INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR CAROL JAMES!!

 Today we welcome author Carol James to The Diamond Mine!!

Hi Carol! It's great to have this time with you. Let's begin the interview.

Can you tell us a little about your book?

My most recently released novel is entitled Always and Only. It's a story about a young woman, Aurora Prentiss, and a young man, Caleb Daniels, who dated and fell in love in high school but broke up at her father's demand because he insisted Caleb was not good enough for his daughter. Years later three paths cross when they begin working for the same company. Caleb has just gone through a messy divorce and Aurora is putting the final touches on her plans to wed a wealthy man chosen by her father. Let the fun begin.

Sounds very interesting!! How did you get your idea for this story?

Ideas are all around us. This one, as many of mine do, came to me as I was listening to a song entitled (you guessed it) Always and Only. It's a beautiful love song to Jesus. I took the idea of eternal love between us and Christ and wove it into the novel.

What a wonderful inspiration for a novel. What made you decide to be a writer?

For as long as I can remember, I've enjoyed making up stories, but I didn't start putting them on paper until my boss asked me to proofread her novels. (I'd been an English major in college and loved grammar.) Her work inspired me to try my hand at crafting novels.

What was your first story?

My first release was entitled Rescuing Faith. It was an Amazon number one best seller.

Wow! That's so awesome! Good for you! I'm curious. Do you write from an outline, or just from inspiration, or both?

Both, I guess. I like to use a Bible verse or two and a worship song for my inspiration. I don't use an in depth outline, but generally try to hit three or four major plot points. This gives me the flexibility to adapt the plot to  any additional inspiration I have as the story unfolds. 

Do you have any underlying themes that you want your readers to come away with?

Yes. My novels all revolve around Isaiah 43:18-19:

Forget the former things: do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up: do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

That's such a beautiful basis to build upon!                                         I always want to ask this of authors: Do your characters share any traits with you or someone you know?

The one character that appears in all my novels is Josh Lewis, a pastor. He reminds me very much of one of my previous pastors. In fact, sometimes Josh even (unknowingly) quotes my previous pastor's sermons.

Do your characters ever surprise you?

Yes! That's one of the things I like about having some "wiggle-room"in my planning. Sometimes the characters do or say things I could have never predicted before the story begins.

I always love it when that happens!! Do you have a favorite character in your books?

Sometimes I feel like a parent... I love them all equally. But if I had to choose one, I would say the pastor,  Josh Lewis. The first time he appeared in one of my novels, he was in his early twenties and had just returned from the Vietnam war. In my most recent novel, he's a grandfather. 

That's so interesting, to have an ongoing character in your novels.  Last question: What are you working on now?

I am working on a romance novel about emotional healing. My central concept is the idea of kintsugi. For those who may not be familiar with kintsugi, it's also called Japanese joinery. It's a process by which broken pottery is repaired by using gold, making the mended piece more valuable and beautiful than it was before the breakage. A true commentary on how God takes our broken lives and repairs them for His glory.                                                                      Thanks so much for letting me share today.

It's been an honor to spend this time with you and hear your answers. Thanks so much, Carol!

And readers, here's a short bio about Carol:

As an Air Force brat, the longest Carol James ever lived in one place was a year and a half. Maybe that's why, when she and her husband bought their first home forty-two years ago, they stayed put. she lives in Lilburn, GA with her husband, Jim, and a perky Jack Russell Terrier, Zoe.

Loving intriguing stories with happy endings, she  writes Redemptive Romance. She has had five full length novels and five Christmas novellas published. Her debut novel, Rescuing Faith, was an Amazon number one best-seller. 

Visit her website to sign up for her newsletter and get a free short story: https://www.carol-james.com

When she's not walking Zoe, Carole enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren, as well as traveling. On Sundays, she loves serving in the production department at her church. And most days, in the late hours of the night, you'll find her bringing her newest novel to life!

Interview with author Jean Pike!!

Today we welcome author Jean Pike to The Diamond Mine to promote her new book, Super-Heroes!

