Heather Kaufman Brings Biblical Fiction to Life

I'm so excited to bring our next guest on The Diamond Mine of Christian Fiction! Heather Kaufman's new release entitled On Living Stone is the third book in the Women of the Way series, and I believe it will be a blessing to all our readers!

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PT: Welcome, Heather! First let the readers know from what region you hail.  Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, South, or Southwest?

HK: I’m from the Midwest where the weather is forever fickle!

PT: Me too! Just survived 14 inches of snow and now it is 50 degrees, LOL. Gotta love that! What lured you to writing and what genre do you write in?

HK: There’s something about escaping into the world of story that has always compelled me. From a young age, I enjoyed reading, and in middle school I set my heart on becoming a novelist. I love playing with words and creating stories that transport and captivate readers. I also love studying the Bible. Now I write in the Biblical fiction genre which allows me to marry my two loves—story and the Word. It’s been so transformative to imaginatively place myself in biblical events . . . to slow down and linger in ways I hadn’t before.

PT: Wow, great niche for you! Could you tell us what you want to impart to your readers through your books?

HK: I hope to invite readers to linger with me in the pages of Scripture. It can be easy to gloss over names we’ve read a thousand times, but there’s so much value in slowing down and placing ourselves in those first-century disciples’ shoes. There’s also great value in studying the Gospels through a cultural lens. When we do so, we’ll find that Jesus is even more beautiful than we can imagine. I hope readers are invited into deeper intimacy with Jesus and find themselves picking up their Bibles with renewed excitement.

PT: That’s a worthy goal. Now, give us your typical day/work time/devotion time, etc.

HK: I have three elementary age kiddos, so I wake up before they do to enjoy my time in the Word. After the morning rush of getting them off to school, I sit myself down to write in the morning when I’m freshest. After lunch, I transition to other tasks such as crafting social media posts, my author newsletter, emails, etc. Before picking the kids up for school, I squeeze in some Pilates. And, of course, there’s all the normal, every day, endless tasks of laundry, grocery shopping, and cleaning! This is the first year all three of my kids are in school full-time. Most of my Women of the Way series was written in the margins—naptimes, preschool mornings, evenings, etc. It’s been an amazing transition to have more daytime hours for my work!

PT: Do you have a Bible verse that currently inspires you?

HK: Ephesians 2:20 has become especially meaningful this past year, and it served as inspiration for my latest book, On Living Stone. Leading up to this verse, Paul is discussing the reconciliation of Jew and Gentile in Christ and culminates with the message of a unified dwelling that is built upon the “foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone” (NIV). I love this picture of the Church. There’s so much that can divide us, so much that feels shaky and uncertain in this world. But Christ is stability and in Him we have unity! What a beautiful picture and a taste of what heaven will be like.

PT: Yes, having Christ Jesus as our cornerstone helps us face all kinds of trials. I love that reminder. I’d like to find out some of your favorite things! First of all, Coffee, tea, water or other?

HK: I enjoy dark roast coffee in the mornings with oat milk creamer and maple syrup as a sweetener. In the afternoons, I enjoy herbal tea.

PT: Cat or dog?

HK: I’m allergic to cats, so I’m fully in camp “dog.” I had a golden retriever growing up, and my husband and I adopted a Jack Russell mix soon after we got married. He was a great family dog for many years and lived a long and loved life.

PT: City or country?

HK: I get a little disoriented in cities, which is funny because I live near St. Louis and my husband works downtown! If we go into the city as a family, I make him drive. So, I’m going with country for this one.

PT: Favorite color?

HK: I love earth tones—dark greens, browns, rusty oranges, and lighter neutrals.

PT: Favorite weather?

HK: I love springtime! The weather is still mild and the promise of new life is everywhere. Unlike the colder months where I just want to hibernate and do nothing, I get so energized in the spring and begin tackling a bunch of new projects. Now, whether I follow through with all of them or not is another thing!

PT: Favorite T-shirt (or other favorite)

HK: I have an old T-shirt from Well-Watered Women with the Fruit of the Spirit represented as flowers. Not only is it beautiful and comfy but it’s just the right amount of baggy. It’s pretty worn at this point, but I’ll never part with it!

PT: Love those favorites! Next is my favorite prompt. Tell 5 things about Heather Kaufman that have nothing to do with writing.

HK: 1) I grew up as a military brat and moved all over the U.S. although never oversees. The Midwest, however, feels like home since my dad retired here and I did both my undergraduate and graduate degrees here.

2) I’m half Italian. My paternal grandmother was born in Italy and in 2005, I had the opportunity to travel to Italy with her—an experience I will never forget!

3) I will pick savory food over sweets any day!

 4) I’m the oldest of six, and my youngest brother is still in college. There’s sixteen years between us.

5) My favorite holiday is Easter. There’s less commercialism surrounding it than Christmas, but it’s still filled with fun family traditions, and it takes place in my favorite season—Spring! Especially after writing my Women of the Way series, Christ’s resurrection is just so precious. I find myself filled with anticipation leading up to this holiday!

