Author Spotlight on Shirley Gould

Hello Diamond Miners! 

Janet Morris Grimes here. One thing I love to do at the Diamond Mine is introduce you to new authors. Today, I'd love for you to meet my friend Shirley Gould. Shirley is lovely in every way and her smile and attitude are contagious. I'm sure those traits come through with her novels as well. 

We caught up with Shirley on the release date of her second novel being released into the world. So of course, what better topic to discuss? 

 Escape from Timbuktu

I spewed a few questions her way, and can't wait for you to all get to know her better. 

Q: What were your writing and reading habits as a child and when did you first know you wanted to become a writer?

I quit Kindergarten on the first day! I told my parents I stayed there all day and didn’t learn a thing! She was teaching the alphabet…and I could already read books for beginning readers. Needless to say, they made me go back to school.

My love for being a wordsmith was greatly encouraged by my 12th grade English teacher. She pushed me to create prose on college level and spoke into my life. Her belief in my abilities has stayed with me.

In 2011, my husband got very ill. He had encephalitis of the brain. For eleven months I had to be quiet 24/7. Noises sent him into anxiety attacks, ambulance rides, and hospital stays. It was a treacherous time on our lives.

During this time a story kept playing in my mind like a movie. So, I began to write the story down, then the next one, then the next one. After the Lord healed my husband, he wanted to do something special for me as his faithful caregiver through our rough year. He sent me to my first writer’s conference…and the rest is history.

Q: As an adult, at what point did you realize you had actually become a writer?  

When I received my first novel in the mail, the moment I opened that first box of books, I felt like I was a writer. It wasn’t real to me until that moment.

Q: You’ve just released your second novel. Is it a sequel to your first?

My novel, Escape From Timbuktu, is the second novel in my African Skies Series. I love this story about... A double agent on assignment poses as an interpreter for a photojournalist seeking a story but terrorists have them running for their lives…entangling their hearts as they escape from Timbuktu. 

Q: Tell us about the series. 

The first novel is The Sahar of Zanzibar is an exciting read. In a scary case of mistaken identity, Olivia Stone is threatened by Aga Kahn, a powerful Indian ruler, because she could pass for the twin of the missionary’s deceased wife. Kahn calls her the Sahar of Zanzibar who has returned from the grave to torment him and demands that she leave the island or face his wrath. She’d come to exotic Zanzibar in search of adventure, but she experiences much more.

A handsome widower, Missionary Eli Deckland, steps between Olivia and the angry Indian, rescuing her. There an instant connection between Olivia and Eli that escalates when he comes to her rescue again and again. Amid several attempts on Olivia’s life, she’s kidnapped. Eli joins the police to find her before it’s too late.

As every moment passes, Olivia’s life is in more danger…Will she be saved in time? If she is rescued, would it work between her and Eli? With an ocean keeping them apart, will their feelings fade? The answer is in the African skies.

Q: Are your characters or stories based on real people? 

My husband and I served as missionaries in Africa for 14 years. Some of our experiences and people we met are in the stories. When I have book signings or speak for lady’s groups and churches, I share the real parts of these novels with my audience…adding to their reading experience.

Q: When you're not writing, what do you do for fun? 

When I’m not writing, I love to read, travel, and do oil paintings. My seven grandchildren keep this widow busy making memories.

Q: What is the most satisfying part of writing? 

To me the most satisfying part of writing is when I’ve brought my readers a glimpse of how the Lord works and orchestrates our lives. Encouraging people to make Jesus a catalyst of their existence makes it worth it all.

Q: Do you know how your stories will end when you start them? Or are you as surprised as your
readers?

When I start writing I have a pretty good idea of how the story will end. I use the Novel Academy Story Equation method of writing that has me plotting and thinking through every part of the novel before I pen the first word.

Q: What do you wish you'd known - something that there was truly no way to have known - before you published. 

I wish I had known about the business/marketing side of writing before I was published. It is like having two full-time jobs to juggle all parts of the writing life.

Q: For you, what happens next?