Hi Jean!!

Tell us a little about your book, please.

Thank you for having me today, Nancy. I'd love to!

It all started with a prayer...

After a lifetime of of being controlled by her parents, and most recently by her ex-fiancée, Abby Callahan has had enough. She moves out of her parents' home and into a rented motel room a few towns away, where she takes night classes at the community college, finally free to pursue her dream of becoming a music therapist.

From now on, she will live her life her way, answering to no one except God. She is done letting her parents make her decisions. And she is done with men. Until she meets Rory St. George.

Growing up on the wrong side of town,  Rory has worked hard to claw his way out of poverty. He has a good job as assistant manager at the local feed store, a good church, and a few close friends. He thinks that's all a man can ask for in life. Until he meets Abby.

Their fragile relationship is tested from the start with missteps and misunderstandings, but their genuine attraction to each other and their faith in God hold them together. Until disaster strikes. Can their newfound love survive being tried by fire? And can the power of love turn ordinary people into superheroes? 

This sounds wonderful, Jean! How did you get your idea for this story?

Reading the daily news can be both depressing and uplifting. The ideas for many of my stories stem from things I've read about that have either filled me with wonder or filled me with sadness.

The world is full of stories of ordinary people performing superhero acts--- A volunteer firefighter who risks his life to rescue a family from a burning house. A man, fishing on the bank of a river, dives into deep waters to save a drowning child. Heroism is also found in a hundred small, everyday sacrifices made in the name of love.

A new romance can be so much fun!  Picnics and hikes and bouquets of flowers' just because! But when things get hard and life turns messy, few have what it takes to keep the flame burning. To stay in it for the long haul, even when it costs something precious. The truth is, one never knows if they have what it takes to be a superhero until they have no other choice.

Superheroes is a story about everyday heroes who love in the most extraordinary ways.

Wow! How could I not be interested in a story like that?

Do you have any underlying themes that you want your readers to come away with?

The underlying theme in Superheroes is that God is sovereign over His creation. God is still God, even in hard times. 

There is a verse in Job that I've always loved: But He knows the way that I take: when He hath tried me. I shall come forth as gold. (Job 23:10 KJV)

Bad things happen in life, but God can use them to refine our faith and make us more like Him. This story seeks to showcase His great love for us, and hopefully, point the way  to the greatest Superhero of all time, our Lord Jesus.

Well said, and I found your words very touching. I'm sure your story is, too.

I'm curious-- Do your characters ever surprise you?

Oh, all the time! I'll usually do a rough character sketch before I start any in-depth writing, a few sentences about who each of the characters are and what they want from life. Many times the characters turn out to be something quite different from what I first imagined. I like to think that's a combination of God's direction and my crazy, overactive imagination, lol.

In Superheroes, Olly was originally going to be Rory's youngest brother, heading down a wrong path that Rory would have to try and correct. But something as small as a typo changed my mind. Instead of writing the word coffee, I accidentally wrote coccee. Which is exactly how my special needs nephew, Michael, pronounces the word. I have always wanted to include a special needs character in one of my stories, but I struggled with how to do so with grace and dignity. As I started to look more closely at Olly's character, he and Michael began to merge together, and I knew the time had come to honor this lovely, complex young man. Hence my dedication: For Michael, a superhero indeed.

Tell us how you incorporated Olly with Michael.

First, as I said, Olly's character is based on my nephew. Michael is a young man with special needs who loves pink shirts, orange shirts and coloring books. It may not always seem as though he is paying attention, but he is! He notices the birds that come to his mother's feeders, and all the pretty colors of the flowers in their garden.

He notices who is in church each week, and who is not. On Sundays, after lunch, he makes a card for each person on the prayer list, using construction paper and pictures colored and cut from his coloring books. His favorites are the superheroes, whom he makes up his own names for, names that make sense to him.

Michael has a stubborn streak as wide as the Ohio river, but oh, he has a heart filled with love and compassion that often astounds me.  He uses what he's been given to lift others up. I gave those same traits to Olly. 