PT: Let’s center on your amazing books. How did you conceive the idea of your series Women of the Way and how you selected Martha, Joanna, and Salome?

HK: The first book in the series, Up from Dust:Martha’s Story, came to me back in 2016 during an Easter sermon. I was struck by a deep admiration for Martha as she encounters Christ in John 11. Her brother is four days dead, she is personally disappointed in Jesus, and yet she gives one of the strongest confessions of Christ as Messiah in the Gospels! I knew right then that I wanted to write her fictional backstory, tracing how she transformed from a woman wrapped up in worry to a woman of strong faith. Initially, I was going to write a trilogy on the siblings: Martha, Lazarus, and Mary. When Bethany House showed interest, they suggested pivoting and doing female followers of Christ. I was instantly intrigued by the idea and knew that if I was going to do this, it would be the “lesser-known” women surrounding Jesus. I relished the challenge of digging into women who haven’t been portrayed as much in fiction. Joanna’s name came right away, since I’ve always wondered what her discipleship looked like since her husband was so close to Herod Antipas. Salome’s name came next because I’ve always had empathy for this mother who longed for her boys to remain close to Jesus’ side.

PT: Talk about your newest book On Living Stone.

Every stone sings as it finds its purpose. This is the lesson restless Salome learns from her father as she grows up by the Sea of Galilee. Known as the wild girl with the quick tongue, Salome is determined to silence the critics who claim she has no future. An unexpected romance and the gift of two sons, James and John, leave her hopeful and resolved to prove herself as a mother.

Salome’s dreams are challenged, however, when her sons answer the call to follow Jesus of Nazareth. As James and John are drawn deeper into Jesus’ Ministry, opposition to his message intensifies, leaving Salome with a choice. Can her family continue down the path of discipleship, when it might cost them everything? With threat abounding, Salome must confront her fears, even as she discovers her own worth in the most unexpected rabbi.

A journey of faith unfolds in this New Testament-inspired story of Salome, mother of Jesus’ apostles James and John. This compelling biblical fiction book explores themes of family, sacrifice, courage, and redemption, making it a stirring read for fans of The Chosen, Francine Rivers, Tessa Afshar, and Angela Hunt.

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HK: On LivingStone is the story of Salome, the mother of the Sons of Thunder—the Apostles James and John. In keeping with the format of my first two books, I structure the story in a Part One / Part Two. Part One gives us the “before picture” as Salome falls in love and has her sons. We walk with her through grief and joy and get a peek into what forms her as a person. Part Two gives us the “after picture,” moving forward in time to when Jesus comes on the scene and changes everything. It was such a unique perspective to explore—viewing Jesus’ ministry through the eyes of a mother watching her sons being formed into pillars of his Church!

PT: Oh, gracious! I can’t wait to read it! How involved is the historical/Biblical research for each of these books?

HK: The research has been incredibly involved! Before and during the writing of Up from Dust, I read books on how to approach the Bible through a cultural lens, what daily life looked like at the time of Jesus, commentaries on key biblical passages, and even some Christian living books that touched upon Martha. When I began writing Before the King, it was like starting all over again with the research because Joanna came from a much different background than Martha. I studied the politics of the time, especially in regards to Herod Antipas, and did research on the lifestyles of the affluent, city life, and Sadducean beliefs. For On Living Stone, I was able to draw upon a lot of my previous research and had built up a decent library by that time. My reading mainly revolved around studying the twelve apostles, reading all four Gospels chronologically, and diving into the fishing industry. So much goes into writing biblical fiction because not only are you trying to get the facts straight and stay true to Scripture, but there’s also a theological underpinning to the story that needs to remain sturdy, strong, and true. I cover each of my books with tears and prayers!

PT: I’ll be honest, I’ve read Up from Dust and it was so, so good. So good! (Readers don’t miss this one!) I have your next book Before the King which I can’t wait to dive into. Your books were the first I’ve ever read in Biblical fiction. So, my questions is, how do you construct your stories along with subplots around actual Biblical characters?

HK: Because my heroines are real women from the Bible, I begin with what we know of them from Scripture and then ask myself how they came by those characteristics. For example, with Martha, we see her wrapped up in worry. Christ gently observes that she is “worried and upset about many things” (Luke 10:41 NIV). And so, I imaginatively wondered what “things” Martha carried in her heart that weighed her down. What formed her into the Martha we see in Scripture?

With Joanna we see a brave woman who dares to support Jesus’ ministry even though she comes from a sphere where this was surely dangerous. I wondered how she came by that bravery. What happened in her life that made her desirous for truth and willing to risk her position for what she believed in? With Salome we see a determined mother who will do anything for her sons. She needs to learn to let go of her vision of the future and submit her plans to Christ. What might make this tricky for her? What background might she have had that informed her character and made surrender difficult? Part One in each story is an exploration of my heroine’s formative years so that hopefully, by the time we get to Part Two and some of those known events from Scripture, they land a little differently because we’ve walked so closely with this heroine and now experience those biblical events like we’re standing right there.

