Step Back into Spring with Andrea Renee Cox and Springtime in Surrey

Welcome back, friends! We've got Andrea Renee Cox visiting us today, so be sure and leave her a warm welcome in the comments! And be sure to read to the end to find out how to enter the giveaway for a copy of Springtime in Surrey and/or some extra goodies.

Born and raised in north Texas, Andrea Renee Cox is a born-again child of God who enjoys writing stories that inspire, copyediting fiction manuscripts, tutoring middle school students, and going on road trips with her family. Whether she’s working on historical or contemporary, women’s fiction or romance, she uses her skills in research and writing techniques—as well as a large dose of prayer and guidance from God—at every turn in the journey to produce the best story of her ability every single time. Her books may be found on her website, and readers are welcome to follow her blog for the latest updates in her journey. 

Connect with Andrea: website | Goodreads | Twitter | Pinterest | Amazon | Bookbub

And now, let's hear more from Andrea.

Suzie: Welcome to the Diamond Mine. We are delighted to have you with us this week. I always like to start with a couple book- and writer-themed would you rather questions.

Would you rather write in a rooftop garden surrounded by city noises — or in a quiet studio with cows as your neighbors?

Andrea: That’s a tough one, because my ADD would find faults in both. However, I’m a country girl at heart, and I do miss living next door to cows, so I have to go with the quiet studio with cows for neighbors.

Suzie: That does sound nice. Would you rather read a book with no page numbers or no chapter numbers?

Andrea: No chapter numbers. One of my favorites that didn’t feature chapter numbers was Katherine Reay’s Dear Mr. Knightley, which was set in a journal format. That one was great fun, and the lack of chapter headings didn’t bother me as much as I had thought it would, considering I blazed through that book in less than a day.

Suzie: One of my favorite debuts! Alright, that’s enough of those questions. Tell us a little about you—family, hobbies, day job, or whatever you’d like to share that’s not in your bio.

Andrea: Well, I packed a lot into my bio, so let’s see… My parents and sister are encouraging to me when it comes to supporting my dreams, and I try to reciprocate that. My mom, Faith D. Cox, recently won a screenplay writing award, which I’m excited about. My newest hobby is indoor gardening with cactus and succulents. I’m thinking I need to find another spot for a new pot of them, because these things are so unique and inspiring to me. 

For a decade now, I’ve copyedited books for various publishers and independently-published authors. It’s been a real privilege to work with so many creatives in this aspect, to play a small role in polishing their stories before they reach the readers’ hands. I like to think that God has used me well in this capacity over the years.

Suzie: Editors are priceless! Thank you for helping authors deliver quality books to readers.

What are three books on your current tbr?

Andrea: My most recently added TBR book is Sarah Sundin’s Embers in the London Sky, which comes out next February. The cover is stunningly beautiful yet haunting at the same time—I love it!

One book I’m hoping to read this month (August) is Nicole Deese’s The Words We Lost. Yet another great cover! I go for the moody ones, usually, and this one fits the bill with that deep-navy blue. The compass is a great touch, too, and I love the series title of Fog Harbor.

I’m also looking forward to finishing The Maid of Ballymacool by Jennifer Deibel, which I started reading last February. I got sidetracked from it because of back-to-back edit jobs (March through July, actually), but I’m taking all of August off from editing, so I’ll definitely be playing some catch-up on my reading list.

Suzie: I loved Nicole Deese's book. The cover definitely sets the mood for the story.

What does your writing space look like?

Andrea: I don’t have a defined writing space. Sometimes I write at my kitchen table. Other times, I’ll use my rocking chair in front of the TV. Still, there’s something I love about hanging out with my parents during some of my writing sessions, so I’ll set up with my laptop or notebook on their loveseat while we do dinner and a movie.

Suzie: You are not alone in the no defined writing space. I tend to use the library, my bed, or a comfortable chair! 

Would you share with us a little about your road to publication?

Andrea: My dad started the whole writing thing for my family. After watching him create amazing stories in screenplay form for years, I finally had a story pressed into my heart by God that yearned to get out onto the page. So at age sixteen, I wrote my first screenplay. I wrote eight or nine screenplays before switching to manuscripts. While I love both formats, manuscripts fit my style better, as I loved to dive into the details of things and flesh out stories more than the dialogue-driven screenplay format permits.