 

Michael sounds like quite a work of art, as well as being an artist himself.

Do you have a favorite character in any of your other books?

I enjoy creating all of my characters, but some stand out for me because their parts are just so much fun to write! But with all of the time and effort spent developing my main characters, it is often the secondary characters that seem to grab my readers' hearts. In The Little Things, it was a grumpy senior bulldog named Gus. In King of Hearts, it was forgetful, lovable Aunt Clara.  As the reviews for Superheroes began to come in, it was clear that in this story, it was Olly that readers loved the most.

I can see why!

So, what are you working on now?

I was four chapters in to a new Redford's Crossing Romance when a coworker made a statement that brought all work on that story to a screeching halt. We were talking about relationships, and how, as a widow, she feels she is "done." 

And then she said, "But my mother thought she was done, too. She just sat in her porch rocker day after day, waiting to die. And then a man pulled in the driveway and asked if he could pick from her blackberry bushes. They've been together forty years."

Wait, what?

An opening sentence immediately popped into my mind: Norah Sutton was sitting in her porch rocker, waiting to die, when the red pickup truck pulled into the driveway...

And Blackberry Summer began to take shape. :)

Sometimes, that's all it takes for inspiration to hit: a typo, a passing comment, and the whole direction of your story  takes a different path.

Thank you so much for this interview, Jean. I have completely enjoyed hearing your answers.

And readers, here are some links for Jean, and her books:

https://www.amazon.com/Superheroes-M-Jean-Pike-ebook/dp/BOCYPSLQ5D/

https://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main page=product info&cPath=3746&products id=1711

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/superheroes-m-jean-pike/1147169381?ean=9781522305064

https://books.apple.com/us/book/superheroes/id6744548266

Jean's blog:

https:// jeanpike.wordpress.com/

A New Member Joins the Mine...and a Few Sad Goodbyes...

It's already February and I haven't updated you on The Diamond Mine of Christian Fiction's changes for 2025! As usual, we have a few that are leaving us, but we have a newcomer, and we want to send her a hearty welcome! We are so glad to have Christina!

Christina Sinisi

 

A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Christina Sinisi writes stories about families, both the broken and blessed. Her works include a semi-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest and the American Title IV Contest where she appeared in the top ten in the Romantic Times magazine. Her published books include Christmas Confusion, Sweet Summer, and Christmas on Ocracoke. By day, she is a psychology professor and lives in the Lowcountry of South Carolina with her husband, two children and her crazy kitten Zeta Belle.

Books:

A Holy City Christmas, October 2024

Another Outer Banks Christmas, November 2023

Charleston Light, An Anthology, April 2023

Why They Call It Falling, Anaiah Press, June 2022

Sweet Summer, Anaiah Press, July 2021

Christmas on Ocracoke, Anaiah Press, November 2020

The Christmas Confusion, Anaiah Press, November 2019

www.ChristinaSinisi.com  Go here and click on Contact to sign up for Christina's newsletter!

Facebook

Twitter: @ChristinaSinisi

https://amzn.to/3pP4xXd

Please look forward to Christina's upcoming interviews.

Now, for a few sad goodbyes...

Lisa M. James and Michelle Massaro have left the Mine for 2025. We wish them the best in their writing/publishing careers and will miss them and their insights. I hope the readers will continue to support them.

One of our interviewers made the ultimate journey and is now face to face with her Savior. Laura V. Hilton passed away on January 9, 2025. Our prayers go out to her family. Although her reward is great, those left behind are sad at her passing. Please hold her husband and family in your prayers. All for the Glory of God.

Interview and Giveaway with author Penelope Marzec!!!

 

Today on The Diamond Mine we welcome author Penelope Marzec!!  She is offering a free copy of her book, Love's Gift, to the winner of the giveaway. To be entered to win, please leave a comment with your email after the interview!

Now, here we go with the interview!

Hi Penelope! Welcome to The Diamond Mine.

Can you tell us a little about your book?

