Puzzles, Faith, and Suspense: An Interview with Gina Holder

 Welcome back to the diamond mine. I am so excited to introduce you to this week's guest. If you are a fan of escape rooms, games, puzzles, or an engaging romantic suspense, you are going to love Gina Holder. Keep reading to enter to win a copy of her May release.

About the Author

Gina Holder is an American indie author known for her Christian romantic suspense novels. She published her debut novel, Whither Shall I Go, in 2017, marking the beginning of her writing career. Her works often weave themes of faith, redemption, and forgiveness, aiming to inspire readers with uplifting messages rooted in Biblical principles.

Holder was raised in a family that fostered her love for books from a young age, which eventually led her to pursue a career in writing. She began writing short stories as a child and crafted her first novel by the age of twelve. Her dedication to her craft is evident as she continuously seeks to grow as an author, taking courses like the “Breaking into Print” program through the Long Ridge Writer’s Group.

Living in Wyoming with her husband and daughter, Holder balances her writing career with her roles as a stay-at-home mom and an active member of her church community. When she’s not writing, she enjoys activities like playing the piano, singing for worship services, cooking for her family, and indulging in Hallmark mysteries.

Holder’s novels, such as Forgiven Again, the second book in her “Shadows Over Whitman” series, reflect her passion for creating flawed characters who find redemption through faith. Her stories resonate with readers who appreciate suspenseful plots combined with Christian values. As an author, she is motivated by her desire to bring glory to God through her writing, often incorporating personal experiences and spiritual lessons into her work.

Holder is also an active member of the Christian readers and writers community and is involved in the writing community through her blog, where she shares insights, interviews, and book reviews​.

Connect with Gina: Website | Blog | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

Suzie: Welcome, Gina. Thank you for taking some time to share with us this week during your release month. Let's jump right in. Tell us a little bit about yourself (something that’s not in your bio):

Gina: I have visited 47 states in America and 16 countries worldwide. The coolest thing I’ve done is gone snorkeling in the Red Sea in Egypt.

Suzie: That sounds amazing. What was the catalyst for your interest in writing? 

Gina: Anne of Green Gables. I was going to grow up to be just like her.

Suzie: Weren't we all? Who was your favorite character to create? 

Gina: Liam Shepherd in The Escape Game. He is so kind and so protective that he kind of just melts your heart whenever he’s on the page.

Suzie: I agree with that. I kind of fell in love with Liam myself. How did you come up with the names of your characters? 

Gina: They tell me. 😊

Suzie: Are you a plotter or a panster? I am a plotter-wanna-be. 

Gina: I wish I could plot out my stories, but it always seems that I end up writing “by the seat of my pants.”

Suzie: I can relate! I like that the term "pantser" is slowly morphing into "discovery writer." What are your three books on your current tbr? 

Gina: Claire Holloway is Winging It by Angela Ruth Strong, Sung in the Shadows by Crystal Caudill, and The Life She Forgot by Joanna Davidson Politano.

Suzie: Oh, you've got some good reads ahead of you. Are you part of a writing group? 

Gina: Yes, I am. Kingdom Creative Writers here in Casper, Wyoming. We meet monthly, take workshops together, and attend events together. It’s a wonderful, supportive group.

Suzie: I love that. Have a community of writers is one of the highlights of writing for me. Do you have a favorite author or book? 

Gina: I have a long list of favorite authors, and they have a special place on my bookshelf. The best books I’ve ever read, that stuck with me to this day, would be A Slender Thread by Tracie Peterson, A Rumored Fortune by Joanna Davidson Politano, and The Measure of a Heart by Janette Oke.

Suzie: All excellent books. What’s next for you as an author? 

Gina: I am currently writing book 3 in The Game Masters series, The Missing Piece, that will be released in May of 2027. Homicide Detective Freddie Hood and passionate activist Ginny Clarke track down the infamous serial killer, Cipher, in New Orleans, after he takes the life of her best friend.

Suzie: Oh, can't wait to read it. Before you go, how can we pray for you? 

Gina: Please pray that I can finish my next book on time and that God would give me direction for what’s next. I have a few ideas, but I want to make sure I align myself with His will for my writing journey.

Suzie: We will be praying. Thank you for sharing with us this week. We look forward to reading The Escape Game.

