Interview and Giveaway with author Miriam Thor

 

Today we welcome Miriam Thor to The Diamond Mine! She is offering an e-copy of her book, Listening to the Rain. 

To be entered in the drawing for the free copy, just leave a comment with your email and you will be entered!  Now, here's a little preview of her book. 

Even the worst storms can be beautiful if you learn how to listen.

During her freshman year of high school, Ally Griffin is determined to find her thing, a talent that will let her gain praise and recognition. Her cousins, Billy and James, have found theirs in sports and music, but Ally has yet to discover something that will make people cheer just for her.

At her best friend's suggestion, Ally tries ballet. When that doesn't turn out the way she hopes, she signs up to sing in the school talent show. Thanks to support from James, Ally's performance goes well, and she thinks she has found her thing at last.

But when James gets into an accident, Ally's whole world is turned upside down. As she tries to be there for her cousin, Ally wrestles with why God allows bad things to happen and whether she should keep doing her thing at all.

Sounds like a great read! Now let's get to the interview!

Hi Miriam! Can you tell us a little about your book?

Listening to the Rain is a contemporary young adult Christian fiction novel about faith and family with a splash of romance. It focuses on high school freshman, Ally Griffin, and her relationship with her two cousins, Billy and James.

At the beginning of the story, Ally is committed to finding her thing, something she’s good at that will help her stand out. She’s been searching for it for years, and when she finally finds it, she’s ecstatic. Then, James gets in an accident that has life-changing implications for her entire family. Ally has to figure out how to navigate her family’s new normal and how her newfound thing fits into that, if it does at all.

Sounds very engaging. How did you get your idea for this story?

I got the idea to write about three cousins living with their -grandfather from watching the TV show, The Dukes of Hazzard, while I was in high school. From there, I developed the three cousins’ characters in my head and got to know them, so to speak. As for the plot, I wanted the main problem the characters face to be something near and dear to my heart. I don’t want to give too much away, but the life-changing event the Griffin family faces relates closely to something I am passionate about.

Now you've got me mighty curious!

What made you decide to be a writer?

When I was in second grade, my teacher, Mrs. Chambliss, noticed how much I enjoyed my writing assignments, and she encouraged me to write as much as I wanted. That was when I really fell in love with writing. At that time (and still today), I loved to read. As I read book after book, I started dreaming about writing a book of my own that others would read and enjoy.

And what was your first story?

I first attempted to write a novel in middle school, although I only completed a few hand-written chapters. My first published short story was called “Simon Says,” a Biblical fiction story focusing on the apostle Peter’s wife. Listening to the Rain is the first complete book I ever wrote, although I had two novellas published before it was accepted for publication, and it’s gone through major changes since I finished the first draft almost a decade ago.

It must feel good to see it in print! 

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

These days, I always write from an outline. I’m working on two different novels right now, and I have fairly detailed outlines for both of them. My process for writing Listening to the Rain was a little different. I wrote the first couple of chapters while I was in college and had the plot more or less planned in my head. I suppose you could call that an outline, but I never wrote it down.

I think that fits as an outline!

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

Listening to the Rain has two main themes. The first is that we need to trust God, even when life is hard and we don’t understand what He is doing. The second is that our God-given gifts and talents are meant to be used for His glory, not our own.

Great Themes!!

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

Ally definitely shares my independent nature, although she is more outspoken about it than I am, most of the time. Billy, Ally’s oldest cousin, shares my brother’s sense of humor. I didn’t set out to model his sense of humor after my brother’s, but when I reread some of the scenes where Billy is joking, I can picture my brother saying similar things when we were younger.

Do your characters ever surprise you?

Yes, they do, and it’s one of my favorite parts about writing. I remember writing a scene in Listening to the Rain that I thought would be entirely focused on Ally and Billy. The two of them were in the barn by themselves. Billy was so upset about James’s accident that he was punching a wall, and Ally was trying to get him to stop. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Grandpa showed up with first-aid supplies.