Love’s Gift is set 1903. It is the story of Amaranth Beach, who is Chinese and burdened by her ethnicity due to the Chinese Exclusion Acts. Abandoned on a beach as a newborn and raised in an orphanage, she is a skilled secretary, but the threat of deportation looms constantly and all employers turn her away... until Mrs. Tildon of Sea Haven, New Jersey, hires her. 

Soon after Amaranth' s arrival, she discovers that the Tildon family secrets run deep— a reprobate father, a long-lost brother, an obnoxious maid who is never fired for her behavior, and William the son who worries too much about what people will think. 

When a series of alarming events occur, it' s up to Amaranth and William to unravel the secrets that threaten to destroy the Tildon family. 

Can Amaranth heal the family' s divisions with her faith? Or will a greater danger threaten them all?

Sounds like a wonderful read!!

How did you get your idea for this story?

 

The idea of the Chinese orphans came to me due to my husband’s fascination with trains. From him, I learned about the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. Chinese laborers were recruited to come to this country to help build the railroad. They were given lower wages than the whites plus their work in tunneling through the Sierra Nevada Mountains was the most dangerous. Yet, they were excluded from the famous photograph that marked the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in Utah, which was celebrated by the hammering of the Golden Spike. 

Unfortunately, the Chinese became victims of racial prejudice and in 1882 the Chinese Exclusion Act banned Chinese laborers from entering the United States. The Chinese already in this country were not allowed to become citizens. In fact, Chinese people in this country needed to carry residency papers with them at all times. Otherwise, they could be sent to China.

Wow. I didn't know that.

So, what made you decide to be a writer?

I was nine years old when I decided I was going to write a book. I wrote it on yellow legal paper with green ink and I illustrated it, too. That ‘s when I found out I loved writing. 

What was your first story?

That first story was about a young girl who could fly. She wasn’t a super heroine, but it was definitely a paranormal. I realized it wasn’t good enough for publication, but I intended to write a book that would be published eventually. And I did. 

Sounds like you've always had a great imagination.

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

I always start with a very loose outline, which is subject to change as I write. I’m probably more of a pantser than plotter, but I do need a general idea of where I’m going with the story.

Do you have any underlying themes that you want your readers to come away with?

One of my favorite themes is injustice. That’s why I wanted to write about Amaranth in Love’s Gift. In Patriot’s Courage, I pointed out some of the injustice aimed at the Native Americans.

Yes, I remember that! Another great story of yours.

Do your characters share any traits with you or someone you know?

Most of my characters are usually composites. I will take a variety of traits from people I know and form a different person who fits what I need for my story. However, there are a few characters I based entirely on some truly wonderful people I have known. I will not reveal who they are though. 

Smart girl!! :)

Do your characters ever surprise you?

My characters do have minds of their own. So, sometimes they go off and do things their way, which is usually for the best. I don’t mind. 

Agreed!

Do you have a favorite character in your books?

I’ve written quite a few books at this point. The characters in those books are like children to me. I love them all—except for the villains, of course. 

What are you working on now?

At the moment, I’m revising an older book. The rights were returned to me by the publisher and I’d like to reissue it. But once that’s finished, I’d like to write another historical romance. I need to do more research first. I enjoy research. History is fun.

I agree completely. I love the research for a historical story.

Thanks so much for doing this interview! And now readers, here's a bit more about Penelope, along with her links. And remember to leave a comment to be entered for the giveaway!

  Penelope Marzec grew up along the shore of Raritan Bay in New Jersey. Now a retired teacher, she writes inspirational romances. Two of her inspirationals won the EPPIE award and one finaled in that contest. One paranormal, Irons In The Fire, was a nominee for Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award. Her historical, Patriot’s Courage, won 1^st Place in theCentral Region Oklahoma Writers, National Excellence in Story Telling for an Inspirational. She paints seascapes in oils when she isn’t writing. You can find her online at http://www.penelopemarzec.com, read her blog at http://penelopemarzec.blogspot.com, or become a fan at www.facebook.com/penelopemarzecbooks 

Purchase Links:

Find it at:
Amazon
Barnes&Noble
Kobo
Apple

Pelican: https://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=37_73&products_id=1678

Penelope Marzec

www.penelopemarzec.com

www.facebook.com/penelopemarzecbooks

http://twitter.com/penelopemarzec

A Double Treat Today, Featuring Lesa Henderson and Barbara Britton!!

