Interview with Author Jodie Wolfe!!

Greet author Jodie Wolfe and her new book, Taming Julia!

A gun-toting, breeches-wearing wife wasn't what the minister       ordered!  In 1875, Kansas bachelor Drew Montgomery's sole desire is to serve God, but his congregation's ultimatum that he marry or leave, forces him to advertise for a wife by proxy. 

Jules Walker strides into Drew's life wearing breeches and toting a gun and saddle--more cowboy than bride. After years on the trail, she's not exactly wife material, but she longs for home and family, and will do anything to ensure Drew never discovers what she really is.

Welcome to the Diamond Mine, Jodie! Your new book sounds great! Before I share an excerpt, I'd like to know more about you. What caused you to decide to write books?

When I was in 2nd grade we had to write a poem as a class assignment. I had so much fun doing so, that I soon started writing little stories and making them into books. I was hooked. I knew I wanted to be a writer when I grew up. For me, it's a calling from the Lord.

Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?

Chuckle. Most definitely. It was about my dog Ginger going to the inaugural ball when Jimmy Carter got elected.

I'd love to read that! Sounds adorable!
If you could do absolutely anything right now, what would it be?

Hire a maid to take care of the house so I could get more writing accomplished. :)

Oh, wow! Wouldn't that be great!!
Do you base your characters on aspects of real people or yourself, or are they mostly invented by your imagination?

My characters are a combination of parts of me and also parts of people I know. I'll never tell which part though. :)  Although I'll admit, some are completely made up.

That's pretty much how my characters are, too! Do you write from an outline, or by the seat of your pants?

Both. I usually have a rough outline in my head, but my characters have a tendency to take over the story and lead it where they want to go.

Isn't that such an interesting phenomenon? I remember how surprised I was the first time that happened!
Do you work on one story at a time, or do you juggle stories?

Most times I work on one story at a time, but there are times when I'm writing one and editing a different one.

Is writing a daily habit or do you write in bursts of inspiration?

For a long time, it was a daily habit. I need to get back into that again.

It does help to write every day if you can, though sometimes I need to take a break if a story seems to be a bit stuck.
Do you listen to music or something else when writing, or do you prefer silence?

Most times I prefer having music playing quietly in the background. If I have the radio turned up, I tend to start singing along and distract myself in the process.

I can relate to that! So I stick to instrumental and classical most of the time. It's inspiring without the distraction of lyrics!
What do you like most about being a writer?

I love being able to create characters and a story from nothing. I love to see them and their story come to life.

It's so satisfying! I love the process, too!
What do you like least?

My least favorite is the business side of writing - editing, marketing, etc.

I hear you! I'm especially bad at marketing, but I'm slowly learning some of it. What are you working on now?

I'm working on a book entitled Hannah's Quest that's set in the town where I live now. It's set in the 1870s about a girl who is searching for a place to belong.
I love writing historical fiction, too. I especially love doing the research! Thanks so much for the interview, Jodie!! It's been fun getting to know you better. Now here's an excerpt from Taming Julia for our readers to enjoy:

Matrimony News, February 6, 1875 edition

Minister bachelor aged 27, height 5 feet 10 inches seeks genteel, honest and first-rate homemaker with a desire to serve God. Must be willing to marry by proxy and arrive in Burrton Springs, Kansas by May 1.

~*~

Burrton Springs, Kansas, Saturday, May 1, 1875

            Dear Lord, please don’t let that creature be my new wife. Drew Montgomery swiped the sweat trickling a path down his neck and shoved the new hat back on his head. He squinted, taking in the lone passenger stepping from the stagecoach. At least, he thought it was a woman. He shielded his eyes from the sun, taking in the britches.

            Britches? A gun belt strapped to a slim waist. He gulped. A rifle rested on her shoulder, and she wore a Stetson situated low on her brow. The figure shifted sideways, and Drew groaned, fearing his proxy mail-order bride had arrived by the look of all the curves. He squared his shoulders and crossed the street.

            "Are you Montgomery?" Her coffee-brown gaze seared through him.

            He snapped his gaping mouth shut and nodded. "Y-yes."

            "Name’s Jules Walker." She shoved her hand into his and shook it so hard his teeth clattered. "I reckon, Jules Montgomery since we’re hitched." She waved a slip of paper in his face. "Got the paper here to prove it. So are you my husband or not?"

            Drew caught a whiff of dirt. He coughed and cleared his throat.

            She peered at him as if he were a chicken with one leg.

            "I’m Drew." He managed to choke the words out. "Isn’t your name Julia?"

