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 and giveaway with author Jodie Wolfe!!

 

Today we welcome Author Jodie Wolfe to the Diamond Mine!! We will be talking about her and her new release, Wooing Gertrude.

Jodie is offering an e-copy of her book, Taming Julia, which is the first novel in her present series. To take part in the giveaway drawing, at the end of the interview, click on "leave a comment"and include your email to be entered in the free drawing! 

Now we'll get to the interview, after this short excerpt from her book:

The seamstress with a knack for trouble wasn’t who the deputy envisioned...

Enoch Valentine has given up finding peace for his past mistakes. He throws everything he has into being the new part-time deputy in Burrton Springs, Kansas while maintaining the foreman position at a local horse ranch. But when trouble stirs on the ranch, he questions whether he's the right man for either job.

Peace has been elusive for most of Gertrude Miller's life, especially under the oppressiveness of an overbearing mother. She takes matters into her own hands and sends for a potential husband, while also opening her own dress shop. Gertrude hopes to build a future where she'll find peace and happiness.

Will either of them ever be able to find peace?

Sounds wonderful, Jodie!

How did you get your idea for this story?

Gertrude was first introduced as a minor character in Taming Julia. In my second book, Protecting Annie, Gertrude befriends Annie McPherson. I wanted Gertrude to find love and happiness too, which is why I wrote Wooing Gertrude. As for the initial premise, I once came across an article about a man arrested during the time I write, that had swindled women of their savings.

It's so interesting where we often get our ideas from! 

What made you decide to be a writer?

I’ve wanted to be a writer ever since I was a little girl. In elementary school, I started writing little stories and illustrating them. I was hooked and knew that when I grew up, I wanted to become a writer.

What do you like best about writing?

I love the writing process. Coming up with characters. Researching a setting. Finding a time to place the story and then letting the characters go. They often surprise me along the way.

Yes! There are so many wonderful aspects to being a writer. What was your first story?

My first unpublished book I wrote when I was thirteen – Laura MacKenzie and the Mysterious Kidnapping. :) Can you tell I read a lot of mysteries at the time?

Yes, I can tell!  :) 

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

I have a rough idea where I’m going, but I don’t come up with a formal outline.

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

Each novel has a different underlying theme. It’s usually something either God has taught me or is in the process of teaching me.

That's so interesting! A great way to pass along encouragement.

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

Some do, but I’ll never tell what they are. :)

Smart girl!!

Do your characters ever surprise you?

All the time. I think I know which way the story is heading, and my characters decide to do something I didn’t expect.

I think it's pretty cool when that happens! And wonderfully surprising.  :)

What are you working on now?

I recently turned in the final book in this series to my publisher. Since then, I’ve been working on a new book/series set in Shippensburg, PA. The first book is set during the Civil War, which I’ve never done before, so I’ve been boning up on it. My husband and I even went to a Civil War ball recently. It was a lot of fun.

Well, this interview has been fun, too! Thanks, Jodie!!

Hey readers, I'm including a short bio of Jodie, as well as all her social and purchase links. And after that, Jodie has gifted us with a "First page peek" of Wooing Gertrude! Enjoy!

Bio:

Jodie Wolfe creates novels where hope and quirky meet. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and Faith, Hope, & Love Christian Writers (FHLCW). She's been a semi-finalist and finalist in various writing contests. A former columnist for Home School Enrichment magazine, her articles can be found online at: Crosswalk, Christian Devotions, and Heirloom Audio. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, walking, and being a Grammie. Learn more at www.jodiewolfe.com.

Social Media Links

Website: https://www.jodiewolfe.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jodie-Wolfe-553400191384913

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jodie-wolfe

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/JodieAWolfe

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15220520.Jodie_Wolfe

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jodie-Wolfe/e/B01EAWOHXO/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

MeWe: https://mewe.com/jodiewolfe

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodie-wolfe-3955b2bb/

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.com/Wooing-Gertrude-Burrton-Springs-Brides-ebook/dp/B0CCXGB3GB?ref_=ast_author_dp

Ebook: https://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1635

Print:

https://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1636

First Page Peek

Burrton Springs, Kansas

August 4, 1877

Gertrude Miller’s life couldn’t get any better. She grinned, patting her pocket. Her fingers traced the two skeleton keys. After months of planning and preparing she finally had moved into her own place a week ago, away from the overbearing reach of her mother. In two days, she’d be opening the clothing shop beneath her apartment.

She studied the trail leading into town hoping for a wisp of dust indicating the stagecoach was on its way, but saw none. Smoothing the light blue flowered fabric of her skirt, Gertrude’s hand settled against her churning stomach. What would George Witt think of her when he arrived? Would he see past her faults and still find her loveable? Would he like the place she picked for them to live?