 We have 2 authors promoting their books on The Diamond Mine today! We'll start with Lesa Henderson who has a Christmas book: Someone to Watch Over Me.

On the run this Christmas, Catlin faces danger at every turn—her life or her heart, which will she lose first?

After witnessing a violent crime, Catlin (Kit) McCormick is on the run. She's determined to lie low, find the family that’s unaware of her existence, and start fresh in the beautiful mountain town of Laurel Ridge. But disappearing is harder than she thought, especially when one of the first people she runs into is handsome U.S. Marshal, Cameron Grainger. There's no escaping the Marshal because he and Catlin are more closely connected than either realizes.

Cameron has trust issues and trouble of his own. He' s currently on leave and recovering from wounds suffered while on duty. Plus, his service in Afghanistan has left him emotionally scarred and doubting his own judgment. When the mysterious woman with hazel eyes and bruises on her neck collapses on the floor of his aunt's bed-and-breakfast, he's both intrigued and wary. 

Will Catlin risk her identity being discovered and explore the overwhelming feelings she has for Cameron? Can Cameron trust his instincts enough to let down his guard and follow his heart?

Intrigue, danger and the questions of trust and loyalty keep the pages turning in this inspirational romantic suspense— a standalone follow-up to Someone to Trust.

Wow! This sounds great! Well, Lesa, I'd like to ask you a few questions!

Can you tell us some more about your book?  Someone To Watch Over Me is a Christmas Story wrapped in romance and tied up with Suspense. It   is the second book in the Laurel Ridge Series and  it takes place during the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays  in the Smoky Mountains. 

After witnessing the murder of her foster brother, Nikko, Catlin McCormick flees Florida with dangerous men on her trail. With Nikko, an FBI informant, dead and a backpack full of mysterious money in her car, Catlin seeks refuge with her estranged sister, Megan, in Laurel Ridge. En route, she encounters Cameron Grainger, a U.S. Marshal, and feels an unexpected connection despite her distrust. 

In Laurel Ridge, Catlin blends into Megan's life but soon finds herself repeatedly crossing paths with Cameron, who is skeptical of her true identity. Their growing attraction is tested as Catlin grapples with her secret and Cameron's own trust issues stemming from past trauma. 

Amidst holiday celebrations, their bond deepens until the men pursuing Catlin track her down, leading to a life-threatening showdown that reveals her true identity to Megan. Through their ordeal, both Cameron and Catlin reevaluate their faith and find solace in their newfound love, realizing they've always had someone watching over them. 

How did you get your idea for this story? 

It was birthed from the first novel in the series.   As  I neared the end of Someone to Trust, I began wondering what would happen if Megan had a sister she didn’t know about and what that sister’s life had been like.

That's very interesting!

What made you decide to be a writer?

As soon as I learned to read, I developed a love for it.  At a young age, I was a voracious reader and fascinated with storytelling.  Having a  huge imagination  helped.    I entered and won my first writing contest at age ten and another two years later.  I started fooling around with writing romances. Without much success, I might add -   what does a 12-year-old know about romance?

Very True!! :)

What was your first story?  

Oh my goodness…it was a romance that took place in Ireland.   I think  I called it  Love on the Emerald Isle.  Lol.  I was 12.

I can tell you've always had an impressive imagination!

Do you write from an outline, or just from inspiration, or both?  Mostly from inspiration.  I used to think something was wrong with me, and I was doing it wrong when I heard other writers talking about the massive outlines they’d produced before beginning to draft their novels.   And then I learned about intuitive  writing (some  call it writing by the seat of your pants- and it feels a lot like that!)  I usually have a good idea or basic plot,  a place, and characters that I have fleshed out, and then  I  let the story, characters, and the Holy  Spirit take me where I need to go.