            She scrunched her face, pushed her Stetson from her head, and allowed it to dangle from the string around her neck. Her brown hair scattered in disarray, slipping from a shoulder-length braid. "I can’t remember the last time I’ve been called Julia. Like I said, name’s Jules."

            "But..." Drew let the word hang between them. No matter. "Where’re your things?"

            "Got my knapsack and that there." She pointed to the top of the stagecoach. He expected to see a trunk, but a saddle rested there instead. What kind of woman brought a saddle into a marriage? What kind of woman showed up dressed like a man? No. No. Something was terribly wrong.

Wow! I'm hooked already! Sounds like a wonderful story! Readers, here's a short bio about Jodie, followed by her links!

Thanks again Jodie, for visiting the Diamond Mine!!

Jodie Wolfe creates novels where hope and quirky meet. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Romance Writers of America (RWA), and COMPEL Training. She's been a semi-finalist and finalist in various writing contests. A former columnist for Home School Enrichment magazine, her articles can be found online at: Crosswalk, Christian Devotions, and Heirloom Audio. She's a contributor and co-founder of Stitches Thru Time blog. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, walking, and being a Grammie. Learn more at www.jodiewolfe.com.

Purchase Links for Taming Julia:

https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Julia-Jodie-Wolfe-ebook/dp/B083L8MDD5/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=taming+julia&qid=1578503989&sr=8-1

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/taming-julia-jodie-wolfe/1136004491?ean=9781522302711

Website: https://www.jodiewolfe.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jodie-Wolfe-553400191384913

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JodieAWolfe

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/JodieAWolfe

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15220520.Jodie_Wolfe

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jodie-Wolfe/e/B01EAWOHXO/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Interview with Author and Agent Linda Glaz

Tell us when you first knew you loved books.

I've always read voraciously, and have had stories swirling in my head as long as I can

remember. (some people... er ... doctors, call that "Voices", I say stories...LOL)

How old were you when you started writing? 

13 and then seriously at 42

How did you first get published?

 I got two novellas published after writing for eighteen years. Yes, you read that right! 18!

What do you write? 

Historic romance, romantic suspense, and suspense

Where do you get your ideas? 

I can't look at almost any situation without seeing a story in it. I see a kid pulling against
the parent's hand, and my mind immediately wanders to trafficking, and I can hear a kid's
voice telling me his or her story...

What is your process? (SOP or outline?) 

Oh, Pantster for sure. I usually have an overall idea of the start and finish, but I let the
characters tell me who they are and where they are actually going. (There's that doctor
again!)

What made you decide to be an agent?

I'd been working for my own agent as an assistant for two years.
Then when an opening came up, he encouraged me to try out for it.
The boss said yes, and woohoo!  Here I am, loving it every single day.

What do you like best about it? Least about it?
What are you looking for now? 

I love to find amazing new authors and new works. I hate the part about saying no.
But that generally happens when folks don't know the industry well and send material out
WAY too soon. I don't really do much literary fiction, mostly genre fiction. And I handle most
genres, just not anything in the spec fiction realm. I don't handle much children's (really
prefer not to) and definitely not anything with graphic sexuality or swearing in it.
I do have quite a few nonfiction projects that are just downright awesome, but folks
need to realize how important platform has become, especially for nonfiction. Though it c
ertainly helps fiction as well.

How did it feel to win ACFW Agent of the Year? 

hahaha AWESOME!!! And to be considered alongside the wonderful agents that I was up
against was such an honor.

Who are some of your clients? How did you find them? 

Well, you know ONE of my clients VERY well. LOL Kate Breslin, J'nell Ciesielski,
Tom Threadgill, Karen Wingate, and so many other really wonderful folks who stuck
it out until we found them the exact right home. I could list every one of them, here, as they
work so incredibly hard and are constantly writing new material for me to shop around.

I meet most folks at conferences, but I do find a few through emails.

Anything else you want us to know? 

I simply LOVE love love to find new authors (they have my heart) and help them navigate
the industry until we find them a book deal.

Thanks so much, Linda, for joining us here on the
Diamond Mine!

Thanks for having me, Karla. I appreciate it!

Writing, Reading & Ireland with Janet W. Ferguson

Welcome back, readers! I am thrilled to have Janet Ferguson with us this week. Her novella, Falling for Grace, was a finalist for the Christy Award last year, and she writes some moving, heart-felt southern fiction books. Her newest book, Star Rising, released earlier this month.

About the Author

Janet W. Ferguson is a Grace Award winner and a Christy Award finalist. She grew up in Mississippi and received a degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Mississippi. She has served as a children’s minister and a church youth volunteer. An avid reader, she worked as a librarian at a large public high school. She writes humorous inspirational fiction for people with real lives and real problems. Janet and her husband have two grown children, one really smart dog, and a cat that allows them to share the space.