The third and final novel in this series is written and has been sent in to the publisher to start the editing process. It is scheduled to release on March 4 th , 2024. The working title is…Sunset in Swaziland. I will also be releasing a Christmas novella next fall, entitled, The Kissing Ball. It is the Prequel of my next series, Paradise Inn Series, that takes my readers to Kenya, East Africa for more contemporary romantic suspense.

Interview and GIVEAWAY with Author Patricia Johns!

Hi, guys! V. Joy Palmer here! Since we are all friends here, you guys can call me Joy. ;-) And one of my favorite things to do is talk with my friends at coffee shops then head to the bookstores. Yes, plural. After all, books and yummy drinks are the perfect combination! 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. <3

Today we are going to pry into the private life of CHAT with author Patricia Johns!

Patricia Johns is a Publisher Weekly bestselling author of sweet romance for Harlequin books. She lives with her husband, teenaged son, and energetic parrot in Alberta, Canada. The winters are long and cold, and give her plenty of time to do nothing but write books. She wouldn't have it any other way.

Connect with Patricia on her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Interview ~

This may be the most important question I ask -- no pressure or anything, LOL! 

*drum roll*

What are you drinking in our virtual coffee house? Coffee? Tea? Hot chocolate? Something else altogether?

Tea. I love it! I always have a pot on and I’ll even drink it cold. Not iced tea… tea in the pot that I forgot about while it was hot. But that said, I do like coffee once in a while, too. It depends on quickly I need the caffeine to hit my system.

Love a good cup of tea! If you could order anything in the world to eat (we can dream, can't we?), what would it be?

That’s a tough one! But I have to say fresh fruit. But really good, tree-ripened fresh fruit. Give me mangoes ripened on the tree, and I’d be in heaven!

Yum! Where is your favorite place to write, and why is that your favorite place?

At my desk… mercifully alone! I write best when I’m by myself, and once my family gets home from work and school, I have to give up that solitude. So I don’t take it for granted.

Totally understand! Do you have an odd habit that is only explained by your bookish, writer tendencies? Safe space. ;-)

Probably my entire existence! I people watch a lot—that might be explained by the fact that I’m a writer. I also like to smell books. I didn’t think that was weird until my husband told me it wasn’t exactly normal. My deepest longing is for a gorgeous library—all mine, with hard cover classics and tall wooden bookshelves and a ladder… and leather chairs to lounge in by a lead-pained window. Cars, restaurants, pool, expensive vacations? They don’t even enter into my daydreams. It’s all about the library.

Wait...those things aren't normal? ;-) What inspired you to write The Amish Marriage Arrangement? 

This book was fully centered around a funny scene that happens at the very end of the book—so I can’t even tell you what it is, or else I’ll ruin it for you! But the idea for the whole book started with a joke on my own head. This book is a fun story—light and full of heart.

How fun! What led you to write in this genre?

I am a total romantic. I believe in soulmates. My husband asked me to marry him after two weeks of knowing me, and I said yes! People say that romance novels give women unrealistic expectations, and I disagree. Romance novels give women the expectation that they’ll find loving, faithful, devoted partners who will think they are just amazing. That’s not unrealistic at all! In fact, it just hands the challenge back to the men to step up to the line.

I love that so much! What message do you hope to convey to your readers?

In this book, I hope people will finish the book feeling hopeful and happy, and believing that no matter where they are in life, that real, respectful, honest love is possible.

Great message! Can you tell us a little about your next project(s)?

I’d love to! My next release will be A BOY’S AMISH CHRISTMAS that comes out end of October. This is the third and final book in my Butternut Amish B&B miniseries that follows the guests who come to an Amish run bed-and-breakfast. If you haven’t read the first two books, definitely pick them up!

An old-fashioned Christmas…

A newfound love!

Brett Rockwell is looking forward to a peaceful Christmas retreat with his young nephew—until they’re snowed in at an Amish bed-and-breakfast with tenacious journalist Emaline Piper. Though Brett is determined to avoid publicity, Emaline’s charm melts his reservations. And Brett lets slip a shocking truth—a story that could make Emaline’s career. Will professional ambition divide them, or can Brett and Emaline give their love story a happy ending?

