep south—in the ‘50’s…a few years before Katie’s story and know firsthand the need for telling Katie’s story. The bondage, white hoods, and burning crosses were as despised and feared then as they are now. I saw them. And the silence of multitudes who disagreed, yet feared speaking. What is your purpose in writing The Color of Redemption? What do you want the reader to take away from this incredible story?

I was naïve to think I could walk into any church and be welcomed as a fellow believer. But sadly, this is not true. Blacks speak disparately of whites and whites avoid blacks—not all, of course. But the divide in many churches is too wide and shouldn’t even exist. My hope is Christians will one day realize we should be bold examples to the world of God’s love abd what a unified body looks like.

Q. And finally, a very selfish question…well, not so much a question as a hope…please tell us there’s going to be a sequel. Or at least a WIP? And, how long do we have to wait for more from Lynn Cornell?

Interesting! I could have written a three-book series focusing on Katie’s life in the south. In earlier drafts, I explored her husband’s journey and the town they lived in. And I have enough in my head for a sequel, but at present, I have no plans for a sequel.

I have finished two first drafts—God’s Pearl, Man’s Find—just a working title. This story is about a gold-digger who finds God’s worth in her and finds love God’s way. In God’s Honor—the second book tells a story about a zealous Muslim (a female Paul), an Iranian secret police officer who comes to faith, falls in love, and marries the Marine who smuggles her to America.

First drafts, hmmm? That means at least another year to wait? Well The Color of Redemption was certainly worth waiting for! Do you have any closing comments for your readers? Oh, BTW, Lynn is giving away a signed copy of his marvelous novel. So be sure to leave a comment to toss your name in the hat for this copy.

DiAne, I’d like to close by urging Christians to pray for our nation. Pray for our President. Whether we agree with him or his politics, God has placed him as head of our nation. I pray God would give him wisdom, grace, mercy to lead our country. And I urge everyone to pray for the victims of the shootings in Las Vegas and for all the victims of the hurricanes that have hit our country hard.

Thank you for having me on The Rough Diamond Mine. Sure hope your followers will read The Color of Redemption and leave me a review.

Lynn, the pleasure is ours. Thank you for sharing your heart with us. Consider yourselves reminded, folks. After all, that's the way you all can let us know you've enjoyed our writing. 'Cause writing can sometimes be a very lonely occupation. And don't forget to leave a comment here so you can be entered in the drawing for a signed copy of Lynn's book!

Lynn’s book is available at www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, and www.dovechristianpublishers.com. 

You can contact Lynn at his blog site:  http://journeythroughthebibleversebyverse.lynncornell.wordpress.com

And here's my review of this spectacular book...

"Scrolling through FB friend invitations I found Mr. Cornell’s request and looked at his page. And as I clicked through his posts there was a picture of his book, The Color or Redemption, and the voice in my soul whispered You must read this book. So I purchased it.

The rest is history. After reading the first page, I couldn’t put the book down. I’m sure part of the attraction was the period and place in history. I grew up in the deep south during this time. And while some of Mr. Cornell’s words were gritty and difficult to read, I know first-hand they are absolute truth. Evil has been with us since the Garden, but certain times in our history have screamed the ugly reality of evil more clearly than others—and such is the time and story of The Color of Redemption—and such are our times.

In light of the current national and world crisis of anger and hate, this book should be on everyone’s must-read list. Mr. Cornell weaves a story painting pictures you can touch, smell, and feel, other scenes there is nothing to do but weep. And still in other chapters the Spirit of God touched areas in my life God desires to change.

Mr. Cornell understands and writes about real solutions. Eternal solutions…for anyone with ears to hear and a heart to forgive in Jesus name. God gave us the answer, but that answer requires the humility of dying to self and living in complete obedience to Christ because He died for you and me.

How does that play out in everyday life? Read The Color of Redemption, an inspired up-close and personal searching of my heart. Wish I could give ten stars! Five is all they allow. Great book. Thank you, Mr. Cornell."

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN TO READ!

 

Gay N Lewis' New Release - Mattie's Choice!

It is my pleasure to introduce you to one of my favorite authors, Gay N Lewis. I have read many of her books. 

1.Tell us a little about Gay Lewis and why she decided to become an author.