As I was writing the scene, I was surprised when I realized I was about to type that Grandpa was in the doorway behind them. I hadn’t planned for him to be there, but it just fit so well with his character that I ran with it. Of course, Grandpa knew Billy well enough to know how he’d react to the situation. It felt like I should have known he would do that all along.

That cracks me up! I love it when characters do that. Do you have a favorite character in your books?

I have a lot of trouble choosing a favorite character as an author because I get to know them all so well. I think I like different characters more at different times, depending on which scene I’m working on. While I was writing Listening to the Rain, Ally, Billy, and James were each my favorite character at one point or another. Now, I guess I’d say all three of them are my favorites.

It's definitely not easy to pick a favorite. We get so attached to our characters! 

So, what are you working on now?

I am working on a contemporary Christian Christmas novella. I’ve written eleven chapters so far, and I have either three or four more to go. I started working on it in October, and I’ve really enjoyed writing it. I’m hoping it will be ready to submit to a publisher in a few months.

I’m also in the middle of writing a young adult Christian fantasy series. I’ve completed the first book and have written a few chapters of the second one. I put that on hold to focus on the Christmas novella, but I plan to go back to it soon.

Sounds like you're a busy lady! Thanks so much for the interview, Miriam! 

Well, readers, I'm including an excerpt from Listening to the Rain here for your enjoyment: 

Unfortunately, it started raining a few minutes before the bus reached our stop. By unspoken consent, the two of us walked home as quickly as we could so that we could get warm and dry as soon as possible.

I wanted to talk to James as soon as I’d changed into dry clothes, but I knew better than to try. 

Grandpa insisted that we start on our homework as soon as we got home, and while I was willing to bend that rule from time to time, James definitely was not. Resigned to wait, I solved a page of equations and read the short story Mrs. Chamberlain had assigned.

When I was finished, I went in search of my cousin to see if he had completed his homework, too. I found him sitting in a rocking chair on the porch with his eyes closed.

“What are you doing?” I asked, puzzled.

He opened his eyes and looked at me. “Listening to the rain. God plays beautiful music, don’t you think?”

I wasn’t sure how to respond. James said stuff like that sometimes. Random, weird stuff. And I was never sure what to make of it.

“It’s not music, James,” I said. “It’s just water hitting the roof.”

He shrugged, unperturbed, and studied my face. “What’s wrong, Ally?”

“What makes you think something’s wrong?” I demanded.

“You’ve got that ‘I really want to ask you something, but I don’t know how you’ll take it’ look on your face.”

I smiled. He always could read me like an open book.

“Well…” I said slowly. “You heard about the talent show at school today, right?”

He nodded. “Yeah, Mr. Jenkins announced it in homeroom.”

I bit my lip and stared at my lap. I wanted to sing in the talent show so badly. What if James did, too?

“What about it?” James prompted when I didn’t continue.

“Do you want to enter?” I asked and held my breath.

“No,” he said. “Performing in front of all the kids at school and a panel of judges doesn’t sound like much fun to me.”

I heaved a sigh of relief and grinned at him.

“Good.”

“Does that smile mean you plan on entering?” he asked.

“Yep,” I said. “I didn’t want to compete against you, though.”

He smiled. “So, what will you sing?”

I didn’t even ask how he knew I planned to sing. We both knew my talents. Unless I wanted to bring our hens to roost on the stage and gather their eggs, singing was my only real option.

“I don’t know yet,” I said, “but I’ll figure it out.” I started to turn around. “You can go back to your…rain listening now.”

He rolled his eyes as I headed back inside.

There you go, readers! And now here's a short bio and some social and purchase links from Miriam. And don't forget to leave a comment and be entered into the drawing for the free copy of her book!

Bio:

Miriam Thor grew up in Louisiana. After high school, she attended Gardner-Webb University, where she earned a degree in American Sign Language and elementary education. Currently, she lives in Alabama with her husband and six cats. She is employed as a sign language interpreter at an elementary school.

Miriam discovered her love of writing in second grade and has been doing it ever since. Her first novel, Listening to the Rain, was published in September 2022. She has also had two novellas published: Her First Noel, a contemporary Christian romance, and Wish Granted, a young adult fantasy story.