Sounds like you have a  good mix of both approaches!

Do you have any underlying themes you want your readers to come away with? 

The love and goodness of God.  Also,  forgiveness for self and others.   

Those are beautiful goals.

Do your characters share any traits with you or someone you know? 

Yes.  Almost always, they share traits with me or someone I know. For example,  In Someone To Trust the  1st book  in the Laurel Ridge  Series, Megan loves chocolate chip cookies filled with icing  -   a trait she inherited from me.   She also tends to be pretty hard on herself, and I recognized my ability to do the same.    I  also share with Catlin  (Someone to  Watch Over Me)  a love of Gone With The Wind and her acceptance and love for people from different cultures and backgrounds.

Do your characters ever surprise you? 

Yes.   My characters often surprise me.   When  I began writing   Someone to Watch Over Me,   I had no idea Catlin was a mechanic.   A couple of chapters in, she told me. 

I love asking that question of authors. It's almost always something they experience with their characters. Do you have a favorite character in your books? 

One of my favorite characters outside of my hero and heroine in Someone to Watch  Over Me is Digger, a Scotch/Irishman who lives in the Smoky  Mountain Community where  Catlin comes to hide.  He is loosely patterned after someone I know, and with his permission, I used an incident with chickens that happened to him.  I rearranged it a bit and changed the fox to a mountain lion.  Digger wasn’t supposed to have as important a role as he does, but his character just took over.

Yes! I know what you mean!

What are you working on now? 

I’m currently working on several projects at once.  However,  one of those is Book 3  in the Laurel  Ridge  Series,  Someone  From My Past.

Well, it's been a pleasure to get to know you better, and hear about your book! Thanks Lesa!

Okay readers, here's a bit more about Lesa!

Lesa Henderson is an accomplished author, passionate storyteller, and award-winning filmmaker whose work reflects her unwavering commitment to inspire and uplift others. She is best known as the author of the beloved Laurel Ridge books, a series that has captured readers' hearts with its rich storytelling and heartfelt themes. Beyond fiction, Lesa has also made her mark as a non-fiction writer and journalist with her insightful pieces published in esteemed national outlets such as Woman's World and Ladies' Home Journal. 

Together with her husband, Ken Henderson, Lesa co-directed & produced the award-winning documentary Hope Has A Name, a powerful and poignant film that shines a light on God's extraordinary love expressed in the lives of everyday people. Through her work, Lesa invites audiences to see beauty in the ordinary, to find hope in the unseen, and to live with purpose and intention.

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B007OZ2674

https://www.facebook.com/lesawhenderson/

https://www.instagram.com/lesahenderson/

Okay Readers, here comes our second interview!

Now we welcome Barbara Britton back to The Diamond Mine to talk about her new book, Escape to Whispering Creek.

Emma Uranova enjoys her office job until her boss disappears with the investors' money. To avoid the media storm and false accusations, Emma flees to Whispering Creek, Tennessee to live on her best friend' s secluded property. When a temporary position opens up in Nashville, Emma leaves small-town anonymity to pad her depleted bank account. With a handsome new boss and a steady income, Emma believes life is looking up... until she discovers she has transported the scandal in her backpack. Where is God when her life is falling apart?

Wade Donoven is recuperating from a crash that sidelined him from the family electrical business. Worse yet, his prodigal younger brother is getting the glory for Wade' s accomplishments. Desperation, and physical setbacks, have him agreeing to let Emma help him manage the business office. But when trouble follows her to his doorstep, Wade must make some difficult choices. Sending Emma back to Whispering Creek may unknowingly place the woman he's come to love in danger.

Sounds wonderful, Barbara!

What inspired you to want to write this story?

Emma Uranova is the best friend of my heroine in “Christmas at Whispering Creek.” Emma was the comedy relief and a wonderful best friend to Samantha. She needed her own story, so I sent Emma fleeing to Whispering Creek, Tennessee, when her life gets caught up in a scandal in Wisconsin.