The many letters he’d written to her crinkled in her reticule, as she clutched it close to her heart. His last missive declared he planned to marry her shortly after arriving. Mama would have a conniption, which was why Gertrude hadn’t breathed a word to her mother that she’d marry tomorrow after the church service. Mama would try to do everything in her power to prevent it. Gertrude didn’t plan to say anything to her until they were sitting side by side in the church. No use creating a stir ahead of time.

Her dress hung from a hook in her new place waiting for the blessed event. She’d spent hours sewing it and adding yards of intricate lace she’d crocheted.

Interview with Author Susan Mathis!!

 

Today we welcome author Susan Mathis to The Diamond Mine! She has a wonderful story to offer, and we get to take a closer look at it today! It's called Mary's Moment. Let's have a peek at it now:

Summer 1912

Thousand Island Park’s switchboard operator ​Mary Flynn is christened the community heroine for her quick action that saves dozens of homes from a terrible fire. Less than a month later, when another disastrous fire rages through the Park, Mary loses her memory as she risks her life in a neighbor's burning cottage. Will she remember the truth of who she is or be deceived by a treacherous scoundrel?

Widowed fireman George Flannigan is enamored by the brave raven-haired lass and takes every opportunity to connect with Mary. But he has hidden griefs of his own that cause him great heartache. When George can’t stop the destructive Columbian Hotel fire from eradicating more than a hundred businesses and homes, he is distraught. Yet George’s greater concern is Mary. Will she remember their budding relationship or be forever lost to him?       

WOW!! Sounds like a great story, Susan! Now it's time to get to know you better and ask you a few questions about you and your writing.

So, how did you get your idea for this story?

My mother, Mary, inspired this story.

When she was a young woman, she spent two summers serving her aunts in the Thousand Islands Park. Every summer she'd take me there for an ice cream at the Guzzle and tell me stories of her time in the Park. So, it was always my desire to write about it.

When I began researching and discovered the tragedy of the three 1912 fires that nearly destroyed the Park, I had my story, especially because my mom nearly lost her father in a barn fire when she was fourteen.

Researching is one of my favorite parts when writing historical novels.

What made you decide to be a writer?

I taught Language Arts to middle-schoolers for nine years, wrote curriculum for ACSI for five years, then became editor/editorial director at Focus on the Family for nearly a dozen years. So, I've had over 1,000 articles, etc, published. I guess I've always had that desire, but when I started writing fiction, I was hooked!

I know what you mean! What was your first story?

My debut novel, The Fabric of Hope:An Irish Family Legacy, is loosely based on my family story. I traveled to Ireland, Wolfe Island, and the St. Lawrence River for research and got to read it to my 94 year-old mother before she went to heaven.

How wonderful that you got to share that with her!

I'm curious: Do you write from an outline, or just from inspiration, or both?

Both. I develop a general outline, but often my characters have a mind of their own. I've even argued with them! Smiles.

I hear you on that!

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

All eleven of my Thousand Islands' stories have hope as the central theme. Hope for a better future. Hope for love. Hope for healing. Mary's Moment also focuses on healing broken hearts, forgiving those who hurt you, and embracing God's redemption.

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

Mary is my mom's name and has some of her characteristics. George is my father's name, whom I never met because he died three months before I was born.

I'm sorry your family had to go through that at such a time.

As writers, we become attached to the characters we create, Do your characters ever surprise you?

Goodness, my characters often surprise me, make me giggle, cause me to question their actions, and more. Hahaha.....

I bet that sounds weird to most people, but not to fiction writers! Do you have a favorite character in your books?

At the moment, Mary is my favorite. She's smart, feisty, strong, but grows in amazing ways.

What are you working on now?

A Summer at Thousand Island House is coming out July 25 with Wild Heart Books. It's part of their  Gilded Age series. Here is a bit about it:

She came to work with the children, not fall in love.

Part-nanny, part entertainer, Addison Bell has always had an enduring love for children. So what better way to spend her creative energy than to spend the summer nannying at the renowned Thousand Island House on Staple's Island? As Addi thrives in her work, she attracts the attention of the recreation pavilion's manager, Liam Donovan, as well as the handsome Navy Officer Lt. Worthington, a lighthouse inspector, hotel patron, and single father of mischievous little Jimmy.

But when Jimmy goes missing, Addi finds both her job and her reputation in danger. How can she calm the churning waters of Liam, Lt. Worthington, and the President, clear her name, and avoid becoming the scorn of the Thousand Islands community?

Sounds like another great read! 

Thank you so much for visiting The Diamond Mine, Susan! It's been fun.

Now readers, here is a bit more about Susan, along with her social links.