To learn more about Miriam, visit her website: https://miriamthor17.wixsite.com/author.

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Listening-Rain-Miriam-Thor-ebook/dp/B09VS27PHW

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/listening-to-the-rain-miriam-thor/1141235963

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=cupkEAAAQBAJ&gl=us

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/listening-to-the-rain-1

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/listening-to-the-rain/id1615814817

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063738865282

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Miriam_Thor17

Instagram: @miriamthor17

TikTok: @miriamthor17_author

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Miriam-Thor/author/B0BB47Z88N

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18283324.Miriam_Thor

Blog: https://threecs.org/

Welcome JPC Allen, YA Mystery Author

JPC Allen started her writing career in second grade with an homage to Scooby Doo. She’s been tracking down mysteries ever since and written mystery short stories for Mt. Zion Ridge Press. Her Christmas mystery “A Rose from the Ashes” was a Selah-finalist at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in 2020. Her first novel, a YA mystery, A Shadow on the Snow, released in 2021. Online, she offers tips and prompts to ignite the creative spark in every kind of writer . She also leads workshops for tweens, teens, and adults, encouraging them to discover the adventure of writing. Coming from a long line of Mountaineers, she is a life-long Buckeye. Follow her to the next mystery at Facebook, Instagram, Bookbub, Goodreads, and Amazon. You can sign up for my newsletter in the sidebar here.

JPC is giving away two signed hard copy books to one person: Christmas Fiction off the Beaten Path and A Shadow on the Snow. Leave a comment by September 22 to be entered in the drawing.

Let's start with a few quick favorites:

Drink? Irish or English Breakfast tea or chai.

Candy? Justin's dark chocolate peanut butter cups

Place to relax? Sitting on the bank of the river by my house

Season? It used to be fall, but my kids are so busy in the fall now, I'm not sure. I think it may be spring because that's when school let's out.

Can you tell us a bit more about you?

What genre do you enjoy reading most?

Mysteries. I've tried other genres, and mysteries are always my favorites. The sub-genre of mysteries I like best are fair-play mysteries, where the author lays out the clues for the reader, so she can try to solve the mystery along with the detective. Since I love to read those kinds of mysteries, those are the kind I write.

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

I wrote my very first story on the front and back of a sheet of notebook paper in second grade. It was a mystery based on Scooby Doo. I think I've always daydreamed about being a published writer, but I never wanted to make my living from it. As a kid, I wanted to be a doctor. In reality, I worked ten years as a children's librarian in public libraries before I stayed home to raise my kids.

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

I've just finished my second novel for the Rae Riley mystery series. The working titles is A Storm of Doubts. I'm usually terrible at titles, but I think this one sums up the story accurately. And it's catchy.

I'd like to hear more about A Shadow on the Snow

What's your latest novel you've written?

A Shadow on the Snow is my first novel, a YA mystery. It's a sequel to a short story I wrote, "A Rose from the Ashes" for the anthology Christmas fiction off the beaten path. I fell in love with the characters while writing "A Rose" and couldn't wait to put them in another story. That's why I wrote A Shadow on the Snow. Here's the blurb:

“Nineteen-year-old Rae Riley can barely believe her gamble paid off. After spending seven months investigating the identity of her father and whether he tried to murder her mother, Rae has been accepted by her dad, Sheriff Walter “Mal” Malinowski IV, and his immediate family with open hearts. And for the first time in her life, Rae is making friends, jamming with three cute cops who play outlaw country music.

But someone is leaving Rae threatening notes, reminding her of her late mother’s notorious past when Bella Rydell wrecked homes and lives during the few years she lived in rural Marlin County, Ohio. Fearing the threats will make Mal and his family reject her, Rae investigates the mystery on her own. But her amateur sleuthing may cost her the father she’s always wanted when the stalker changes targets and takes dead aim at Mal.”

