Interview and Giveaway with Gay N. Lewis!!

 

Hi there, readers!! Today we welcome author Gay N. Lewis to The Diamond Mine for an interview and a book giveaway. You can be entered in the drawing for the free book if you click on the "leave a comment" button at the end of the interview and social links, and leave a comment with your email address.

Her book is: Sarah's First Mission to Earth, which I know you will be delighted by! 

Sarah's motto is Faith, Humor and Red Stilettos!

Here we go with the interview! 

Please tell us about Sarah’s First Mission to Earth.

Sarah comes to Earth to help humans, but she’s lost and bumbles her way through adventures. God gifted me with a generous sense of humor, and Sarah makes my readers laugh aloud. My husband often hears me chuckle as I write of Sarah’s goofs and he says, “What’s Sarah done now?”

In her first mission to Earth, Sarah’s first assignment is to help Tom Shoemaker find a mate by valentine’s Day. Mercy me! How can an inexperienced angel do this in such a short time? Sarah accidentally dumps food on Tom in a restaurant, and the accident causes him to meet Marcy Montgomery. Marcy is a military widow with a five-year-old, precocious child. Hope, the daughter, wants a daddy, and Sarah decides Tom is the perfect candidate. But is Tom the wrong man for Marcy? Well, “Poopty doopty!” Sarah may have to go to Cloud Nine for a reprove.

Poopty doopty is one of Sarah’s favorite phrases. It’s a nicer phrase than a string of naughty expressions, don’t you think? I use it often.

I love it! I'm chuckling already! Sounds like a charming story.

What do you like best about writing?

The best part of writing for me is the creativity. I invent a man and woman, throw rocks at them, resolve their issues, and then they fall in love. Most of my books have been Christian romances with the genre of fantasy or historical as part of the mix. I have one book that is Christian, but not romance. It is historical Women’s Fiction. In the book, Mattie’s Choice, two women face abusive husbands and must decide how to handle their situations. This book is historical and was the hardest one I’ve ever written.

I know what you mean about writing historical books. Lots of research. I've grown to love the research part, though. I've learned a lot in that process.

Do you write from an outline, just inspiration, or both?

I don’t write from an outline. I keep a general story-line in my head and go forth. Sometimes a chapter will surprise me and take me in a new direction. I love it when that happens.

Me, too!! I love it when the characters surprise me, too!

What do you want your readers to take away from your books?

I want my readers to learn something about Christ. I am not preachy in my stories, but I install appropriate tidbits of theology. I hope readers find them inspirational.

I'm sure they will. Any chance we can get to learn more about Christ is a great thing!

Now I'd like to hear more about you personally.

Thanks, Nancy for introducing me to your readers. I was born in Fort Worth, Texas. My parents later moved us about thirty miles east to Irving, TX. As a child, I thought it great fun to catch a bus and travel to Dallas. Shopping in beautiful stores like Sanger-Harris was a grand event. Times change, and now the cities in the DFW Metroplex blend into each other, and alas! Sanger-Harris no longer exists. As of today, I’m a pastor’s wife in a bi-vocational church and live west of Houston in Fulshear, TX. When I was eight years old, I knew God wanted me in special service. As I child, I thought assisting the Lord meant years as a missionary in an exotic country. Ten years after I decided to make this sacrifice of home and country, I married a Baptist minister. My husband felt called to ministry, but not to missions. Except for our first year in Oklahoma, we’ve served in Texas.

What was your childhood family like?

I’m the eldest of three, and I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy, born on the 4th of July. The doctor told my mom she’d have a firecracker before Sunday School, and she did. Friends say my birthday fits my exuberant personality. A sister and brother joined me later. My mom named me Gay Nell. When I started writing, I chose the name Gay N. Lewis. However, a group of people use the name Gay to describe a lifestyle. I now write as G. N. Lewis. You’ll find my books under either name. The newest books are G. N. Lewis.

What’s your favorite pastime?

I’m a big fan of baseball and the Astros. We watch every game and sometimes go to Minute Maid Park to see them play. I even wrote about them in my latest book, Sarah’s Mission to Earth. The hero, Tom in the story, lives in Houston but once played football for the University of Texas in Austin. While visiting his mom in the Texas Hill Country, he meets Marcy. He’s thrilled when he learns Marcy loves sports.