Interesting question. I don’t think I made a conscious decision to become an author, but I’ve always been a story teller. I told the story of Noah to a church audience as a preschooler, and I wrote stories in childhood. When I was six years old, I wrote a musical drama with two kids plus me to perform the thing. We sang and danced in the play. I charged the neighborhood kids two pennies to attend the performance. The kids came and I was pennies richer.

One of my most embarrassing moments came when I was a freshman in high school. I had nothing to do in study hall, so I decided to begin a story. A cute, popular, jock sat at my table. He was a junior and I was in awe of him. He grabbed my story, read it, and then made fun of it.  To say I was crushed is an understatement. That was years ago, and I remember it like yesterday. Bullies exist. I wrote about them in Sarah and a Date for Mackenzie. Even though I felt humiliation from that insensitive nutcase, I continued to write. I ran across pictures recently of my church youth group in another drama I’d written for a sweetheart banquet.

2. You are most known for your "Sarah" books. For those readers who have not been introduced to this lovable, bumbling angel, can you tell us a little about Sarah series?

Thank you! I’m so pleased readers fell in love with Sarah. She’s has a good heart and a sweet spirit, but she is impulsive and makes one mistake after another. Her Creator gave her empathy for humans. This compassion causes her to break the rules, and we see ourselves through Sarah’s goofed-up experiences. We all bumble from time to time. Many of her incidents have actually happened to me. Like me, she’s always lost. She loves stilettos but can’t walk in them. My Sarah books aren’t preachy, but I learn from Sarah’s mistakes, and I hope others do as well.

3. Tell us about your newest work, Mattie's Choice...

My husband’s family inspired this story, and it has been on my heart for years. Mattie’s Choice is a historical, Christian, and Women’s fiction book about two women married to abusive brothers. I admired my mother-in-law. She lived during perilous times. Her sister-in-law was her best friend. In 1925, women were supposed to be submissive, stay married, and if abuse occurred, it was considered by society to be their fault. My mother-in-law faced such things, and I don’t know how she did it. I dedicated the book to Mae (mother-in-law) and Kathleen (aunt by marriage). Many of the events in the book actually occurred to these two women. For instance, my mother-in-law wasn’t allowed to see her twin brother or other family members. When a son was hospitalized, she wasn’t permitted to be with him. You’ll see Mattie faced with the same situations. I wonder what I would have done if I’d been in her shoes.

3. Wow, that is an interesting topic. I know from personal experience, emotional abuse by a controlling hubby is still prevalent today. I know this book will open eyes and hopefully help women. So tell me, what made you decide to go a different direction and write Mattie's Choice based on your past in-laws?

Actually, Women’s Fiction was always my first choice, but a sweet, petite angel popped into my head, and I wrote fantasy instead. Mattie’s Choice, and Clue into Kindness are women’s fiction novels and they deal with controlling husbands. Mattie’s Choice is historical, and Clue into Kindness is contemporary.

4. I have read Clue into Kindness and thought it was an excellent novella. The characters were real, and you showed their good and bad sides. What do you want the readers to take away with them after reading Mattie’s Choice?

I hope women will find a way to comfort and help other sisters who find themselves in an emotionally or physically abusive situation. Study questions are included and this book is designed to make readers examine situations and think.

5. What has God shown you in the process?

Choices aren’t easy. Sometimes they’re painful, and consequences follow.

6. What's next on your plate?

I have a sequel to Mattie’s Choice that I’m working on. It too is historical, but it also has romance. All my books are Christian.

7. Where can readers find you (and your books) on the web?

The Sarah books are available in print, eBook, and audio.

For more information, please go to http ://gaynlewis.com/

Gay would love to have you see her video trailers and become a follower of her blog.

http://www.gaynlewis.blogspot.com

https://www.amazon.com/author/gaynlewis

www.facebook.com/GayNLewis and also on Twitter @GayNLewis2.

Sarah has her own Facebook page. Follow Sarah on Facebook@ Sarah Wingspand

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Thanks so much ,Gay, for being on The Diamond Mine of Christian Fiction. 

 To order Maggie's Choice  (and I know you'll want to) go to this link.

amzn.to/2wP5Oos