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

All my stories involving Rae Riley, except for a short story in which she has only a cameo appearance, deals with her journey to find and get to know her father. I think Rae's journey mimics how many people want a Heavenly Father but don't know how to find Him. And once they do find Him, they have struggles and victories as they get to know Him better.

When I began writing about Rae, that wasn't the theme I had in mind, but it has grown naturally out of the personalities of the characters and the plots that have come to me.

How do you select the names of your characters?

Selecting the right names for characters is very important to me. Since I was a kid, names have fascinated me. I own several books on names, including one about common surnames in the U.S.

When I had to create a name for my female teen detective, I wasn't sure what name to pick. I wanted something memorable but not weird. Alliterative names are memorable, like Clark Kent or Bruce Banner, so I came up with Rae Riley.

When I had to name her father, I liked the idea of the whole town calling him Mal as a nickname for for his last name, Malinowski. It would give the story the small-town feel I wanted.

But then I started asking questions. Why did this guy prefer his nickname? Well, he probably hated his first name. What kind of first name would a millennial guy hate? I picked Walter. But why would his parents name him Walter? They were nice people. I decided it had to be a family name. So Rae's father became Walter Reuel Malinowski IV. That set off more questions. Who was Walter III? Walter Jr.? From that name, I developed two more characters.

Just for fun:

If you could travel anywhere without worry about cost, where would you travel?

England or India. I've read so many mysteries set in England that I'd like to see the country. For some reason, I've always been fascinated by India.

Thanks so much for joining us on The Diamond Mine of Fiction. JPC is giving away two signed hard copy books to one person: Christmas Fiction off the Beaten Path and A Shadow on the Snow. Leave a comment by September 22 to be entered in the drawing.

Hi, Diamond Mine Readers. Julie Cosgrove here. 

I have something to confess...I love reading Christian Y.A. (young adult) fiction. Do you?  Maybe I am in my second childhood...but I hope not. I really don't want to go through adolescence again. Ugh. 

An author, who writes for the same publishing house as the one who will publish my next three books, writes great Y.A. Her books not only make great reading, but they would make wonderful Christmas gifts for any tweens or teens you know. (Yes, 'tis the season soon to think about what to get who.)

 Please welcome Cynthia Toney.

 Cynthia, since you write for tweens and teens (and old folks like me) briefly tell us a funny or touching story about your teenage years…

Writing petrified me! I dreaded the assignment of a paper that was more than a page long. I was okay with a short composition, especially if I could use humor, but a term paper sent me into a tailspin. I couldn’t gather, organize, and write information in my own words in a way that connected and flowed. My friends, who didn’t become writers of any type, spent much less time laboring over their term papers than I did.  But I somehow made good grades in spite of myself. I wish I had one of those papers to look at and laugh over today.

Maybe you just wanted to write fiction even back then! Term papers are daunting things, and not very exciting to read. I remember pulling my hair out while formatting all the endnotes and footnotes and references. Shudder. It's enough to stifle any creativity.

Tell our readers what encouraged you to be a writer then, and specifically writing books for teens? 

I love writing for tweens and teens, particularly those who speak without thinking, make poor decisions, and have love to give but don't always know where to direct it. Young people I've encountered over the years inspired me to write novels that show them how wonderful, powerful, and valuable they are. Today's tweens and teens can identify with the emotions, needs, desires, and challenges of characters in my historical as well as contemporary novels.

Being told we are wonderful, powerful and valuable is a message we all need to hear, especially middle school and high schoolers. What nugget of inspiration do you want your readers to grasp?

Small steps can accomplish big things, very good things, for oneself and for others.

Great saying. Anyone want to needlepoint that in a sampler? As I confessed, I love to read YA. Do you find many adults read and like your books, too?

From what I can tell, just as many adults read my novels as young people do. Often, adults will read one of my books first to screen it for a child or grandchild and then tell me how much they themselves enjoyed it.

See, I am not the only one, am I Diamond Mine folk? So now that we all know we can enjoy this genre no matter our age, Cynthia, tell us about this series by giving us a short blurb on each of the books in it. Also, does the reader have to read them in order or do they stand alone?

