Sandra Kay Vosburgh interview with GIVEAWAY 

 By Kathleen L. Maher

Hi Sandra and welcome to the Diamond Mine of Christian Fiction. We have some terrific readers here who would love to hear all about you and your new release.

Sackets Harbor Mysteries sounds like wonderful autumn reading. I mean, who doesn't love to curl up with a hot coffee or tea and a cozy mystery as the evening temperatures dip? Tell us a bit about the series and your latest release. 

 My cozy mystery series is set in Sackets Harbor, a small tourist town on the shore of Lake Ontario, amid the Thousand Islands of NYS.

In Book 1, Scandal at Stonecroft, twenty years after the disappearance of the treasurer of Stonecroft resort, an article appears in the Ontario Times, "Whatever happened to Harold Ramsey?" reigniting the town with rumors, whispers, and gossip. Retired spinster Ada Whittaker intends to find the answer with or without help from the sheriff.

 In Book 2, The Death Collector, Ada Whittaker thought it a good idea when her widowed sister moved to Willowdell, Sackets Harbor's premier senior living village. But the upsurge in unexplained deaths among the residents makes her ask, when do too many incidents stop being accidents, and is Frances in danger?   

 

What got you on the path to writing/publication?

I've always loved story and loved to read, but I never thought of writing until my children were grown, and my husband showed me an advertisement for The Christian Writers Guild course.  

Were there mentors, maybe a school teacher, an angelic visitor, or even a favorite book that sealed your literary fate?

Several, but the one who means the most to me is not even aware of her impact. Patti Souder directed Montrose Christian Writers Conference in 1998, the first conference I ever attended. I stepped through the door that first day, unsure of myself, not entirely convinced I belonged there. Patti came up and hugged me, and I just felt God was affirming this step of faith.

 What is your proudest moment so far in your writing calling? 

I've attended the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference for years, but never entered their contest until this year. God overwhelmed me when my novel, Anchorless Summer, won the Foundation Award in women's contemporary fiction. 

 

Wow, congratulations on that auspicious win! 
Was there ever a moment when you wanted to give up on writing?

One moment will stand out forever. I can't put into words how "at the end of myself" I felt that day. I wanted to walk away from writing completely. I figuratively wanted to burn down my office. I can say this because I know other writers have been there. I remember that moment because within minutes, I received an email from Scrivenings Press informing me I had won the grand prize in the GetPubbed contest and was offered a contract. At that moment, I was glad I hadn't burned down my office. 

 

Now that is affirmation. Beautiful testimony.
What's next? What are you currently working on?

I'm currently working on assignment with David C Cook for devotionals. I'm also working on Book 3 in the series. I recently asked my readers to offer suggestions as to where Miss Ada should travel to have her next misadventure. One suggestion almost gave me an instantaneous plotline.

 

Would you tell your younger Writing Self to do anything differently?

Yes, don't be in a hurry to publish your first novel. Take time to develop the craft. Be patient. You don't have to settle for the first publisher that offers you a contract anymore than you have to settle for the boy who gave you your first kiss. Pray about everything.

 

Sandra grew up on a dairy farm in western New York, giving her not only the ability to milk cows, bale hay, and drive a tractor but an appreciation of nature's beauty. Her story settings reflect this love of the woodlands, lakes, and mountains. She allows only her favorite characters to get lost in them. She is a speaker, Bible teacher, and pastor's wife. Sandra currently makes her home in the warmer state of South Carolina.

 Visit www.sandrakayvosburgh.com and signup for her monthly newsletter and check out her blogposts. 

You can follow Sandra on Bookbub, Goodreads, and Amazon.

GIVEAWAY: Enter to win your choice of a Sandra Kay Vosburgh ebook by sharing this post to your social media. Just mention in the comments how many shares, and where, ie Facebook, twitter, Pinterest, etc. For fuirther entries, follow the author on her social media pages, and let me know in teh comments how many extra entries you earned/which you followed. Drawing will be held and winner announced Tuesday, September 27th.

Thank you for reading! Good luck in the drawing.