PT: Will there be more books in your Women of theWay series or are you heading in a new direction? If so, what Bible characters are next?

HK: On LivingStone concludes the Women of the Way series, but I’ve signed a two-book contract with Bethany House for a new series! This new duology will still be New Testament era biblical fiction but will take place in Samaria and include more fictional characters as well as a male POV. The bulk of the first book occurs before Jesus’ ministry and the second will coincide with His ministry. Both stories will hopefully serve to highlight the Samaritans—a group of people it can be easy to overlook and yet a group of people Jesus was very intentional in reaching. The first book is scheduled to release August of 2027, so there will be a bit of a wait, but I’m hoping readers find it worth that wait!

PT: I am absolutely sure it will be worth the wait! Thank you so much for joining us on the Diamond Mine of Christian Fiction, Heather.

And Heather has graciously offered a print copy of her book, On Living Stone (US address) for one blessed person who comments or leaves her/his information on our contact form. Don’t miss this great opportunity! 

ENTER NOW for the drawing! 

If you can't wait, click the links above or below and add these books to your TBR right this minute!

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Heather Kaufman is the author of multiple books, and her devotional writing has appeared in such publications as Portals of Prayer, Open Windows, YouVersion, and Guideposts. Her novel Up from Dust was a Carol Award finalist. An editor-turned-writer, Heather worked eight years in the publishing industry while earning her master’s degree and spinning tales late into the night. When she fell in love with studying the Bible through a cultural lens, the words of Scripture came springing to life, and Jesus became even more astoundingly beautiful. Now she delights in crafting stories that highlight the goodness of God and compel readers deeper into the Bible. When not reading, writing, or accumulating mounds of books, Heather can be found exploring new parks with her husband and three children near their home in St. Louis, Missouri. Learn more and stay in touch at HMKStories.com.

Newsletter: https://www.hmkstories.com/newsletter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hmkstories/

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

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/heather-kaufman

Goodreads: https://goodreads.com/hmkstories

Jaime Jo Wright and her Chilling Chiller Novels!

Creeeeeaaak. Door eases open. Step. Step. Step. Pause. Silence. Good evening, my darlings. Come closer to the coffin so I can see you better, my pretties. Ah, ah, ah…ahhhh.

Reader's choice giveaway to follow! Leaping lizards, don't miss that!

Ahem. Sorry. I think I just got caught up in the in the atmosphere of this week's interview with Jaime Jo Wright!

Booya! Now, don't be alarmed. No caped Bella Lugosi shall step from the shadows. But there is plenty of  eerie loveliness in Jaimi's novels. Pat your face with the white make-up by the door, don your cape, and join the fun. Baaaaaha-haaaaaa! Goohblah.

PT: Welcome Jaime! I just read The House on Foster Hill. Man alive, (no pun intended) was I hooked from the first page! BTW, its a 2018 Christy Award winner. And now, The Curse of Misty Wayfair is out, and I can barely restrain myself from digging into its dark pages. So tell us, how did you settle on writing books set at the turn of the century with a touch of suspense? (Note the splendid creepiness on that cover!)

Ahhh, the splendid creepiness. :)

JJW:  I’ve always had a fascination with history—specifically the early 1900’s as that’s when the bulk of my own family history can be traced back to. So it’s always neat to study the era of my great-great grandparents! As for suspense/mystery, it’s been my go-to since I was a kid and introduced to Nancy Drew. The questions and intrigue are always the best!

PT: How do you do your historic research? It must involve a great deal of work.

JJW: Google, library, etc.  Mostly online. Sometimes I use reference books. I could utilize the library more, but I learned from a close author friend, Erica Vetsch, that it’s more fun to buy and own your own library of reference books! 😊

PT:  Ah yes, books. Delightful books. But I digress. So if you had to tell the readers about travel, recipes, or a special gift, which one would you choose?

JJW: I love to travel!! Before kids, I was more of a world traveler, now I stick more to the States. But I’ve been to Thailand, Nepal, China, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, and more! My favorite place and city of my heart is, Rome! 

PT: Ah, travel. Interesting. Now, tell the readers your most inspiring location to write from? 

JJW: Probably at home in my chair with a cup of coffee. Either that, or my local coffee shop. I do love the hustle and bustle of people around me while I write!

PT: While staying under cover as novelist of intrigue, no doubt. (wink) But all dark fun aside. Let's get to things that are truly everlasting. What Bible verse is currently the most inspiring to you right now? 

JJW: I really love Psalm 4:8. “In peace I will both lay down and sleep. For you, O Lord, make me dwell in safety”. It’s such a comforting Scripture. That childlike faith of knowing someone else is watching over things!!

PT: Now, look deeply into my eyes. You are under my control. (Yeah, yeah. Just go along with it, LOL.) You will answer 5 questions about Jaime Jo Wright that have nothing to do with writing.