About the Book

Twenty years ago, the world’s leading enigmatologist disappeared, leaving behind a cipher no one could solve… not without his journal.

Puzzle shop owner Demi Kayne has spent twenty years hoping her father would return home. When she discovers his hidden journal, she finally uncovers the clue she’s been waiting for—but it leads somewhere far more dangerous than she imagined.

Liam Shepherd, a missionary and escape-room enthusiast, is searching for answers of his own. His sister has vanished without a trace, and the trail of clues leads him straight to Demi—and the secrets hidden in her father’s journal.

Their search brings them to the eerie Ives Mansion, where its brilliant and reclusive owner has designed a deadly challenge. Once inside, Demi and Liam realize they’re no longer guests.

They’re players.

Trapped inside a twisted real-life mystery game, they must solve a series of lethal riddles before time runs out. Each puzzle brings them closer to the truth about Demi’s missing father and Liam’s sister —but also deeper into a carefully crafted game where the stakes are far higher than they're ready to face.

With the clock ticking and lives hanging in the balance, Demi and Liam must confront their fears, their pasts, and the faith that may be their only hope of escape.

In this gripping Christian suspense novel, every clue matters—and every mistake could be fatal.

Can Demi and Liam solve the final puzzle before the game ends…or will the escape room become their tomb?

Perfect for fans of Lynette Eason, Dani Pettrey, and Irene Hannon who enjoy puzzle-driven Christian suspense filled with danger, secrets, and faith under fire.

Amazon | Goodreads

Giveaway

Gina has graciously offered to give one of our readers (US addresses only) a paperback copy of The Escape Game. Enter below.

Enter Here

Meet Michelle Levigne and Enter for a Free Ebook

On the road to publication, Michelle fell into fandom in college. She has a bunch of useless degrees in theater, English, film/communication, and writing, and books and novellas in science fiction and fantasy, YA, suspense, women's fiction, and romance. Her official launch into publishing came with winning first place in the Writers of the Future contest in 1990. Her training includes the Institute for Children’s Literature; proofreading at an advertising agency;
and working at a community newspaper. She freelance edits for a living, but only enough to give her time to write. Her crimes against the literary world include co-managing editor at Mt. Zion Ridge Press, the publishing co-op, Ye Olde Dragon Books, and Ye Olde Dragon’s Library, the storytelling podcast.

Michelle is giving away an ebook copy of Common Grounds. Please comment by December 6. We need five comments to offer a giveaway.

I asked Michelle to share a bit about her favorite things:

What is your favorite?

Drink?
This time of year, hot chocolate – found this awesome peanut butter cup hot chocolate, with actual tiny peanut butter cups in it. Dangerously good!

Candy?
Dark chocolate. With occasional indulging in Dots.

Holiday tradition?
Operation Christmas Child, through Samaritan’s Purse. It’s fun seeing how much I can cram into shoebox-sized plastic boxes, to benefit a kid in another country. School supplies, toys, costume jewelry, socks, combs, harmonicas, etc.

Season?
Spring, when I can sleep with my windows open, and there’s daylight when I wake up in the morning.

Now, tell us a bit about yourself:

What genre do you enjoy reading most?

Fantasy. I’ve been finding some really good fantasy stories woven through Chinese mythology, and on the other end of the spectrum, a series where the main characters are dragons in our modern world

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

High school. I got an idea in my head, a story from a TV show that caught my imagination, and the only way I could get it out of my head so I could study for final exams was to try to write it down. Trying to write stories had always killed them before. This time … I kept going. And haven’t stopped, even with the “distraction” of going to college and working full-time. I have always loved stories, and I’ve always had a tendency to rewrite TV shows and books that I loved and wanted to keep going – or struck me as really stupid. My first published stories were all fan fiction, like Star Trek, Highlander, The Phoenix, Stingray, Stargate SG-1. My 5-book Arthurian fantasy series came from watching a really bad MacGyver episode that borrowed from A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. My version started out as a Fantasy Island fan story, then turned into one novel, then expanded into five. (See: The Zygradon Chronicles)

What’s really funny is that I found a DVD set of that TV series from high school (not saying how long ago that was ….) and in watching it, I cringed at some really bad storytelling … and started dreaming up how I would have done those scripts differently. Someday, I’m going to write some books where I fix all those scripts. And probably no one will recognize the series …… It’ll be a lot of fun.