Connect with Janet: Twitter | Facebook | Bookbub | Goodreads | Pinterest | Amazon | Website

SW: Welcome, Janet. Can you share with us a little of what your writing journey has been?

JF: I had a story idea for about seven years, but never sat down to write it. In 2012, I lost both my parents and my mother-in-law within sixty days. It made me realize how fragile life is, so I sat down every night and wrote the story that would become Leaving Oxford. It released four years later in 2016. I had a lot to learn about writing fiction. I still do!

SW: I think we all have a lot to learn but reading books by other authors helps. What three books are at the top of your TBR pile?

JF: Oh wow! So many! I critique with Misty Beller, Sarah Monzon, Heidi Blakenship, and Jennifer Rodewald on a regular basis so I’m always engaged with their writing. I’m in a Christian fiction book club so I often read those books. But I did pick up Becoming Mrs. Lewis because of it being featured at the Christy’s and I’ve started it. I’m also wanting to read more from my Mississippi friends Pam Hillman and Patricia Bradley because we’ve started plotting stories together. Oh, and I love biblical fiction, so I recently started trying to read all of Mesu Andrews novels!

SW: I've read all of those authors and they are each wonderful. What does your writing space look like?

JF: Another hard question. I’m all over the map. From my bedroom to the living room to recently trying out coffee shops. No set thing, but I often sit on the bed with papers spread all over it and my laptop, ha!

  

SW: Who are your writing mentors and/or partners?

JF: Well, I guess I listed those earlier :)

SW: Just for fun (and you can include unpublished works here), which of your male characters would plan the best first date? Which of your heroines would you like to hang out with for a weekend?

JF: Good questions! I’d have to go with Jess McCoy from Leaving Oxford and Josh Bergeron from Magnolia Storms for the heroes. They are both strong but caring and trying to do the right thing and handsome!—also maybe a little less baggage than some of my other heroes, ha! I think Cassie from Going Up South would be a great influence on me. She’s so mature and organized. Rivers from The Art of Rivers would be fascinating because she’s so artsy and creative.

SW: Star Rising starts in St. Simons, GA but a large portion of it takes place in Ireland. As you have visited the country before, tell us what some of the highlights for you were (and whether or not they were included in this book).

JF: I loved looking out at the Blasket Islands. They’re sort round and weird looking. The towns were so quaint and old. I love castles and ruins that just give me the feeling of oozing in history. In Dublin, the Chester Beatty Library held all these ancient scrolls. As a former librarian, I love books of all forms!

SW: How can we pray for you?

JF: Thank you for offering! I would ask that I only write what God wants—for my eyes, ears, heart, and spirit to be open to the Lord. I want to be teachable. For my next story, I’m still trying to listen and absorb what I need to learn and how it folds into a fictional story. I always learn so much when I study His Word and listen. The novels often surprise me when I do that, and I find that I need the spiritual lesson more than anyone!

Thank you for taking some time with us this week, Janet! We're praying for blessings in your life and writing.

About Star Rising

Star Youngblood has always been a fighter–a necessity after her mother married a monster of a man. Now, she’s finally on the path to the stable life she’s always wanted. Her employer, Priscilla Kelly, is a sweet woman ravaged by rheumatoid arthritis, and Star will do anything to help her. Even if that means going toe to toe with Mrs. Kelly’s neglectful son.

After being betrayed on the mission field and devastated by the tragic death of his father, Paul Kelly gave up on God. He lives life on his own terms, biding his time as a corporate pilot until he can save enough money to begin his own flight school closer to home. His mother is all he has left, and he wants to be near her. He just didn’t expect her health to decline so quickly. When he discovers his mother has taken in a stray—a woman he’s not at all sure can be trusted—his protective instincts kick into high gear. Paul’s handled a lot of turbulence, but he’s never gone up against a force like Star.

As Paul and Star strive to protect his mother in their own ways, they soon find their hearts are at the greatest risk.

Purchase: Amazon | Goodreads

Leanna Sain: A Grit Lit Suspense Interview

When I saw Leanna Sain's cover and read the blurb, I couldn't wait to bring her onto the Diamond Mine. Wow, just look at that stellar cover art of the book Hush. Let's see what she has to say about this great looking novel and her writer life.

Give one fact about you as an author that most people don’t know.

I try to get away for a week at a time, at least once a year, to a little one-room cabin in Maggie Valley, NC where I write like a crazy woman from the time I wake in the morning about 3:30-4:00, until I crash into bed at night. Writing that way only happens when I escape to that cabin. There are too many distractions when I’m at home.