JJW: My favorite color is red. Barn red, preferably. 😊

I love cats. All things cats!! I have three of my own, Maddie, Ivy, and Fluffers. (Or I call him “Foo Foo”.)

I am well known for being able to fall asleep anywhere. I’ve fallen asleep on rocky shorelines, in the middle of church service, and I even drifted off when I was in labor with my daughter.

I have a thing for sweaters. Big, oversized, cozy sweaters!

PT: Cats? Indeed. Oh, ye dark and fearless felines who evaporate into the murky shadows of midnight… Uh, yeah. Perhaps you should just belly up with one of Jaime Jo Wright's novels. Like this one:

Quiver. Such ghoulish glee I see!

PT: Ah, my TBR pile just grew. How about yours? And guess what, my faithful followers? Jaime is giving away a book of your choice! Either The House on Foster Hill or The Curse of Misty Wayfair! You. Can. Choose. CHOOSE!

 DO NOT MISS THIS BOOK GIVEAWAY, 

MY

REMARKABLY

RELIABLE READERS. 

Leave a comment for Jaime and don't forget your email! For, I, thy noble picker-out-of-the hat blogger, will not be able to choose you, if thou doest not leave thou email. Ah, gee. That was fun. 

SNAP (I disappear.)

Author Interview with Connilyn Cossette!

Hi! V. Joy Palmer here! Since we are all friends here, you guys can call me Joy. ; ) And since we are all friends, one of my favorite things to do is talk with my friends, family, the teens I mentor, and everyone else at coffee shops/bookstores. Books and yummy drinks are the perfect combination, after all. So, consider this our virtual coffee shop. I’ll wait a second for you to get your warm drink and a fuzzy blanket before we chat with today’s guest. ;-)

We are prying into the private life chatting with Connilyn Cossette, the amazing author of the Out from Egypt Series and the Cities of Refuge Series. I am currently reading Shelter of the Most High, which released October 2nd! IT IS AMAZING!!!

 

Connilyn Cossette is the CBA bestselling author of the Out from Egypt series. Her debut novel, Counted with the Stars, was a finalist for the Christy Award, the INSPY Award, and the Christian Retailing's Best Award. She lives in North Carolina with her husband of over twenty years and a son and a daughter who fill her days with joy, inspiration, and laughter. Connect with her at www.ConnilynCossette.com.

 

You can also connect with Connilyn Cossette on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest!

Interview ~

Food question! What do you munch on while you’re writing / researching / editing? This may be the most important question... No pressure. ;-)

 

Mostly I just drink coffee or Diet Dr. Pepper because when I am focused on writing or editing I am usually too absorbed to snack much and if I do I get carried away and graze mindlessly so that can be dangerous. That being said, I do keep a bag of Werther’s Coffee Caramel Hard Candies in a drawer to pop in my mouth when I get a craving for something sweet. Not that there haven’t been various stashes of chocolate around my office, because where else am I going to hide that stuff from my kids??

Candy or chocolate paired with coffee sounds like the perfect combination!! Since I'm still feeling particularly nosy, what does "a day in the life of Connilyn Cossette" look like?

Well, I am a night owl. So my day doesn’t usually get rolling until about 9am and my brain doesn’t truly kick in until around 10am and the coffee has hit my bloodstream. So yes, coffee first and then I usually spend a while getting my kids settled into their school day. We homeschool but now that they are older they are a little more independent so I organize their weekly/daily schedule on Google Sheets so we can all keep track in real time and they are responsible to complete those lists each day. My daughter is pretty self-motivated so she usually whips through fairly quickly but my son is more like me, a day-dreamer and a procrastinator, so much of my day is reminding him to hurry up and get done or suffer the wrath of extra household chores… During this time I am also dealing with social media stuff, marketing plans, emails, blogs, editing, plotting etc. Then in the early afternoon I try to get some writing done but am most productive at night when everyone is asleep and I can have silence. I usually grab a power-nap around 4:30 or so, I’ve trained my brain to fall asleep to podcasts in my headphones so I can usually snooze for about 30 minutes and then I’m set to go until 1 or 2 am. Evening consists of getting dinner ready for hubby to come home (although I am not a great cook, I’m much too impatient and day-dreamy and I have a weird aversion to measuring precisely—so pray for my family). Once things settle down in the evening and the kids are tucked into beds reading their own books, I enter my story world and have a great time talking with my imaginary friends. Most nights I text back and forth with Nicole Deese, my writing partner, into the wee hours as we work on scenes and talk about our imaginary friends with each other. So, there you have it—my glamorous and exciting life as an author in a nutshell!

I'm also a night owl, so I can totally relate! LOL! On top of being a writer, you are also a homeschooling mom. I think this is the route we'll take with our daughter, so I would love to know what prompted you to want to home educate your children and how do you balance both?