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

This week, I hope to start final edits/formatting on Inquest, the 4th book in my science fiction/space opera series, AFV Defender – after that, I need to start final edits on Brighten Your Corner, the 3rd book in my cozy mystery series, Book & Mug Mysteries – while I’m doing that, I need to edit narration for The Beastly Beauty, the 2nd book in my Enchanted Castle Archives fantasy series, and decide when to release it. Oh, yeah … and I’m doing a Kickstarter for Inquest. My first Kickstarter. I’ve got a lot to learn …

What have you been working on?

What genre do you write and why did you choose that one?

The book Penny asked me to spotlight is Common Grounds, which is a romantic suspense, set in my

sweet romance series, Tabor Heights, which I am re-launching, expanding from ebook only to ebook, paper, and audio, from Mt. Zion Ridge Press.

That being said, I’m focusing more on my science fiction and fantasy. I have a cozy mystery series, Book & Mug Mysteries, that I’m doing for Mt. Zion Ridge, but everything else is SF/fantasy. A lot of time, the story chooses the genre. Some story ideas just “fit” better in a specific genre. For instance, that series I mentioned based on the TV show from high school – I’ve gone back and forth a couple times between an urban fantasy based in our modern world and a futuristic set on an alien planet. It all depends on how much the fantastical element wants to come out. There was a suspense story I wanted to write years ago, that started out as a modern-day story, but the legal elements of the story, where a powerful man kidnaps and holds captive a young woman he believes to be his daughter, eventually required me to make it science fiction before it “worked.” See: True Caderi, part of my Commonwealth Universe SF series from Writers Exchange.

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

That’s a funny thing – I don’t really know if I have a theme. I never set out to write a specific message. I was a theater major in college, and in playwriting class I can’t count how many professors said: If you want to send a message, use Western Union. I don’t set out to send a message, and I don’t choose a theme, but there’s a recurring undercurrent of the struggle to do right, of oppression from outside, stronger forces, of finding identity and family and purpose. A lot of my Commonwealth Universe stories, for example, deal with different groups of people who are oppressed by those who would dictate who is accepted, who is considered a “real” Human, and try to either erase or enslave those who don’t fit their narrow standards. I also have lots of sub-plots in other stories where nasty, powerful people try to force people into molds, whether political, religious, cultural, or genetic.

Specific to Common Grounds, my hero, Xander, is a lawyer setting up a branch office in Tabor Heights. He is getting some opposition from another lawyer, who happens to be a loud voice in his church. Mr. Montgomery just keeps criticizing and judging and sneering at anyone who disagrees with him, and uses a 50-pound Bible to pound people and force them to fit his narrow standards – all the while socializing with a local judge who comes under scrutiny for ethics violations. But don’t worry, Mr. Montgomery eventually punishes himself. He ends up having to either eat his words or leave his church when the pastor and leadership won’t bow to his demands. He’s so vicious to his daughter-in-law (“real” Christian women don’t do art, don’t have careers, don’t wear pants) that his son finally sees the light and stands up to him (The Family Way) and he loses access to his first grandchild.

Huh, funny what comes out from a question like that. I was going to pass this up, then I got thinking. It’s dangerous when you get me thinking!

The bottom line is that whatever “theme” or “message” comes out in a story, it’s not intentional. It comes from my personal feelings, my beliefs, my faith. I certainly don’t see it during the writing, and maybe not until much later. Like James Rubart says, “It’s hard to read the label when you’re inside the bottle.”

How do you select the names of your characters?

Sometimes I pick names for a specific meaning. Usually that’s in the planning stage, to help me create the characters. I have a Latin dictionary and a Greek dictionary, plus a baby name book and a character naming book that lists by ethnicities/cultures. For example, I’ll pick all Celtic names for the characters from one country, all Greek names for characters from another country.

Other times, I’ll pick a person or country or movement that’s being especially visible in the news and twist their names around. I have a lot of monsters and troublesome planets and governments in my SF stories based on political figures or political parties or movements. In the words of Hawkeye Pierce, I’m an equal-opportunity annoyer: I pick on loudmouths and boors from both sides of the aisle.