What's your home life like?

I married a minister and we have three grown daughters. I’m grateful for hubby’s easygoing nature. When I wreck the car, he responds in his unflappable manner. I sideswiped a vehicle recently, and he texted, “No worries. All is good.” In my first year in Houston, I had nine wrecks. Yes, you read correctly. Nine. They weren’t funny at the time, well, some were.

One morning I drove my car to the body shop with the passenger side caved in. The man fixed it. A few weeks later, I wheeled in with the identical scenario—the same passenger side crumpled again. The manager scratched his head, “Ma’am, may I ask you a question?” I nodded. “Where did you learn to drive?”

That's so funny!!

Then, a few years after the body shop incidents, my husband was called as senior pastor to a Baptist Church in Central Texas. We’d been in the county-seat town for two weeks when a group ten miles away invited me to teach a Bible study. I left early. I always give myself time to make wrong turns. Or have wrecks.

In the heart of town, I made a wrong turn.

Uh-oh! You’re not gonna believe this, but as a brand-new citizen, right then and there, I stranded my car on a railroad track in the middle of that city. Yep. I did. Well, it was dark. Does that count? I thought I saw a street and turned. Boy! Was I surprised? It wasn’t a road—it was a choo-choo track. I drove forward, backward, nothing, nada, zip. I was stuck. I jumped out, left the car, and ran to the police station. The officer said, “We could have a major fire if that coming engine plows into your car.” I bit my nails as I waited for him to notify officials. I imagined the newspapers across the country with the headline. “Pastor’s Wife Burns Down Texas Town.” I called my husband. He didn’t say much. He’s used to it.

Sarah’s chaotic episodes are oftentimes things I’ve done. Like most authors, I include personal experiences. The idea of a dyslexic, bumbling, chaotic, angel came to me out of the blue. Or was it a God thing? 

Oh, my goodness, you have had an interesting  time of it! You must appreciate your hubby for being so understanding. I'd say that's definitely a God thing, too!!

You remind me of a dear friend who often has similar experiences. I always chuckle  with her when we remember some of her humorous dilemmas. We all need some laughs! And you  and Sarah are so generously giving us some.

Thanks, Nancy, for asking about Sarah. She’s a heartwarming little angel, and her baubles give the reader insights. I look forward to hearing from your readers.

Now, one more question: What are you working on now?

I thought I’d try something different – a murder mystery. My female lead is researching ways to kill two men. They robbed her and she seeks revenge. I haven’t decided if she will succeed with murder or not. There’s a therapist involved, he loves her, but can he talk her out of murder? I’m not sure yet. At first, I wasn’t going to write this as a Christian novel, but this style didn’t fit me. I finally gave up and allowed God to make His way into a few sentences. I’m halfway through, and I don’t have a title. I’m into year four with work on this one. 

As most of my readers know, my daughter is in the last stages of dementia, and we take care of her. This emotional roller-coaster often zaps me. Finding energy and time to write is a challenge.

I'm so sorry to hear that you have such an intense challenge. May God continue to help you, strengthen you and give you His peace. He is very close when our hearts are hurting.

Thank you so much for this interview. It's been wonderful to get to know you.

Thanks, Nancy. I appreciate being on the Diamond Mine.

Well readers, here are Gay's links, and don't forget to leave a comment so you will have a chance to win the drawing for the free copy of her book!

Gay N. Lewis is a Texas best-selling author, and she writes under the names Gay N. Lewis and G. N. Lewis. Most of her books are about a dyslexic angel, and they are laugh-out-loud funny. Gay has also written two historical, women’s fiction novels. Visit her blog at http://gaynlewis.blogspot.com/ Gay’s daughter suffers from early-onset dementia, and she writes a blog about their journey. https://dementiadaybyday.blogspot.com/ You’ll find Gay N. Lewis novels on Amazon and other online booksellers. http://amzn.to/2hwc6nB A link to G.N. Lewis. https://amzn.to/3G3ZdZm Catch Gay on Facebook as Gay N. Lewis You’ll find her on YouTube. https://bit.ly/3SQhIXc