 

There were a few factors that went into our decision. I didn’t set out to homeschool, and in fact went to college to be a public school teacher but God just had other plans. By the time my son started kindergarten we’d already done a lot of learning at home and he was academically way beyond Kindergarten but nowhere near mature enough to head into first grade so it just made better sense at the time. And then I just fell in love with teaching my kids and watching them have lightbulb moments as they learned to read and write. We have a great time learning history together in particular. We’ve had lots of struggles over the years (usually with math…because, well, I’m a writer not a math-er) but it is so rewarding and I can’t even imagine not doing it now. Thankfully we have great resources to help with the balance and now that they are older they are much more independent. And this year both kids attend classes on Wednesdays and Thursdays so I have two uninterrupted days of productivity, which has been awesome for all three of us. One of the best things about homeschooling is that I don’t have to get up early and sit in a car line so we start school later in the day and I can write late and sleep in. Yay for school in jammies! I am so grateful we live in a country that gives us all the freedom to do what is best for our own families and situations.

Jammies are the best! LOL! Do you relate particularly well to any one of the characters in your latest release, Shelter of the Most High? Why or why not?

 

I always find little ways I relate to many of my characters but in Shelter of the Most High I think perhaps I connected the most with Eitan’s struggle with recurring self-condemnation. In order to avoid spoilers I won’t say exactly how he handles these issues but I think for me, and for many other followers of Jesus, I have a habit of bringing up my past sins and beating myself over the head with them, even though His grace is sufficient and I have no need to wallow in condemnation any more. If we are in Covenant with Jesus through his blood then we have been freely forgiven, so we must stop letting the Enemy whisper in our ear that we are not worthy. Eitan goes through the process of trying to “earn” forgiveness for something he had already been given grace for and I am guilty of doing the same thing at times. His journey was a great reminder to me that I am already free, so I need to stop acting like a slave to my past!

I love, love, love Eitan! This is something that I have struggled with, so I heart this truth! At what point in the writing process do you decide which character you are going to use in the next book?

 

I think that comes at different points along the way. Usually it’s when I get a flash of “story idea” from a certain character’s perspective. For some reason I could just envision Eitan as a man from the beginning so I knew I had to explore his story more. Now with Moriyah I did not decide to use her as a heroine until after Wings of the Wind was finished, so I actually had to go back in and tweak some things in editing (including the scar!) to make it all work together. And boy did I struggle over giving poor Moriyah that awful, painful brand! Since the Cities of Refuge Series had now stretched into a family saga, I’ve just chosen a new child of Moriyah and Darek each time and just love watching the family grow and change over the years.

I am SOOO excited for the next book, Until the Mountains Fall! I can't wait to see more of these beloved characters! Is there any particular message that you would like your readers to get out of the Cities of Refuge Series?

 

As I began writing the Cities of Refuge Series I came to the realization that the places God set up as sanctuaries for those convicted of manslaughter (Joshua 20) were a wonderful picture of the Body of Christ and how the Church should relate to the world. Our congregations should be a haven for the hurting, a place of safety and provision for those who are suffering, a place where the teaching of the Word (Torah) is central, a gathering of redeemed people who appreciate the grace and mercy they’ve been given, and a light on the hill to the weary and heavy laden. Throughout the series you’ll see cities of refuge like Kedesh where these principles are upheld and valued and others that have became more focused on wealth, power, self-righteousness or have slidden into idolatry and compromise. History shows us that these cities of refuge were kind of a blip on the timeline, in fact scholar think that many of the 48 cities designated for the Levites by Moses were never even settled. If the Church wants to have an impact on the culture around us, instead of the other way around, we would do well to pattern our congregations after these places of perfectly balanced justice and mercy.

This is so powerful and enlightening and sobering! Wow! <3 Have you traveled to the Holy Land to get perspective/atmosphere for your books?

 

Yes, I had the privilege of traveling with fellow author Cliff Graham’s Good Battle Tours last December and I came home with thousands of pictures and tons of inspiration and sensory detail to layer into my stories. I cannot wait to go back and glean more someday, it was a life-changing experience that I will never forget.

 I'm not green. Really... I'm always this lovely pea color. ;-) The cities of refuge in the Old Testament isn’t a topic we hear about a lot in church, how did this play into your research? Did you find it easier or more difficult to portray what life would be like for your characters in such a place?

 

That is very true. I knew pretty much nothing about them either but there is research out there, albeit sparing, from Christian and also Jewish Rabbinical sources that helped me fill in some gaps which I then just blended with what I know about God and about the plan of salvation that fits so perfectly into the Cities of Refuge pattern. As I began to “flesh out” the City of Kedesh in my mind it honestly became a real place in my head, so it’s not difficult to place myself there and envision what my characters see. When I went to Israel and drove near the place where the actual city once stood (or at least across the valley from it) it was kind of surreal to blend my “fictional” Kedesh with the actual landscape.

Well, speaking from a reader perspective, I can "see" the setting, so you did an amazing job! Was there a moment when you "just knew" that you were meant to write these stories?