Sometimes, I just play with sounds, such as naming various countries that my wandering heroine travels through. Sometimes I get silly, and if you sound out the name of a country, it’s a string of words. Such as the phrase “ne’er do well” is now a country called Nayrdoweil.

Just for fun:

If you could have any super power, which would it be?

I’d be a Hoveni – that’s a metamorphic race in my Commonwealth Universe. They can change into any animal or plant to suit the need or situation. So if I needed to get somewhere fast, I’d become an animal that could fly or run at sonic speed. If I needed to hide, I’d become something really small. And of course, being a SF universe, there would be animals with telepathic powers, the ability to heal, to use natural radar to find things, and go invisible, when necessary.

But I wouldn’t tell any but a few people I completely trusted, because “different is dangerous,” and like they show in most TV shows, special people, aliens, magical creatures, either get locked up in labs for study, or they’re expected to save the world every week while different groups try to put them on leashes and control who they use those powers for, or call them vigilantes and persecute them. (See; a lot of Marvel movies) Secret identity, anyone?

Thanks so much for joining us today, Michelle.

If you'd like to follow Michelle:

www.Mlevigne.com

www.MichelleLevigne.blogspot.com – sign up for her newsletter

www.YeOldeDragonBooks.com

www.MtZionRidgePress.com

Facebook: Michelle Levigne, author and editor
Instagram: @MichelleLevigne, @2OldeDragons

Michelle is giving away an ebook copy of Common Grounds. Please comment by December 6. We need five comments to offer a giveaway.

Mission-minded Messages with Shirley Gould + a Giveaway

Welcome back to the Diamond Mine, friends. We are so grateful you continue to visit us each week and hope you have discovered some new favorite authors through us.

This week, I am tickled pink to introduce you to Shirley Gould and her latest books (yep, you read that right. Books, plural), and she's giving one of our readers copies of both.

About Shirley

Shirley Gould is an inspirational speaker, an African missionary, and an author. She’s the founder of Kenya’s Kids Home for Street Children, an orphanage in Kenya. Shirley has written non-fiction for thirty years and is presently writing Christian Fiction novels. Her debut novel, The Sahar of Zanzibar, was released in May 2021. Her first children’s book, Tubby Can’t Swim, was released in February 2021. She lives in the Nashville, Tennessee area.

Connect with Shirley: Amazon | Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Instagram

And Now for the Interview

Suzie: Welcome, Shirley, and thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to spend the week with us.

Let’s warm up with a few “would you rather” questions. Are you ready? Here goes: Would you rather live somewhere it is constantly summer or constantly winter?

Shirley: I’d rather live where it is constantly summer…in fact, I’ve already done that while serving as a missionary in Kenya for ten years. You can eat watermelon all year around!

Suzie: One of my favorite things about summer is the abundance of fruit.

Would you rather always say everything on your mind or never speak again?

Shirley: I would rather say what’s on my mind than to never speak. 

Suzie: Would you rather be without internet for a week, or without your phone?

Shirley:  I would rather be without the internet for a week than to be without my phone because of keeping in touch with my family.

Suzie: Sometimes taking that break from the internet is best for our sanity, anyway.

Ok, now that we’ve learned some random truths about you, give us some of the basics. Tell us about your family, day-to-day life, hobbies, etc.

Shirley: I’m a widow…I have three daughters, three sons-in-law, and seven grandchildren.

I run a ministry that helps orphans in Kenya. I write as often as possible. I also love oil painting.

Suzie: What are three books on your tbr right now?

Shirley: Three books on my tbr pile right now are

*DEAD EVEN by Susan Sleeman in the Truth Seekers Series

*SOME BRIGHT SOMEDAY by Melissa Tagg

*Rereading the 3rd book in The Bradford Sisters Series, by Becky Wade…I’m watching how she wove the characters of each book into the other volumes…like I’m doing in my African Skies Series

Suzie: Some good choices there. Can you share a little about your journey to publication? Who are your mentors and cheerleaders?

Shirley: I’ve studied the craft of writing for eight years with Susie May Warren and Novel Academy. I write my novels according to her The Story Equation method of writing. 

My late husband was the first to love my prose…now my family and friends are my faithful
cheerleaders, but the teachers of Novel Academy have been my mentors on this publication journey.