Was there a scene you had to edit out that you really liked? Tell us about it.

Originally, Lacey’s character was able to do more than just dream murders before they happened. She was also telekinetic, able to make things happen. For instance, when she was four, the family dog got hold of her favorite teddy bear and destroyed it. She was able to repair it so it was better than normal.  My editor thought that was a bit too “speculative” for a suspense novel and suggested we leave that out. There were several scenes like that one that, unfortunately, got cut.

Being a writer is a busy life, isn’t it? I’m sure you’re working on something new to intrigue your readers. What’s in the works for you right now?

I almost have the sequel to Hush ready to send in to my editor. The working title is Hoax. (I’m staying with “h” words for titles.) Hoax picks up two months after Hush ends. And plot points for the third book (possibly named Harlequin?) keep trying to butt in as I’m trying to wrap things up. I have to keep pushing them out of the way. I have to finish one before I can allow the next one in my brain. Otherwise it’s a train wreck.

Do you ever base your characters off real people?

Leanna's Mother

Usually, if I base one of my characters on a real person I only use bits and pieces—nothing that they’d be able to really recognize as them, but it’s different with Hush. The character of Lacey’s mom is totally based on my mom. You see, I wrote Hush while we she was struggling through the final stages of Alzheimer’s. I needed a way to funnel out some of the negative stuff that comes from watching someone you love die and writing was the perfect way to do it. I decided to make Lacey’s mom have Alzheimer’s too, so we could travel the road together. So every time the reader reads anything about Eve Campbell, they’re reading exact things my mother either said or did. The process was very cathartic for me and it helped. I dedicated the book to Mama and decided to donate a portion of what I make in sales to Alzheimer’s research. It’s my hope that it will help them to find a cure a little quicker.

What is the quality you like the most about your heroine?

Let’s face it, “adulting” can sometimes be hard. But add in being primary caregiver for someone with Alzheimer’s and the difficulty level increases exponentially. Life knocks Lacey for a loop, but she doesn’t let her keep her down. I like that about her.

Giveaway time!

Leanna is giving away an eBook of Hush. Enter by commenting below and adding your email address (It is never stored but only used to get ahold of the winner).

Blurb:

Lacey Campbell dreams murders before they happen.

As head chef for a chic restaurant and primary caregiver to a mother with Alzheimer’s, she doesn’t have time for the nightmare and at first she tries to deny it. But the next day, she discovers it's a disturbing reality. When she dreams the second heinous murder she knows it’s time to tell the police.

Detective Ford Jamison is called back to the little coastal town to help with the case and soon notices an alarming trend: the killer is using the lullaby as a “blueprint” to target women who resemble Lacey. This doesn’t slow the killings and now Lacey is afraid to fall asleep at night because the next face she sees in her dream might be her own.

As a hurricane churns ever closer to the little coastal town, danger and suspicion spin out of control. Time is running out. Can they stop the killer before the last verse of the lullaby?

Buy link:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Hush-Leanna-Sain/dp/1645262502/ref=sr_1_1?

Social media links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leanna.sain

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Leannasbooks

Website and blog: http://leannasain.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1323792.Leanna_Sain

Bio

Leanna Sain, earned her BA from the University of South Carolina before moving back to the NC mountains. She calls Miracle Hill Farm home, but she lives mostly in her imagination. Her Southern suspense or “GRIT-lit,” showcases her plot-driven method that successfully rolls elements of best-selling authors Mary Kay Andrews, Nicholas Sparks, and Jan Karon all together, making it her own. She loves leading discussion groups and book clubs. For more information or to contact her visit: www.LeannaSain.com

**Note: I wrote Hush while my mother was in the final stages of Alzheimer’s. To honor her, I’m donating a portion of book sales to Alzheimer’s research. Please help by getting a copy, spreading the word, and writing a book review

Four New Writers Join The Diamond Mine in 2020

Subscribe now to be entered into a $25 Barnes & Noble E-Gift Card!

Welcome readers! It's a brand new year, 2020, and it's an exciting time at the Diamond Mine. We are adding four new writers to our number. Please join us by welcoming our new members and stick around for our giveaway. It's a doozy!

Lyndee Jobe Henderson~

Lyndee Jobe Henderson started digging up history, literally, as a child while accompanying her father on archaeological expeditions. Growing up in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, she moved to Illinois after college, trading the Laurel Ridge Mountains for the Illinois Prairie. Both locations take center stage in many of her stories. Years of research have influenced her characters, giving authenticity to the voices of a by-gone era. The Illinois Center for the Book recognizes Henderson as an Illinois History Author.