And the end of December, my first Amish cozy mystery comes out! It’s called MURDER OF AN AMISH BRIDEGROOM. When the community ice man, Ike Smoker, is found dead and his girlfriend is discovered coming out of the ice house with blood on her hands, everyone thinks they know what happened. But Petunia Yoder knows her best friend couldn’t have done it… now to prove it!

So exciting! Do you have a favorite Bible verse or story that inspires you on a soul level? 

I do! This is the verse that spoke to me when I was deciding to marry my husband. (We’ve been married 18 years now!)

Isaiah 60:21 “They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor.”

I married him knowing in my heart that he was the one.

That's so beautiful! What are you currently reading? Inquiring minds -- mine! -- want to know. ;-)

Right now, I’m reading a fantasy series called The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan. I started reading it as a teenager, and now that I have a teenager who is also reading it, I picked it up again. But I also love reading cozy mysteries, historical sagas, classics, romance… I’m always reading something! 

My husband loves that series! Thanks for answering all of my prying questions, Patricia!

Check out Patricia's upcoming release, The Amish Marriage Arrangement! 

Forgiving past mistakes

Could open up a whole new future…

After leaving the community years ago, Amish bad boy Arden Stoltzfus is back to convince his grandfather to move to Ohio. But neighbor Sarai Peachy stands in his way—her grandmother is sweet on the older gentleman. When a sudden windstorm damages her grandmother’s home, Sarai and Arden are forced to work together on the repairs. Will spending time with the former heartbreaker prove to her Arden is a changed man?   

Giveaway ~ 

Patricia has generously offered one paperback copy of The Amish Marriage Arrangement!

Rules, Info, and Such ~

The author is giving away one paperback copy of The Amish Marriage Arrangement!

This giveaway is open to the US and Canada only! 

This giveaway will close on 7/27/23 at 12:00 A.M. for all the night owls.

A winner will be drawn within four days of close of giveaway. The winner must respond to our e-mails within one week of notification, or their prize will be forfeit. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Enter via the handy Rafflecopter link below. May the odds be ever in your favor. ;-)

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE!

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer loves to write romantic and comedic stories that proclaim God’s deep love for us. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and an avid blogger. In her spare time, Joy loves to sing (especially Disney songs), drink large quantities of coffee, and take flowery photos for Bookstagram. When Joy isn’t fighting with fictional people, she’s hanging out with her husband and their adorable daughters. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

A Visit with Kelly Goshorn

 

Good morning! Everyone, I'd love for you to meet Kelly:

  

Kelly Goshorn weaves her affinity for history and her passion for God into inspiring stories of love, faith, and family set in America’s vibrant past. When she is not writing, Kelly enjoys, binge-watching BBC period dramas, board-gaming with her family and friends, exploring historical sights, and spoiling her Welsh corgi, Levi.

***(Kelly is offering a free paperback of Across the Shores to one lucky reader (US only) So make sure and leave a comment for a chance to win!)

 ~-~-~-~-~-~-~

Michelle: I like to break the ice right away by a little "get to know ya," so tell me quick! What are your 5 fast favorites?

Kelly:

Color: Teal

Season: Fall

Animal: Dogs (especially corgis)

Beverage: Tea – Hot or cold

Movie quote: “…I have my country’s 500^th anniversary to plan, my wedding to arrange, my wife to murder, and Guilder to frame for it. I’m swamped!” ~Prince Humperdink, The Princess Bride

 

Michelle: Oh my gosh, I love love love that movie! So many fantastic one-liners too. I think we're going to get along quite well you and I. :) Okay, another fun one... If you could have a dinner party with three historical figures, who would you choose and why?

Kelly: What a fun question for a historical romance writer. Since I write stories set in America’s past, I think I’ll choose James Madison, Abraham Lincoln, and Laura Ingalls Wilder. I think it would be fascinating to discuss what inspired James Madison to write our Constitution and establish a three-branch system of government – a grand experiment never before attempted. If I could talk to Abraham Lincoln, I’d want to know what his plan had been for Reconstruction. Would he have distributed land to the newly freed slaves? Would he have allowed the South to establish Jim Crow laws? I’d like to think America may have taken a different path had he not been assassinated. And Laura Ingalls Wilder? Well reading her books and watching Little House on the Prairie established my love of history. I’d like to thank her for writing her stories and inspiring so many like myself to fall in love with reading!