Suzie: Your newest release, The Sahar of Zanzibar, is set in Africa (as the entire African Skies series will be). Will you share an experience or two you’ve had with the country?

Shirley: As missionaries, my husband and I were one of three missionary couples that held the first open-air Christian Crusade in Stone Town on Zanzibar Island. 

While setting up for the service, a Zanzabarian grandmother brought her granddaughter to me. “Can your God heal?” was her question. I answered her in Swahili, “Yes, He does.”

She said, “Ask Him to heal my granddaughter.” I explained how the afternoon would transpire, there would be music and singing, the minister would preach, an altar call would be given asking those who want to give their lives to Jesus to come forward. Then He will call for those who need to be healed. It is then that you can bring her forward to be prayed for.” She nodded and said she would wait. I asked her the child’s name and why she needed healing. She said, “Her name is Happy and she is completely deaf.”

When the minister gave the appeal for those who wanted to be saved, the grandmother came forward with Happy. I was playing the keyboard for the altar time…watching Happy. Suddenly, she covered her ears with her hands. Her eyes were wide. She had been healed before anyone prayed for her.

Happy became one of the most successful witnesses on the island. Without fear, she would speak to Muslims. “Why are you praying to a dead god, my God heals. I was deaf—now I can hear.”

I put Happy in my novel. She is working as a tour guide in the story.

Another story…After the crusade, we had no place to build a church. All land was owned by Muslims…except one plot of land. 

In the late 1800s, a Protestant missionary martyr, anti-slavery crusader, David Livingstone, lived in Zanzibar. Since it was a law that every person who lived there had a place to be buried…the Parliament gave a plot of ground next to the Anglican Church so  David Livingstone and any other Christians would have a burial spot. They had the Anglican church take care of the property…mowing the lawn and keeping the perimeter fence secure. 

After our Crusade, leaders in the Anglican Church came to the man who was sent to pastor the new converts and gave him this plot of ground. They were tired of taking care of it for over one hundred years…

That is where the church is in my novel…

Suzie: Such powerful stories!

In addition to writing romantic suspense, you also published a children’s picture book in 2021 and you are a popular speaker. What is/has God teaching/taught you in each of those areas?

Shirley: Yes, Tubby Can’t Swim was published this year. It’s a colorful book that encourages children to be the best they can be, tell them that everyone is different, and shows friends trying to help each other. It is the first children’s book I’ve written in a series of ten books featuring African baby animals. 

Speaking gives me a great opportunity to share my passion for the Lord. I also can tell about my writing and have book signings after I speak at churches, ladies retreats, and women’s conventions. 

So many that have followed our mission career are interested in the many adventures I share as I speak with the purpose to challenge them to make a difference with their own lives.

Suzie: What can readers expect next from you?

Shirley: I’m doing edits on my next novel, Escape from Timbuktu, the second novel in my African Skies Series. I’ve written the second book Ollie Tries to Fly in my series of Children’s books. It is ready to go to the illustrator.

Suzie: Goodness, you are one busy lady! The final question I have for you today is: how can we pray for you?

Shirley: I would ask for prayer as I market and sell these books. I’m finding marketing is much harder than writing the book.

Suzie: Boy, isn't that the truth? 

Thank you again for taking the time out of your packed schedule to share some of your experiences, your heart, and your writing with us. We look forward to learning where God takes you next.

About The Sahar of Zanzibar

In a scary case of mistaken identity, Olivia Stone is threatened by Aga Kahn, a powerful Indian ruler, because she could pass as 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's an instant connection between Olivia and Eli that escalates when he comes to her rescue again and again. Amid the chaos, Eli tries to prove Kahn murdered his late wife. After 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... 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books A Million | IndieBound | Goodreads

About Tubby Can't Swim

A hippo who needs to know how to swim because hippos stay in the water all day. His friends teach

him how to swim, but it won't work. The wild owl tells him hippos don't swim, they just stay in the shallow waters.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books A Million | IndieBound |Goodreads

Giveaway

One winner will receive autographed print copies of The Sahar of Zanzibar and Tubby Can't Swim! by Shirley Gould. Giveaway is open to US mailing addresses only and ends at 11:59 PM EST, Tuesday, 8/31/21.

1.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Diggin' in the Dirt with Susan Sleeman

The Purveyor of Tomatoes?