Lyndee Henderson’s writing has garnered multiple awards including WisRWAs FabFive, Oklahoma Romance Writers Finally a Bride and semifinalist in American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis contest.

She is author of three history related non-fiction books.

Link:

lyndeehenderson.com

Jackie Layton~

Jackie Layton writes cozy mysteries.  The series she's working on now is A Low Country Dog Walker Mystery Series. Book one is entitled Accounting for Trouble and it will release  in the spring of 2020. 

She's a member of Romance Writers of America, American Christian Fiction Writers, Sisters in Crime and the Guppies Chapter of Sisters in Crime. She's also a member of the Kiss of Death Chapter in Romance Writers of America. 

Jackie Layton's writing has garnered several awards including The Daphne Du Maurier Award of Excellence for Unpublished Inspirational Romantic Mystery/Suspense 2014 Second Place for Kentucky Deadly and  Faith, Hope, & Love 2016 Touched by Love Award 1^st Place Long Contemporary Category for Sealed by Love. She also won the 25^th Annual Fabulous Five Contest Second Place Inspirational Category for Sealed by Love 2016 and the Orange Rose Contest for Unpublished Writers 2016 Second Place for Sealed by Love.

Links:

http://www.jackielaytonauthor.com

http://jackiesbackporch.blogspot.com

Twitter: @Joyfuljel

https://www.facebook.com/JackieLaytonAuthor

https://www.facebook.com/Joyfuljel

https://www.pinterest.com/jackiebeth117/

https://www.instagram.com/joyfuljel/

Kathleen L. Maher~

Kathleen L. Maher’s first literary crush was Peter Rabbit, and she’s had an infatuation with books and fictional heroes ever since. Her most recent novella, “Something Old, Something New” came out in October 2019 in Barbour’s school teacher collection Lessons on Love. Her indie series Sons of the Shenandoah includes The Abolitionist’s Daughter (2018) and The Chaplain’s Daughter (2019). Her novella “Love Brick by Brick” released in Barbour’s 2018 Victorian Christmas Brides collection, featuring her hometown of Elmira, NY. 

Her debut historical “Bachelor Buttons” came out in 2013. She won the American Christian Fiction Writers' Genesis Award in 2012. Kathleen and her husband raised their three children in an old farmhouse in upstate NY, along with a small zoo of pets.

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/mahereenie
https://www.facebook.com/KLMaherAuthor/
https://www.pinterest.com/kathleenlmaher/boards/?fbclid=IwAR2X7n1BgzoKgep3HiIFgCvV66hkxwuUiNt5ppG85sbUqMWkn-CxnNx61eY
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7074205.Kathleen_L_Maher
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kathleen-l-maher?fbclid=IwAR2F72zxUqI2XFr51OoV-wjsPbJ9GJSlDwm_D3lvFQcb2Pma8t4uUkxuynA
https://www.amazon.com/Kathleen-L-Maher/e/B00D8EXO80?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1576592744&sr=1-1


Renette Steele~

As a child, Renette Steele found little pleasure in reading but did like to write. It was only in her late 20's, words hooked her from the pages of a book, and she discovered reading was fun, not tedious. Today, you rarely see Renette without a novel held within her fingers, but not merely for relaxation. Long-time alpha and beta reader for best-selling authors such as Karen Kingsbury, Mary Manner, Renee Blare, and many others. A lover of short-stories, Renette loves to pen them and enter online contests to improve her writing skills and has managed to win one or two.

You’ll find her on many adventures traversing the highways of the Rocky Mountains from Idaho to Colorado with her hubby, visiting her five grand-loves. When they return to their home in Montana, she’ll crack her knuckles and return to her short stories and devotionals . . . Which prayerfully are bringing honor to her Savior and Friend, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Links:

renettesteele.com

https://shortfictionbreak.com/

https://medium.com/writer-mom/the-hour-glass-973c838dbd08

http://fiction.wwocz.net/blog/story-thread-sep-8-sep-21-2016-flash-fiction-writing-contest-spring/


We are so blessed to have these four ladies join us here at the Diamond Mine. But we also sincerely appreciate our faithful subscribers. So, to show our appreciation, we are giving away a Barnes & Noble e-gift card to one lucky subscriber. If you'd like to be included in the drawing, it isn't too late. Click on the upper right-hand corner where it says "Subscribe to the Diamond Mine of Christian Fiction by Email," and you will be entered in to win a $25 gift card. Thanks for reading and tune in every Wednesday for a new Christian author and a new giveaway!