Susan G Mathis is an international award-winning, multi-published author of stories set in the beautiful Thousand Islands, her childhood stomping ground in upstate NY. Susan has been published more than twenty-five times in full-length novels, novellas, and non-fiction books. She has ten in her fiction line including, The Fabric of Hope, Christmas Charity, Katelyn’s Choice, Devyn’s Dilemma, Peyton’s Promise, Sara’s Surprise, Reagan’s Reward, Colleen’s Confession, Rachel’s Reunion, and Mary’s Moment. Her book awards include two Illumination Book Awards, three American Fiction Awards, two Indie Excellence Book Awards, and four Literary Titan Book Awards. Reagan’s Reward is a Selah Awards finalist. Susan is also a published author of two premarital books, two children’s picture books, stories in a dozen compilations, and hundreds of published articles. Susan makes her home in Colorado Springs and enjoys traveling around the world but returns each summer to enjoy the Thousand Islands. 

 

Visit www.SusanGMathis.com/fiction for more.

Buy links: Amazon | Barnes&Nobles | Walmart

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm3oK-79Rdo 

Social media links: Website |Author Central |  Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Blog | Goodreads

Interview with Best-Selling, Award-Winning Author Kate Breslin

It is my immense privilege and privilege to introduce Kate Breslin to our Diamond Mine audience!

Kate is the author of five WWI novels by Bethany house: Not by Sight, High as the Heavens, Far Side of the Sea, and her newest release, As Dawn Breaks. Her fifth and final novel in the connecting series is entitled In Love's Time and will be released in December 2022.

The novels can each be read as stand-alone, and include one main connecting character. In December, you’ll get to read about Captain Marcus Weatherford’s adventure in the year 1918 when he embarks on a critical mission. He travels first to Archangel, Russia, then to London, and finally to the pastoral beauty of Hampshire.

Don’t let England’s lush, tranquil countryside fool you—it’s a time of war, intrigue, romance, and danger!

I have always been impressed with Kate's talent for weaving a compelling romantic story. She masterfully weaves intrigue, history, and passion with artistry and grace. I was so excited when she agreed to an interview! I hope you'll watch to the end because Kate shares all her writing processes with us!

Do you have your spot o' tea?

Feet up? Enjoy!

I have started an Amazon Book Club and have chosen Kate's first book (not in this series), For Such a Time as This as the club's first read! I plan to read through all her books before the end of the year. Why not join me? You can join my club here: Karla's Amazon Book Club

KATE’S BIO
Former bookseller-turned-author Kate Breslin enjoys life in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and family. A writer of travel articles and award-winning poetry, Kate received Christian Retailing's 2015 Best Award for First Time Author and her first novel, For Such A Time, won American Christian Fiction Writers 2015 Carol Award. Kate's fifth novel, As Dawn Breaks released November, 2021. When she's not writing inspirational fiction, Kate enjoys reading or taking long walks in Washington's beautiful woodlands. She also likes traveling to new places, both within the U.S. and abroad, having toured Greece, Rome, Barcelona, and much of Western Europe. New destinations make for fresh story ideas. Please visit her at www.katebreslin.com

CONTACT INFORMATION

www.katebreslin.com

https://twitter.com/Kate_Breslin

https://www.facebook.com/KateBreslinAuthor

http://www.pinterest.com/katelbreslin/

https://www.instagram.com/authorkatebreslin

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kate-breslin

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7115378.Kate_Breslin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-breslin-87531b61

Karla Akins is the author of several books including A Pair of Miracles. She currently lives in Florida where she is so busy teaching and writing that she never gets enough time to read at the beach. But then, who really does?

Find Karla on the web:

KarlaAkins.com

Instagram: @LearnTodayCafe

Outschool Classes for Kids 18 and Under Including Kids with Disabilities & Autism

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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Award-Winning Author, Barbara M. Britton: Bringing Bible Characters to Life

Barbara M. Britton is not your average author. Battling breast cancer at the same time her publishing career was launched is a story of grit, grace, and tenacity. When it comes to war, Barbara knows how to fight. 

Her latest book, Defending David, explores the unlikely friendship between one of ancient history's favorite kings and an obscure Gitite named Ittai. How does a Philistine giant end up joining King David in his later years and support him in battle? Who is this Ittai? Who has heard of him or remembers reading about him?

I had the privilege of spending some time with Barbara chatting about books, King David, and the  trials of this world that fight to silence us. This interview has some fascinating twists and turns. I'm fairly certain that this is the first time that King David and Bob Dylan have been mentioned in the same interview! 

I know you'll enjoy our chat. If you do, please let us know in the comments! What giants have you been fighting lately? Have any become your friends? Weigh in!

Barbara's Website: http://www.barbarambritton.com/books....

Barbara's Website: http://www.barbarambritton.com/books....

Karla's Website: https://karlaakins.com/

Karla's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karlakakins/

Karla's Outschool - I can homeschool your kids! https://bit.ly/kakinsos

Karla Akins is an author, educator, and disabilities advocate. She is the author of A Pair of Miracles, the inspiring memoir of how God miraculously works through the lives of her adopted twin sons with autism. Karla has a Bachelor's Degree in Special Education, a Master's of Education in Learning and Technology, and a Master of Arts in English Language Learning. She teaches children with varying levels of ability all over the world.