I'm so happy to be back on the Diamond Mine, folks. It’s great to see you! It’s good to be back with the Diamond Mine. Life hasn’t been kind but then since when is life anything but? I know I can always find solace in the Lord’s fold and that’s exactly what the Diamond Mine was created to be . . . a special place. The Diamond Mine is where Words are more than letters on a page and when God speaks, all are willing to hear.

For right now though, I know an amazing suspense writer I’d like you to meet. She is known for her many crime novels and series which are dead-on for authenticity. Many don’t realize that this author is a graduate of the FBI Citizen's Academy as well as other local law enforcement academies which gives credence to the action-filled plotlines and life-like characters filling her books. If you don’t know Susan Sleeman through her books, then you may know her as host of TheSuspenseZone.com. Either way, I rest assured that you’ll love this Purveyor of Sleuth as much as I do.

GIVEAWAY!!!

When the sunsets, justice wins the day, and Susan hangs her hat in Oregon with her retired church music director of a hubby, two beautiful daughters, an incredibly special son-in-law, and an adorable grandson. She snuggles into her big comfy couch as those big doors close and keep the evil world at bay . . . at least for a while.

So— to celebrate my Diamond Mine Homecoming, please welcome Susan Sleeman to the couch! Oh, and as part of all my Gemstone Interviews, don’t forget to check out the “special information” at the end of the chat! That’s geek-speak for GIVEAWAY!!! 😉

ONWARD AND UPWARD! Let’s meet Susan now.

____________________________________

Interview

RB: Hi, Susan and welcome to the Diamond Mine. I’m excited to be back on board here and even more to have you as my guest! You are quite the suspense and crime author and we have so much to talk about today. How about I stop jabbering so we can get started?

SS: Wow, thanks for the introduction. You’d make a camel blush with all those fancy words. It’s me who is honored, and I’m thrilled to be here as well.

SUSAN SLEEMAN

RB: You are welcome. You deserve it and more. I’d like to start out this interview by getting to know you and I’m sure the readers would like to do the same. So, Susan, if you could say one thing about yourself and your books, what would it be?

SS: First and foremost, I would want readers to know I am a Christian and love God. I hope this shows in my books. I don’t set out to write a Christian book, but my faith is such a part of my life that I can't not include it. In fact, I have written one secular series, and not including my faith and a message of hope and change was the hardest thing I have ever done as a writer.

RB: I would have to agree. I don't think I could omit the very thing in my life that gives me the strength to breathe. I wish I could hike into the mountains and breathe in that cool, clear mountain air. That's what I usually do when I need time alone with the Lord. Do you have a special place for the two of you? Or a place you'd like to visit?

SS:  Mmmm... (A brief silence ensued. Suddenly a sharp sound reverberated through the stillness when Susan snapped her fingers.) England, I've always wanted to travel to England. I'm a big BBC TV fan and I would love to visit some of the small villages I see in the shows. And my hubby's family is from Cornwall so I would like to see that area too.

RB: I love to watch BBC as well! My husband and I got hooked on a show this last year through Prime called Poldark. It was great to watch one of these shows again! My dream is to go to Scotland, my husband's homeland, well, his not so distant ancestors' homeland. ;) I should've known that man was a Scot when I met him! His hobbies gave him away - coaching and officiating USA wrestling, hunting, fishing, debating, apologetics. I liked to read and hang out with my friends at the time!

Speaking of hobbies, what do you like to do when you aren't writing and editing your awesome tales, Susan?

__________

________________________

_______________________________________

BOOK GIVEAWAY!

SUSAN SLEEMAN'S

SECONDS TO LIVE

HOMELAND HEROES #1

PRIZE:

One PRINT COPY of SECONDS TO LIVE by SUSAN SLEEMAN

HOW TO ENTER:

Leave a personal comment regarding this interview with your email address in the comment section following this post.

RULES: One winner will be selected by Renee Blare seven days from the post date of this blog from eligible entries and notified by entry email. Entrant will be selected from those residing in the United States and its territories, void where prohibited by law.