I enjoyed revisiting my small town and the characters I created for book one. I discovered that writing a sequel has its challenges. I had to remember where the businesses were located and the color of my characters’ eyes. I need to do a better job of documenting details if I’m writing a series. 

Emma’s story can be read as a standalone novel.

What made you decide to be a writer?

I had no plans to be an author. I was teaching Bible stories to elementary students in chapel and needed to modify my curriculum and write new lesson plans. I prayed to God for creativity, but I wasn’t specific that I needed help with only my chapel lessons. After the prayer, I had a prompting to sit down and write sweet historical stories. I finished three books before I started writing about little-known Bible characters. I should have started writing about what I was teaching each week. I guess I’m a slow learner.

I love writing about people in the Bible that many Christians haven’t met. I also enjoy romance stories. When I wanted to write a story about breast cancer, I knew I couldn’t write about cancer in Bible Times. That is when my contemporary romance writing began. I am blessed to be a nine-year breast cancer survivor. “Christmas at Whispering Creek” has a breast cancer story thread.

That will resonate with a lot of people.

What is the biggest challenge for you in being a writer?

I am part of the sandwich generation. I have family responsibilities for aging parents, and I like to be involved in the lives of my young adult children. As I have aged, those responsibilities have grown. Since visiting with family members involves travel, my writing time has shrunk, but the business of writing hasn’t shrunk. 

I pray to God to multiply my time, so I can write stories that glorify Him. Hopefully, after all these years, I can write a story that needs little revision. My focus always has to be on God, and then family, and then everything else. This sounds easy, but it’s a work in progress.

I hear you! And it's not easy, but it's worth it. :)

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

For me, inspiration is the key to writing a story. When plot ideas and characters keep emerging in my mind, I know I have the threads of a good story. I usually draft an outline and figure out who my characters are, and what they need to achieve.

I was taught to write with the goal-motivation-conflict model. A character must have a goal to achieve. The author must create believable motivations for their character. Conflict and tension must harass the character throughout the story…until they receive their goal and/or happily-ever-after. 

That's a great summation of that approach!

Do you have any underlying themes that you want your readers to come away with?

I always have a theme for my books. In “Escape to Whispering Creek,” the theme is “Where is God when your life is falling apart?” God is always with a believer, but sometimes God can feel far away. That’s on us, not Him.

Emma’s key verse is Psalm 18:2a:

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer.” (NIV)

Emma leans on that verse and her relationship with God to get through the trials in her life.

That's a beautiful scripture to lean on!

Do your characters ever surprise you?

If I am working in historical times, my characters don’t surprise me as much. When I work on a contemporary story, I find my characters surprise me all the time. With technology, there are a myriad of conflicts that can happen in present day stories. As an author, you have to draft a novel so that technology doesn’t make your plot points obsolete. One nice thing about history is that it doesn’t change.Technology and modern transportation do make writing contemporary stories easier. Sometimes you have to figure how to take away the 21st Century communication to place your characters in peril.

That's very true! When writing historicals, I have to do a lot of research to get familiar with the very different pace of the past.

So, what are you working on now?

I recently finished a short story collection about Jesus and His ministry around the Sea of Galilee. I visited Israel in March of 2023 and was inspired by walking the paths that Jesus and His disciples took around the sea.

Of course, at the moment, I am getting ready for Christmas.

Merry Christmas everyone! 

Thanks so much, Barbara!

Okay readers, here's some more about Barbara:

Barbara M. Britton lives in Southeast, Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. She is published in Biblical Fiction and loves bringing little-known Bible characters to light in her stories. Her contemporary romance series set in Whispering Creek, Tennessee, adds a faith thread to her love stories. Barbara is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and Romance Writers of America. She has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. 

You can connect with Barbara on her website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Instagram or BookBub.

Thanks for having me back on The Diamond Mine, Nancy. 

You can purchase “Escape to Whispering Creek” on Amazon or Barnes & Noble or wherever books are sold. Libraries can order it.

Book Video for “Escape to Whispering Creek”