Interview and GIVEAWAY with Brandy Bruce, Author of After the Rain!!!

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. ;-)

We're going to pry into the private life chat with my friend, Brandy Bruce! She is such a fun and genuine person, and if you don't know about her and her books, then you need to remedy that, like, RIGHT NOW! <3 I met Brandy online after reading and gushing about her novel, The Last Summer. (And it's AMAZING! If you need more convincing, read my review!) Her next novel, After the Rain, releases on February 4th, and it is also amazing!!! I know! I got to read it early! ;-)

Brandy Bruce is a mom, a wife, a book editor, an author, and someone who really loves dessert. She’s the author of the award-winning novel The Last Summer, Looks Like Love, and The Romano Family Collection. Brandy, her husband, and their children make their home in Virginia.

Connect with Brandy on her blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest! 

Interview ~

What is your go-to yummy drink when you sit down to read and/or write? Almost every answer is acceptable. Just don't say carrot juice. ;-)

I’ve been drinking a lot more tea lately! I usually love coffee or cappuccino but lately I’m drinking French Vanilla chai.

I love chai! It's my go-to drink in new places! What is your favorite snack when you sit down to read and/or write?

Ugh. I’m such a snacker. I like anything and everything. Cheese cubes and grapes. Starburst candy. If I have some chocolate cherry-cordial Kisses nearby, I can eat the whole bag!

LOL! I can relate to the snacker life! Have you ever given a character one of your own “odd” habits? This is a safe space to share. ;-)

I think I’ve probably done that several times. But for one example, in The Last Summer, Sara likes Fruit Roll-Ups (so do I).

I'm having a Fruit Roll-Up craving now...LOL! What inspired you to write After the Rain? 

The story of The Last Summer had been written in my heart for years. But even during the writing of that book, I’d get these glimpses of what happened after. There’s one specific scene in After the Rain that takes place on a river. That scene came to me maybe ten years ago! And when I finally sat down to write After the Rain, I knew without a doubt that that scene would still make it in.

LOVED that scene!! Goodness, I have so much love for these books! <3 What is your favorite thing about writing in this genre?

There’s something wonderful about the time in our lives when we start to discover who we really are and where we want to go. I think this genre tries to capture that in real ways. The awkwardness. The emotions. Dreams for the future. Maybe falling in love.

YESSS!!! Love that about this genre! What is the hardest thing about writing in this genre?

As we move farther past that time in our lives (of falling in love), we know that you don’t stay in that place. Relationships change and get harder and deeper. I try to write my characters in such a way that while romance and falling in love are so fun—I want readers to get a sense of who these people are, to see their true-to-life strengths and weaknesses, to know that happily ever after is a process, and sometimes it doesn’t look like what we expected. It’s hard not to overly romanticize romance! (I hope that makes sense!)

Makes sense to me! I think you handle this so well in your books! What message do you hope to convey to your readers with After the Rain?

That it’s okay to change. For myself and many others, we’ve gone through times that make us maybe question what we’ve always believed. When we feel despair and not even a relationship can rescue us from those feelings. When we find ourselves wanting and needing change. I want readers to know that that’s normal and even good. Because becoming who we want to be doesn’t always just happen, sometimes we need to make that happen. That might look like someone realizing their career choice was wrong and they’re miserable and need to find their passion. Or perhaps they begin to shift ideologically and want to feel free to explore what they believe and ask questions. It might be as simple as needing to find new friends who are supportive and positive, rather than negative. We get older. We have more life experience. We learn. We change and grow. This can be painful at times, but when you know you’re going in the right direction—even if it’s different from what people expect from you—change can be good.

This is a powerful truth to learn...again and again! <3 Can you tell us a little about your next project? 

I have so many story ideas swirling around in my head! But I have to balance writing with my editing work as a freelancer. To be honest, I’d love to write one more novel that follows a certain character from these two books. I haven’t decided yet, but I’m leaning toward diving in to that story.  

Everyone, please excuse my unashamed begging... PLEASE!! PLEASE!!! PLEASE!!! This character needs a story!!! <3 Reluctantly moving on...what is your (current) favorite Bible verse or story that inspires you on a soul level?

I’ve been thinking about the verse that says God restores the years that the locusts have eaten. In other words, he can redeem time that was stolen from you (or maybe wasted). He can breathe new life into someone who feels like they aren’t worthy, or someone who feels stuck because of years of heartache or abuse or disappointment. He can redeem that time. It’s been on my mind a lot lately. (Joel 2:25-32)

Love this SO much!!! Thank you for sharing this! <3 What are you currently reading? I always need more books to add to my TBR! LOL!

First Impressions by Sarah Price and Stepping into the Light by Candee Fick!

Those look so good!!!

Thank you so much for hanging out with us today, Brandy!! <3

Giveaway ~

Brandy has generously offered to giveaway one (1) ebook of After the Rain!

Debra Hart is moving on. Maybe. Hopefully. One day.

As a radio show host, Debra spends her mornings as Miss Lonely Heart on air, empathizing with all the broken hearts in the Denver metro area. She spends her evenings watching old musicals and trying not to think about the guy who broke up with her and subsequently fell in love with one of her best friends. Alone in a new city, Debra meets singer Ben Price. Rock star appeal, with a day job as a worship pastor, Ben is everything Debra wants to avoid. But he's determined to be her friend, and it so happens she could really use one. Because try as she might, nothing seems to erase the anger and betrayal she feels. It's time for a new dream. but how does she start over when she doesn't even know what she wants anymore?

Rules, Info, and Such ~

The author is giving away one ebook of After the Rain!

This giveaway is open internationally.

This giveaway will close on February 6th, 2019, at 12:00 A.M. for all the night owls.

A winner will be drawn within four days of close of giveaway. If the winner does not respond to our e-mails within one week of notification, then a new winner will be drawn in their place.

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 

V. Joy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!