Hello, readers! Drive your 4-wheelers, your golf carts, and your lawn tractors up here in my back yard. Park there, next to the the burn pile or the stump. Then let's sit on the porch a spell, 'cause I'm bringing you a Texas author this week, specializing in small town romantic suspense. Now, if that don't peek your interest, you know, suspenseful mayhem in a small, sleepy town, what would? And I'm especially fond of small towns. Everyone welcome in Lori Altebaumer!
Book giveaway following the interview!
PT: Howdy, Lori. Good to have you. Let the readers know what lured you to writing and what genre do you write in?
LA:
An overactive imagination and a love for story are probably the two factors
most responsible for “luring me into writing.” Saying I was lured almost makes
it sound like a devious form of trickery was involved… ha-ha! There are times
when that might feel like a more accurate description. Writing is a painfully
exposing thing to do. And when you’ve lived your life trying to hide all your
imperfections, it’s difficult to start putting them on permanent display. But
honestly, all I can say to this question is that I can’t not write.
Romantic
Suspense is an unexpected choice for my genre. I willingly admit I’m afraid of
things that go bump in the night, and I pass out at the sight of blood. But I’m
passionate about the message of good overcoming evil. We may not get to see it
this side of heaven, but I am confident that it does. Until then, we all have a
unique role to play in the larger story God is telling. Like the characters in
my books, we can choose to embrace those roles or run from them.
LA:
DOUBT has been the biggest obstacle for me to overcome. I doubt I have anything
to say worth reading. I doubt could I ever write an entire book. I doubt I’ll
be able to learn enough in the time I have left. Trust me when I say, not even
Thomas could out doubt me. But when the desire became too strong to ignore, I
took one brave little step by attending a small writing conference close to
home. I even entered a piece of writing
in their contest. I didn’t win, but I placed second. And I was able to sit down
with an agent who was very encouraging. It was a small drop of confidence, but
it was enough to keep me going. And that’s what I would say to anyone who
dreams of writing. The Christian writing community is filled with others who
can help you up at each step… and talk you off the ledge when you need that
too.
PT: Do you have a favorite theme you focus on in each book? What about your new one, A Far Way to Run?
LA:
For my first two novels, the theme grew and materialized as I discovered the
story for myself. I think it’s because God wants to teach me something through
my own exploration of the story. My first novel, A Firm Place to Stand, dealt with a theme of forgiveness. A Far Way to Run is more about
understanding the “for such a time as this” truth in our lives. Sometimes we
just have to say, “Yes this happened but it doesn’t define me or determine my
worth.” Overall, when I write I have in mind the idea that I want women, no
matter what their past or present circumstances, to know that they can overcome,
that they have truly been created for such a time as this. They are more
capable than they realize.
LA: A Far Way to Run is set in the small West Texas town of Turnaround. I grew up in such a town and my roots will always keep me connected to the people who live and work and make their homes in rural Texas towns like my imaginary Turnaround. The sense of community there is almost a character of its own.
This book is about a woman who left town
carrying with her a terrible secret. It has transformed her life, but has the
transformation been a good one? She returns for the funeral of an old friend
and finds herself in the middle of a series of events she couldn’t have expected.
These events will force to her to decide who she really wants to be and the
kind of life she is meant to live. A jaded ex-boyfriend, a wayward brother, and
a teenager on the brink of pain she doesn’t see coming would be more than
enough conflict and turmoil for most people. But she also manages to stumble
into the middle of a human trafficking ring that first gets her shot, then gets
her stalked. Of course, the antisocial stranger who rents her grandparents’ old
house is attractive in ways she’s not comfortable with. And the feeling is
mutual. And did I mention the town mascot, Buster the steer?
LA:
While writing this book “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14) kept showing up
all around me. I heard it in sermons, read it in devotions, and saw it painted
on the outside walls of brick buildings (seriously). These past few years have
been trying and difficult for people, but God isn’t surprised that this is the
time we live in and the circumstances we face. He knew what we would be walking
through, and we can take comfort in knowing we were each created specifically
for such a time as this.
M&Ms
or Skittles? Oddly enough, I was never a real fan of either, although if I had
to choose, I suppose it would be M&Ms. Of course, now that I’ve attained a
certain age, it’s carrot sticks for me.
Cat
or Dog Person? Dog… I currently have a hilarious little buddy, a long-haired
Dachshund named Badger. But don’t tell him he’s a dog. He’s convinced he’s one
of us.
Favorite
Song? O Holy Night. I listen to this song year-round.
Spring,
Summer, Fall, or Winter? It’s tie between Spring and Fall. I live in Texas, so
the heat keeps me from loving summer. And we don’t really get much winter.
Winter is really just a second Fall with a few really cold days that I will be
completely unprepared for.
LA:
1.
Even though I am a lifelong Texas, I don’t like sweet tea. I live in constant
fear that they might revoke my residency status for this serious character
flaw.
2.
I have ridden on a camel. It has given me an all-new level of respect for the
three Wiseman and the journey they made.
3.
I have held a Bible that was brought over by the Pilgrims on the Mayflower.
4.
I once took a road trip from Texas to Colorado with two other women. Now I tell
people that’s how I ended up in prison LOL! It was on this trip that I met a
lady who is involved with the Called to Change Women’s Prison Ministry. God’s
persistent urging on my heart led me to join the ministry.
5.
One of my favorite sounds is the laughter of my grandsons. A close second is
when they call out for “Nana.”
LA:
When you don’t know who you are, you start questioning why you are or where
your life is headed. And you start believing that any road will take you home.
This
is the overarching thought that is guiding me in my next story. This experience
will be different from the others in that I felt the theme early on. Over the
past few years, many people have sort of lost their way in a world that is
changing faster than most of us can keep up. What are we supposed to do when
everything we thought we knew about our future becomes uncertain and often just
impossible? This story will center around a child’s abduction and a town’s need
to overcome its divisive past. Again, I’ve placed it in rural Texas and
populated it with characters representative of the small town Texas mindset.
But the real question will be how my heroine decides to face life… with a
larger purpose than herself or merely as something to be survived.
PT: Sounds like an intriguing start! Thanks so much for joining us this week.
Lori is giving away one copy of her new book, A Far Way to Run to one blessed person who leaves a comment (with email) or enters on our contact form.
Curious about how to buy Lori's books? Check out these links:
Thanks for driving by my house. That's two cars, y'alls' small town ATV's and a five cats for today's traffic. A regular bumper-to-bumper day. Hey, take some tomatoes and some of those hot peppers before you go. We're swimming in them right now. And here's grandma's salsa recipe. Don't forget to drop off me off some of your brown eggs next time through. See y'all soon!
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