 

I can’t remember a specific moment that I knew I was meant for it because the passion to write was always in me from an early age. I honestly didn’t think I had anything to say until I had kind of a “vision” of Kiya from Counted with the Stars when I was reading/studying Exodus and even then it took me five years to have the courage to put my work out in the world. It was probably as I was writing Shadow of the Storm that I realized I had more than just the proverbial “one book” in me and began to feel that writing was almost a compulsion. I get withdrawals when I can’t write now. Since the inspiration just keeps flowing from the Bible, I know that God is using me in this time for this purpose so I’m gonna go with it until he shuts off the faucet (which is hopefully not until for a very, very long time).

That is so cool! God is good! I love hearing about all the different ways He inspires His people. What do you do to recover once you’ve typed “THE END?”

 

If possible I take an entire month off of writing fresh story in order to give my brain a rest and recharge. And then I read as many books from my TBR list as I can including a craft book or two to prepare for starting a new book. And sleep. Lots of sleep.

Lots of sleep and lots of books - that's the dream! ;-)

Thank you so much for chatting with us, Connilyn!!

Guys, be sure to check out Connilyn's latest release, Shelter of the Most High. This is a story that should NOT be missed! Trust me!

The daughter of a pagan high priest, Sofea finds solace from her troubles in the freedom of the ocean. But when marauders attack her village on the island of Sicily, she and her cousin are taken across the sea to the shores of Canaan.

Eitan has lived in Kedesh, a city of refuge, for the last eleven years, haunted by a tragedy in his childhood, yet chafing at the boundaries placed on him. He is immediately captivated by Sofea, but revealing his most guarded secret could mean drawing her into the danger of his past.

As threats from outside the walls loom and traitors are uncovered within, Sofea and Eitan are plunged into the midst of a murder plot. Can they uncover the betrayal in time to save their lives and the lives of those they love?

Available now!

Thanks for stopping by, my writerly, bookish friends! <3 See you next time!

Hugs,

V. Joy Palmer 

V. Joy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.

 

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
 

Getting Personal with Melissa Tagg

If you’ve not found Melissa Tagg on social media yet, you are missing out. Whether she’s sharing about her favorite band (Needtobreathe), her crush on the cover model of one of her books (which in turn led to a fun Christmas novella), her conversations with friends about her characters as if they were real people, or her insights into life, you are missing out. Melissa is honest, transparent, and very often humorous. I’m so excited she’s graciously agreed to spend some time with us here at The Diamond Mine today so our readers can get a little glimpse of the heart of this amazing author!

Melissa Tagg is a former reporter, current nonprofit grant-writer and total Iowa girl. She’s also a multi-published novelist. Her latest book, Like Never Before, was named by Publisher’s Weekly to their spring 2016 “Religion and Spirituality” Top 10 list. Upcoming books include Keep Holding On (Sept 2016) and a sequel to last year’s One Enchanted Christmas, releasing in late 2016. Melissa has taught at multiple national writing conferences, as well as retreats and workshops. When she’s not writing, she can be found hanging out with the coolest family ever–not that she’s biased–watching old movies, and daydreaming about her next book. Melissa loves connecting with readers at www.melissatagg.com and on Facebook and Instagram.

Welcome, Melissa, and thank you for joining us. Since you are the queen of three-word titles (Three Little Words, From the Start, Like Never Before), let’s begin with a lightning round. Give the first three answers that come to mind.

1  3 of your favorite things to have on hand when writing:

Coffee
Diet Coke with Lime
Water

Apparently I’m big into beverages. LOL! Also super important: flannel pajama pants. I’m convinced they help me write better. :)

1    Your 3 favorite movies:

AHHH, this is too hard! I have too many. Like, legit: I could go on and on about this. But here are three I return to constantly:

The Philadelphia Story
What’s Up Doc?
His Girl Friday

(It’s killing me to not also mention Bringing Up Baby, It Happened One Night, Holiday, Roman Holiday, It’s a Wonderful Life, both Anne of Green Gables movies, Sound of Music, My Man Godfrey…I wasn’t joking about going on and on… :) ) 

1    3 books in your TBR (to be read) pile:

Ooh, great question, because my TBR pile is consistently overflowing…can I cheat and mention three books in one series? And it’s even a series I’ve already read! Joanne Bischof’s Cadence of Grace series. I read this series when it first released and completely fell in love with Bischof’s writing and the emotional depth of her stories. I just recently read her latest book, The Lady and the Lionheart, and I loved it so much I read it twice in one week. It made me want to go back and re-read her earlier series again. So all three books in that series are on my TBR pile.

     3 things that make you smile:

My family…which I suppose sounds like a cliché answer, but it’s true. I’m really never happier than when I’m surrounded by the people I love most.

A new story idea…there’s just something so deliciously fun about discovering a new story, peeling back its layers and getting a taste of the storytelling fun to come before I even start writing.

Kind readers…I will never stop being grateful for readers who uplift and inspire me with their kind words, notes of encouragement, gracious reviews and just overall sweetness.