_______________________________________

________________________

___________

SS: Yes, I have a favorite hobby. I love to garden. Both flower and vegetable gardening. I love spending time outside, seeing God's handiwork as the flowers unfurl and the seeds sprout to produce organic fruits and vegetables for my family. To outwit squirrels who love to steal my first tomatoes and strawberries of the year., and the birds who think I have planted raspberries and blueberries just for them. Oh...and I also just plain love digging in the dirt. Maybe I didn't get enough of it as a child. LOL

And I enjoy trying out new varieties of plants. and foods. These purple tomatoes are just like God's jewels in the garden. in the garden.

RB: Diggin' in the dirt... that sounds like so much fun! I can see how that would be a great hobby. Talk about getting back to the basics! LOL

I guess we have to talk books now (winks), so . . . . turning to the writing side of your life now, what is your biggest challenge as an author?

SS: At this point in my career as an author, I have written over forty published books and another five that will never be seen. I write romantic suspense so coming up with unique and exciting plot twists is becoming a challenge. I can easily come up with an overarching plot, but the nitty-gritty details that move the story forward is getting harder for me to develop.

RB: I can see that being a challenge. And your characters?

SS: I always write in a series. So before I begin the series, I create the traits of all the main characters. I make sure they are all different in what drives them, and then I begin to ask them questions like what's your greatest fear or what do you want most in life?

RB: And in your books, they achieve these things?

SS: Sometimes, and in others, no. I do my best to create situations where their characteristics are displayed and show how they must change and grow. I put them with the lead character who is their opposite to provide instant conflict and a chance to show how they must change and grow to be their best self. Much like how we - in the real world - are challenged with dilemmas and must make similar decisions when faced with the same adversity. In many ways, I believe that makes the characters not only interesting but, for the most part, just as real.

RB: And I believe you do an amazing job at it, Susan. An amazing job! I have one last question for you and I'll let you go back to your digging in the dirt. If for some unforeseen reason you could not write anymore, what would you do? Would you continue in the "writing world" professionally?

SS: If I could not write novels, I would not have a writing career. Period. I am not at all interested in writing for other publications or short stories, etc. It's just not my thing.

So if I could no longer write, I would either retire or go into graphic design. I have basic design skills, but would have to get a degree to do it well, and that in itself would be fun and interesting for me.

RB: You sound like a determined, interesting lady and I wish you the best. Thanks for being here on the Diamond Mine with us!

SS: Thank you for allowing me to share my writing and life on your wonderful blog, Renee. I am happy to offer your readers a print copy of Seconds to Live. This is Book One in my HOMELAND HEROES series and it was just recently named a finalist in the FHL Reader's Choice Award in their Romantic Suspense Category. To enter to win the copy, just comment on this blog with your email address!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

SUSAN SLEEMAN is the bestselling author of over forty novels with more than one million books sold. She writes romantic suspense novels that are clear with inspiring messages of faith. Readers love her series for the well-drawn characters and edge-of-your-seat action. She graduated from the FBI and local police citizen academies, so her research is spot-on and her characters are real.

In addition to writing, Susan also hosts TheSuspenseZone.com. She has lived in nine states but now calls Oregon home. Her husband is a retired church music director, and they have two beautiful daughters, a very special son-in-law, and an adorable grandson.

To learn more about Susan's books sign up for her monthly email that includes exclusive excerpts, giveaways, and other goodies.

http://www.susansleeman.com/susans-newsletter/

Or stop by any of these locations on the web.

Website - http://www.susansleeman.com

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/SusanSleemanBooks

Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/susansleeman 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/susansleeman/

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4053429.Susan_Sleeman

BookBub - https://www.bookbub.com/authors/susan-sleeman

Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Susan-Sleeman/e/B003ANF6Z8

Review Site - http://www.TheSuspenseZone.com

ABOUT THE MINER

RENEE BLARE

RENEE BLARE loves to read and write. She spends her time now judging writing contests for ACFW, scribbling her thoughts in her journal, and editing for beloved friends any chance she can get.

A multi-published, bestselling author through Pelican Book Group and a pharmacist by trade, she wrote and served the down-home folks of Wyoming until afflicted in 2017 with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type 2 or Causalgia, the most painful nerve disease in the world. At this time, she struggles to write, blog, think . . . and has found a new love in the arts, but fights on.

Before her new life with severe pain arrived, she wrote any time she could spare and now prays to do so again someday. A romantic suspense author who writes with a flair of mystery, Renee is known to keep her readers guessing while constantly turning the pages. "Never a dull moment," as they like to say.