Michelle: That would make for a very interesting dinner conversation for sure! And since you mentioned author Laura Ingalls Wilder, I'd love to know which authors have had the most impact on your writing?

Kelly: When I think about how I want my writing to affect my readers, I hope to convey the passion of Julie Lessman, the humor or Karen Witemeyer, and the lyrical prose of Tamara Alexander who inspire me to be a better writer. But if we’re talking about the authors who have had the biggest tangible impact on my writing, I’d have to say Dani Pettrey, Debb Hackett, and Lori Altebaumer. Debb and Lori are critique partners and close friends. They challenge me to sit at the keyboard and get the work done. Their willingness to read and reread scenes until I have them just right helps make my work shine and gives me the confidence that it's ready for readers. Dani Pettrey has taken me under her wing as my mentor and has also become a dear friend. She has guided me through the process of acquiring an agent, helps me brainstorm, gives me advice, and is always available to answer my questions or boost my confidence when I’m feeling overwhelmed by deadlines or other writing related tasks.

 

Michelle: That feeling of overwhelm is something I think every author I know experiences. Every person I know, period! I find myself daily coming to Christ for His peace that passes understanding. Do you have a favorite/life verse? Why is that one meaningful to you?

Kelly: Boy, choosing just one verse is tough. I think the one that means the most to me in this season of life is 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” I’ve lived most of my life in fear—fear of failure, fear of what other people thought, fear of rejection, even fear of success! When God answered my prayer for a new direction, a new passion for my life, I had no idea how he’d use that answer, “write a book,” to help me tackle my fears and learn to trust Him more deeply than I ever had before.

 

Michelle: His ways are certainly higher than our ways, that's for sure. So now that He has led you in this new direction of writing novels, what is your favorite part of the process?

Kelly: I love the revising and editing stages. The blank page is my writing kryptonite. The only way for me to overcome it is to set a timer and try to get as many words as possible in a set timer. It helps me turn off the internal editor. Then the fun begins. I get to play with the words until they are just the way I want them. I love to read a scene over and over again tweaking it just a bit each time.

 

Michelle: Oh, I still struggle hard with that internal editor in me. I'm glad you've found a way to defeat her! Can you give any hints about what you’re working on now?

Kelly: I’ve been working on another full-length novel set in post-Civil War Virginia, but I can’t say much more on that project yet. I’ve also been busy promoting my April release, The Veil part of the Across the Shores novella collection as well as working on edits for my October release, The Christmas Carving which is included in the Chiseled on the Heart Christmas Legacy Novella Collection releasing October 3^rd.

 

 Michelle: Oooh, that sounds exciting! Sounds like you're keeping pretty busy, and I'm so glad you came to visit today. Please keep in touch!

Social Media Links

To stay in touch with Kelly, sign up for her newsletter at: 

https://kellygoshorn.com/my-writing/newsletter

 

Or visit her on:

 

Her website: http://kellygoshorn.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.j.goshorn/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18023325.Kelly_J_Goshorn

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kelly-goshorn

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyjgoshorn/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KellyGoshorn

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

Don't forget -- Kelly is offering a free paperback of Across the Shores to one lucky reader (US only) So please drop a comment, question, or a simple "howdy" in the comments section for a chance to win!

Across the Shores

Novella Collection

Four women, bound by generations, find love where they least expect.

Sometimes love finds you where you are, and other times it meets you across distant shores as four women discover in these four historical stories linked by a shared gold pendant.

Interview with Debut Fiction Co-authors Denae Jones and Jennifer Thomas

Meet Denae Jones and Jennifer Thomas co-authors of But, Even Now, a split-time biblical and modern-day story. They are kind enough to offer a free copy of their book. If you'd like to win a the book, leave a comment with your name and email address by July 14. We must have your email address to be eligible.