Many things have shaped my writing journey, but the key has always been following God’s lead. I’m in my twentieth year of writing stories with the hopes of publication, and I now have three published stories to my credit (all of which may be found on my website at andreareneecox.com/books):

• “Any Thing” in Anything

• “A Baker’s Heart” in Seize the Love

• “The Cottage on the Hill” in Springtime in Surrey

My other writing highlights include:

• a short-story contest judge said my details about a ship made it feel like I’d been around ships my whole life—which I have not, so this was a testament to my research skills—and that was for an English assignment in the sixth grade

• a screenplay contest judge said one of my leading ladies would “challenge an actress straight through the award season”

• a TV pilot script earned Quarter Finalist in the 2016-17 Fresh Voices Screenplay Competition

• that same TV script was nominated for the “Best Role Written for a Leading Man” award

I’m now in my twentieth year of writing stories, and I love it even more, in deeper and different ways, than when I first began. I consider it a great honor to have been chosen by God to write the stories I do. It’s my prayer that He will be honored with each new story that makes it to publication (and any that don’t).

Suzie: We definitely have to love writing to keep with it, don't we? 

What do you enjoy most about writing historical and contemporary stories?

Andrea: My favorite thing about writing is story—that isn’t specific to historical or contemporary, but rather, both. I always have, since as far back as I can remember. God built me with a love for story of all sorts ingrained in the core of who I am. From playing Barbies with my sister to consuming books and movies from a very young age to writing essays and research papers through middle and high school to writing screenplays, teleplays, and manuscripts… story is as intrinsic to my survival as oxygen or food.

Suzie: Tell us more about your newest release.

Andrea: Springtime in Surrey is a collection of eight novellas set in County Surrey, England. Included in

the collection are historical and contemporary stories of women’s fiction, romance, mystery, and young adult genres.

My story within the collection is “The Cottage on the Hill,” a contemporary story with a vintage feel that features a former ballerina who cries into her tea every afternoon and the sheep-farmer neighbor who wonders why… and what he can do to cheer her up.

One of my favorite things about this story is the theme of compassion for another’s distress. That, to me, is something lacking in the world today, so this story is my way of encouraging readers to take time to infuse back into the world a little consideration and compassion for our fellow human beings. That could look different for every person who reads this book. One way that I personally try to infuse compassion back into the world is to find ways to help or encourage the people around me during my weekly errands, even if it means delaying my own shopping or taking time out of my day to simply listen to the story of a person’s rough week and then help them find a bit of a silver lining in it, something positive I can leave them with.

Suzie: What are you currently working on?

Andrea: This month, I’m drafting a story that features a novelist, a journalist, and a mountain man. If I pull it off well, it should be deeply emotional, which is my favorite type of story, and I’m really excited to see where God leads me in it.

Suzie: How can we pray for you?

Andrea: Aw, thank you for the offer! I would greatly appreciate prayers that the finances would line up for me to be able to afford a cover designer for the stories I feel led by God to publish on my own. Great covers are costly but necessary in this business and creating them myself is not a skill I currently have. I’m fully relying on God to provide for this aspect of my career, as I do with all others.

Suzie: We will definitely be praying you find the right cover designer for your needs and budget. 

It has been a pleasure learning more about your life and writing journey, Andrea. I look forward to reading Springtime in Surrey soon!

About the Book

Springtime in Surrey is a Christian anthology featuring eight lovely stories. With a mix of historical and contemporary, romance and women’s fiction, a dash of mystery here and there, real-life themes presented in a loving way, and a vintage feel, this story is sure to charm lovers of Christian women’s fiction.

The Cottage on the Hill by Andrea Renee Cox

She cried into her tea every afternoon.

He wondered why.

During every teatime at her cottage hideaway, Moira struggles to discover hope amongst her lost ballerina dreams. Unsettled by elusive goals of his own, sheep farmer Adrian observes his uncle’s neighbor crying into her tea and wonders why… and what he can do to cheer her up. While facing their regrets, can Moira and Adrian trust that God has a good plan despite crushed dreams and far-off hopes?

Goodreads | Amazon | Wild Blue Wonder Press

Giveaway

Andrea is generously giving one of our visitors a paperback copy of Springtime in Surrey plus a set of two bookmarks and a quote sticker. Five others will receive two bookmarks and a quote sticker.

To enter, share your favorite season of the year and why in the comments (be sure to leave a way for us to get in touch with you, too).

Giveaway is open to US mailing address only and ends at midnight CST on Tuesday, 8/9/23.