1      3 places you’d like to visit:

Italy! I studied abroad in London in college and while I had the chance to visit several amazing countries, Italy is one I missed out on. I’m dying to go there.

London! Solely because I would absolutely love to see my British friends again. It’s been too long.

The Smoky Mountains in autumn…I looooove the Smoky Mountains. So, so much. But I’ve never been there in the autumn and I have a feeling they’re even more beautiful then.

For our readers, here's a picture Suzie took at Grotto Falls in the Smoky Mountains (She's not visited in the fall either).

       

   That was fun, but let's dig a little deeper. You admit to loving the editing process of writing, which can become a tedious process for authors. Why do you enjoy this part of creating your stories?

Honestly, I think I love editing because it finally allows me to feel a bit more “in control” of my story and my characters. Whenever I’m writing a first draft, no matter how much I’ve brainstormed and plotted and planned, the story always ends up getting away from me…which is actually kind of cool when you think about it. The characters start saying and doing things I never expected…which is, on the one hand, completely awesome. Anytime the story starts telling itself, I know there’s more at work than my own brain. But it’s also scary and messy and frustrating at times.

When I’m editing, I feel a little more in control…a little less unnerved. J BUT it’s also the part in the process when I discover nuggets in the story I didn’t even realize were there the first time around. And it’s often during edits that I realize why I’m writing this story at this time. I often discover the hidden spiritual theme that was there all along…and it’s like God sending an arrow straight to my heart.

As much as I do try to write for readers, I think I also write for myself…for my own heart. I feel like writing stories is my lifeline to God. And I always see that in action most clearly during editing.

 I love reading your social media statuses and blog posts because your share life with your followers and readers. You share your insights, your struggles, and your obsessions. And very often, I’m laughing out loud at what you’re sharing (hello, baby goats?). Even though we’ve not met in person, I feel like you’re a friend because you share things with your readers and you’ve got a talent for using social media as a promotion tool.

Awww, thank you for saying that! <3 

That’s a long build up to the next question…Do you ever need a break from all things social media?

Yessssss!! In fact, I’ve gotten more and more consistent about taking social media breaks. It’s always hard at first to break away…because, honestly, I love the interaction! I love chatting with friends…I love the opportunity to connect with people I wouldn’t have even met if it weren’t for Facebook or Instagram or my website or whatever.

But man, it’s so easy for my headspace to get cluttered. I don’t know if other people have that problem, but there are times when I struggle to be present in my everyday life. To be present with the people actually physically around me. To hear my own voice or God’s voice or the voices of my characters. Social media breaks go a long, LONG way in curing that. 

In addition to your job as an author, you also work for a homeless nonprofit and take time out to speak at events and retreats. First, if someone is interested in having you attend one of their events, how should they contact you about that? Second, how do you balance getting your writing in with the other everything else pulling at your time?

Ooh, I LOVE speaking at events and retreats. The two easiest ways to contact me are by email (melissa@melissatagg.com) or via the Contact form on my website: http://www.melissatagg.com/contact

As for balance, I honestly feel like I’m still learning there. A couple years ago, I was big into hustling…fitting every single thing in to every last minute of the day. I would get up before work and write…then work eight hours…then come home and write some more. I spent tons of Saturdays and Sundays writing. And I tried to convince myself it was worth it and I was happy.

But it wasn’t worth it and I wasn’t happy. In fact, after writing my third book, From the Start, I felt so drained, stressed and unlike myself, that I decided I’d go ahead and write my next contracted book and if something didn’t change, I’d quit writing books and focus solely on my day job (which I love) and getting back to being even-keeled, happy Melissa. :)

Thankfully, God did a mega turnaround in my heart. I feel like He just completely gifted me with the writing of Like Never Before. Sure, it was still hard and stressful at times…but it was nothing like the last one in terms of, oh, me falling apart. LOL! And then toward the end of last year, I made some decisions and changed up some priorities in my life in an effort to be more balanced. Instead of forcing myself to write every day, I’m now taking long weekends every now and then to do a bunch of writing at once. I’ve cut down on conferences, blogging and other industry-related stuff. I’ve stopped feeling like I have to DO everything.

And the super funny thing is, I’m now writing more, faster and happier than I was before. It’s like, as soon as I decided to take a couple risks, stop pressuring myself and just trust God, things started falling into place in a new and much more balanced way.

(Sorry I got so ramble-y here!)

Can you give our readers who have not read your books a quick overview of the Walker Family and Maple Valley?

Absolutely! Maple Valley is a made-up town in Iowa, lightly based on a couple real Iowa towns (Boone and Webster City) as well as a fictional town—Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls. It’s quirky, it’s charming, it’s eccentric. Everyone knows everyone and there’s some kind of town festival, fair or event, like, every other weekend. Haha!