I'm excited to interview both ladies and introduce them to you. 

Jennifer:

What genre do you enjoy reading most?

Historical fiction for sure! I love the feeling of going back in time and experiencing what life may have been like through the different characters' points of view.

Jennifer:
What is your favorite childhood book? 

Definitely King Bidgood's In The Bathtub by Audrey Wood... Check it out if you haven't read it! I guess you could say it would be historical fiction for a picture book. The last page will NEVER not make me laugh!!

Denae:
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Funny, I thought writing was a more recent dream of mine, but I found books with my writing in it from
all the way back to about third grade. Poetry, short stories, etc. Then in college, one of my professors asked us to make a list of our top 5 long-term dreams. Having a published book was on that list, but I had totally forgotten about it! I guess this is just what God wanted me to do. I started with having a couple of stories published in Chicken Soup books, then I created a line of greeting cards for people who had lost a child. About six years ago, I wrote for newspapers, which eventually developed into my devotion books. The latest is our novel, But, Even Now.  

Denae:

Do you have any upcoming projects, releases, or sales?

But, Even Now is our latest published book. The story goes between biblical times and modern day, and it's the first in this series. At the end of But, Even Now you can read the first two chapters of the sequel, titled The Two Martha’s. We are currently working on completing that and can’t wait to see how it ends!

Thanks for sharing a bit about you.

Denea:

Please share the book we are featuring here: 

But, Even Now  

Meet Trista, a woman whose present-day world has been falling apart for years. How can she stay close to God when insurmountable obstacles meet her time and time again? As advised by her counselor, she starts journaling, which inadvertently tells a heart-gripping story about an unexpected path to motherhood, love and loss, addiction, betrayal, and faith that will change future generations.

Meet Adinah, who lives in a world dominated by Roman oppression just as Jesus is being revealed as the Messiah. Being a barren wife in a culture where family lineage is everything, she questions God when she feels all but forgotten by Him. Ready to give up, she beholds firsthand how life-and faith-can change in an instant.

1,985 years ago, Adinah was there to witness a miracle. Today, that same miracle changes Trista's life. This historical/fiction novel will have you laughing and crying as it weaves together the intriguing stories of these two women who have one very important thing in common: Jesus.

(Available online most places books are sold.) Amazon

Denae, I know you delve into the Jewish religion in the historical fiction. What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

But, Even Now is a time leap book that is historical/fiction. It was important to us that the historical part and the present-day part not only aligned with one another, but that they were as historically accurate as possible. We did quite a bit of research and conducted interviews to make sure the cultures described in the book were represented well.  

Jennifer:

Do you find yourself returning to a similar theme in your novels or do you have a new message with each release?

Honestly, we haven't had to choose a theme yet because God has clearly instructed us in our writing journey so far. It was clear to us that pornography addiction would be a part of our beloved Trista's journey in some way. This epidemic is stealing the innocence of children and harming marriages at an alarming rate in our world today. It was also clear that our two main characters would both be encouraged through their trials by words right out of Martha's mouth in the Bible. As for the theme of our sequel, The Two Marthas, we already knew what it was to be about before we finished the first. God is really in the lead with this series, and we are just hoping we get it right.

Jennifer:

Is there a certain Bible passage or verse that goes along with the theme of your book? 

Yes! So glad you asked! John 11:22...  Check it out and then read But, Even Now. :)

To finish our time together, each of you tell us a fun thing about you.

Denae:
What are the top three things on your bucket list?

One thing on my bucket list would be to travel to the Holy Land and then to parts of Europe. Another would be to go Sky Camping, where you camp in a hammock that is suspended over the side of a mountain. My top bucket list actually came true last year, and that was to see every member of my family baptized!

Jennifer:
If you could be any animal, which would it be?

I would probably pick to be one of my dogs, chickens, or ducks because of how much we spoil them!

If you'd like to win a copy of the book, leave a comment with your name and email address by July 14. We must have your email address to be eligible, and we need five comments from five readers.

Thanks for checking out The Diamond Mine of Christian Fiction.