You can discover more about this creative and fascinating writer at her website:

https://reneeblarebooks.com/

Search her out on social media too! She's everywhere. 

Surprising Facts about Delia Latham And Her New Release

It’s so nice to have Delia Latham on the Diamond Mine today! Wait till you read what she’s been working on. Take it away, Delia.

Give me one fact about you as an author that most people don’t know.

Once upon a time, in a far and distant land…well, at least in another time and place…I was the lead singer in a Country Western band. Even then, I wrote—songs, of course, both gospel and country. (I was also working as a Staff Writer for the largest daily paper in Kern County, California, and freelancing numerous articles to a regional magazine, so I was writing a lot.) Had a grand time with the band, but it was just a curve in the road of life that brought me to where I am now.

As Christian writers, we long to share God’s love, goodness, and grace with others through our writing. But quite often our stories speak to us as much as our readers. How did God use this story to help you stretch and grow as a person?

I’ve been blessed all my life to have people who love and watch out for me—friends and family who are always there to help with whatever I need and wish only the best for me. It’s easy to forget that not everyone has that—some people are forced to scratch and claw, with no help from anyone, just to have the basic necessities. This book awakened me to a couple of things that are all too easy to overlook. 1) Be grateful for what you have, be it ever so humble. As the Apostle Paul said, “For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” 2) Keep an eye out for fellow “travelers” in this world who could use encouragement, a hand up, or even a kind word and a smile. You never know when your kindness will literally change someone’s world.

What is the quality you like the most about your heroine?

Norah is smart, determined, and tough. Nothing in life is handed to her on a silver platter. She knows the world doesn’t “owe” her a living, and she’s willing to work to better herself, and do whatever it takes to make a home for her son. I’m not sure I’d be so strong and self-sufficient in the same situation, but I admire women who are. Norah’s character was created to be a little like a sweet, godly woman who is very dear to me, someone I love, admire and respect. In many ways, she’s who I want to be when I grow up. 😊

Being a writer is a busy life, isn’t it? I’m sure you’re working on something new to intrigue your readers. What’s in the works for you right now?

Sweet Scent of Forgiveness, available now for pre-order, will release April 14. I’m working on Book 2, Radiant Rays of Grace, which will be followed by Glorious Gift of Hope. Potter’s House Books all have themes of hope, redemption and second chances. I love the concept, and I’m always grateful for projects that provide an opportunity to touch the hearts of hurting, desperate, searching people—those who, even if they don’t know it, are looking to fill a God-sized hole in their lives. I pray these books will fulfill that goal, touching hearts and stirring souls to look up…to Christ.

Delia will give away an electronic copy of Sweet Scent of Forgiveness as a special, "early" gift to the winner who comments below and leaves their email address. She also has a novella in a Christian fiction anthology that releases the same day! Speakeasy: Collection 1 is three novellas by three different authors. She'll give an electronic copy of her Speakeasy story, Something Almost Heavenly if there are five comments or more.   

Book Blurb:

Norah has a delightful seven-year-old son, owns a thriving nursery business in the Sierra Blanca Mountains of New Mexico, and adores both. She’s past the horrors of earlier years and life is good.

Then Marcus Corman walks into her nursery looking for a couple of special rose bushes. For the first time since she met her late husband, Norah finds herself drawn to a man. Even so, she’s not ready to trust love again.

Neither is Marcus. His ex-wife abandoned him and their infant daughter years ago. Why bring another possible source of pain into little Juliet’s life?

Still, Norah and Marcus find themselves thrust together when their children meet and become fast friends. But as their attraction becomes undeniable, a dark shadow from Norah's past finds her and her son. Will Marcus turn away as all is revealed?

Within the petals of a rose lies a profound message. Will they find it in time to save Norah's life and open the door to love?

Buy link:

https://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Scent-Forgiveness-Potters-House-ebook/dp/B085X6FP5L/

Social Media Links:

Amazon Author Page

Facebook

Twitter

Author Bio:

Delia and her husband Johnny live in East Texas, where their pampered Pomeranian, Kona, kindly allows them to share her home. The author enjoys multiple life roles as wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, but above all, she loves being a princess daughter to the King of kings. She admits to a lifelong, mostly un-battled Dr. Pepper addiction, and loves hearing from her readers.