The Walkers are so ridiculously real to me. The dad, Case, is a widow and former Army soldier turned diplomat who now runs the Maple Valley Scenic Railroad and Museum. Case’s children, in the order of their books, include:

Kate—a screenwriter of Hallmark-type movies with heartbreak in her past, the main character in From the Start 

Logan—the oldest, a political speechwriter, the fictional love of my life, father of a little girl named Charlie and main character in Like Never Before

Beckett—the mysterious son! All you know in the first couple books is that he’s a lawyer in Boston and he hasn’t been back to Maple Valley in years. He’s the main character in my upcoming book, Keep Holding On

Raegan—the youngest who still lives at home. She’s 26 and works a slew of part-time jobs. She’ll be the main character in the final Walker book next year. She’s pining for a recurring character named Bear.

There’s also Seth Walker, a cousin, who is the main character in Three Little Words—a free prequel novella!

The Walkers are a super close-knit family with lots of quirks and lots of love for each other. They all miss Flora Walker, Case’s wife who passed away years ago, and continue to be impacted by her legacy and love.

It’s been a pleasure visiting with you today. Thanks again for taking time out of your schedule to chat with us.



About Melissa's books

Three Little Words

Ava Kingsley and Seth Walker might be the most unlikely friends ever. The only thing these two polar opposites have in common is a knack for wordsmithing. Back in college, they were known for their written sparring in the campus newspaper's popular "He Says/She Says" column. 

At their ten-year college reunion, they pick up right where they left off. Except this time their squabbling leads to a surprising turn: friendship and a year-long exchange of emails. So when Ava approaches a crossroads in her athletics department career in Minnesota, Seth is quick to offer the open apartment above the restaurant he's been remodeling in Maple Valley, Iowa.

Ava doesn't know where her career will lead her next, but she's starting to suspect she might see Seth as more than a pen pal. Which would be exciting...except for the fact that he only sees her as a friend. As Maple Valley grows on her, Ava wonders if there might be something here for her even though Seth is unavailable. And maybe, just maybe, after all the words the two of them have exchanged over the years, they'll finally be able to say the three that matter most.

Three Little Words is an e-only novella that gives an exciting introduction to Melissa Tagg's new series about the charismatic Walker family and the endearing town of Maple Valley!

From the Start

Kate Walker used to believe in true love and happily ever after. While her own love life may have left her brokenhearted, it hasn't kept her from churning out made-for-TV romance movie screenplays...until a major career slump and a longing to do something meaningful send her running back to her hometown of Maple Valley. 

Permanently sidelined by an injury, former NFL quarterback Colton Greene is temporarily hiding out in a friend's hometown to avoid the media and the reminders of all he's lost. Maple Valley seems like the perfect place to learn how to adjust to normal life. The only trouble is he's never really done normal before.

While Kate plays things safe and Colton is all about big risks and grand gestures, they both get what it's like to desperately need direction in life. An unexpected project gives them both a chance to jumpstart their new lives, but old wounds and new dreams are hard to ignore. Starting over wasn't part of the plan, but could it be the best thing that's ever happened to them?

Like Never Before

Maple Valley became Amelia Bentley's haven after her heart and her dreams of a family were shattered. But her new life as a newspaper editor is shaken when the small-town paper is in danger of closing. Her one hope: A lead on an intriguing story that just might impress the new publisher...if only she knew who he was.

After his biggest campaign success yet, widowed speechwriter Logan Walker now has the chance of a lifetime--a spot on a presidential campaign. But his plans are interrupted when he finds out he's inherited his hometown newspaper. He travels home intent on selling the paper and spending some much-needed time with his young daughter before making the leap into national politics.

But instead of a quick sale and peaceful break from his hectic career, Logan finds himself helping Amelia chase her story. She's scrappy, but wounded. He's dependable, but lost. They may butt heads more than expected, but a series of leads on Maple Valley's quirky unsolved mystery is just the start of the sparks that fly in the office and in their hearts.

Keep Holding On

(available Sept 27, 2016)

Beckett Walker hasn't stepped foot in Maple Valley in years. There's no getting past the painful memories, and there's every chance he'll be arrested as soon as he shows his face. Which is exactly what happens when he finally returns. Suddenly his dream of adventure as a military lawyer comes skidding to a halt.

Horticulturist Kit Danby has spent too much time missing home and her childhood best friend--Beckett Walker. Now she might have a shot at reclaiming both. After years of living abroad, she returns to run her family's apple orchard. She has one season to turn a profit and impress the father she barely knows. But she can't do it alone.

It should be simple: Beckett needs community service hours. Kit needs a helping hand. But there's more at stake than either of them planned. With a tangled past and futures that look nothing alike, they'll have to find a way to weather the storms of the present . . . or risk losing everything.

Would you like an opportunity to win one of these wonderful books? Melissa is giving away a digital copy of her newest, Keep Holding On, to one lucky readers. All you have to do is leave a comment below. All comments left before midnight PST 9/14/2016 are eligible.

(Minimum of 5 comments required to validate contest. Please include your email address with your comment to facilitate contact if you are selected as the winner.)