Occasionally readers tell me that they have read one of the books without considering—or sometimes without knowing—that another book preceded it, but that they fully understood and enjoyed the story anyway.

I usually suggest that an 11 or 12-year-old start with the first book of the series, but a 12 to 14-year-old could easily begin with book two, and it could stand alone, although readers usually want to know what happens next to the cast of characters. However, if someone wants to read the newest release (fourth and final book of the series), I suggest reading book three to fully enjoy book four. It is not necessary, because I weave in enough background to support the reader’s understanding, but I simply recommend that. 

Here are the books in order:

8 Notes to a Nobody (Bird Face book one)

 Anonymous sticky-notes, a scheming bully, and a ruined summer send fourteen-year-old Wendy down a trail of secrets and self-discovery.  

  

10 Steps to Girlfriend Status (Bird Face book two)

 When Wendy questions her neighbor about one 1960s photograph, she opens the door to triple trouble—a Cajun family secret, feelings for two very different boys, and a fight to keep a grandmother’s love. 

6 Dates to Disaster (Bird Face book three)

 Wendy’s goal is to fly to Alaska. Her family is broke. Will an opportunity to make money be the answer to her prayers—or the road to disaster?

3 Things to Forget (Bird Face book four) 

In Alaska, Wendy thinks she’s left behind the problems resulting from her mistakes in Louisiana. But strange surroundings bring strangers into her life, and those strangers have a secret that threatens her friendship with Sam. Will Wendy be able to forget what she hopes to, or will new challenges teach her the importance of remembering the past?

Why did you set this current book, 3 Things to Forget,  in Alaska?

I wanted my character, Wendy, to travel as far away as possible within the U.S. from her home state of Louisiana, and for it to be a very different environment from what she was used to. Of all the places I’d visited, Alaska was my favorite, and it was just right for the setting of this story. 

One of my bucket list places to visit! I know many of our readers who have visited or want to visit this amazing state will want to get this book. Give us a tidbit of 3 Things to Forget.

 There’s something to be said for escaping 4500 miles to the third least-populated state in America, where no one (well, almost no one) knows me. Otherwise, leaving behind my disgrace from the biggest academic scandal ever to hit my school—resulting in the breakup with my boyfriend on the night he said he loved me—might’ve been impossible.

Surrounded by strangers on the second of two connecting flights to Anchorage, for a total of fourteen hours on a Friday, I summoned teeth-grinding determination to forget the past. What better time for an intense study, a.k.a. cramming, of American Sign Language? Before the plane would land in Alaska, I might become proficient enough in ASL to communicate with Sam and his deaf friends without making a fool of myself.  For the month of June, I’d live with Sam and his family in Anchorage. I’d work with him and other teens, possibly deaf, as a volunteer at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. And I’d do whatever it took to fit in.

Now that we are all hooked and want to read more, where can readers find you and your books? 

Blog:  http://birdfacewendy.wordpress.com

Facebook Author Page:  https://www.facebook.com/birdfacewendy

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/Cynthia-T.-Toney/e/B00IOPZRBA

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7872181.Cynthia_T_Toney   

Cynthia has agreed to give away an ebook of the reader's choice from the series, but only commentors are eligible to enter the giveaway. So be sure to leave your thoughts for her along with your email address so we can find you. The drawing will be on Tuesday, November 13th.

Interview and Giveaway with debut author Linda Shew Wolf!!

It’s 1968 and Melanie is turning thirteen. It seems like everyone is growing up faster than she is, but that doesn’t stop her from being an incurable romantic. When a gorgeous new boy shows up in her boring, small town, she’ll do anything to be noticed by him.

When an unexpected sequence of events lands her the job of trusted babysitter for his unusual little sister, Melanie is thrilled to be admitted to his inner circle. But then she has to figure out what really matters—a chance to be around him or staying true to her family and her best friend.

Read this dramatic coming-of-age story and be immersed in a time of turmoil and change in the heart of one memorable young girl.

I’m so incredibly thrilled to welcome debut author Linda Shew Wolf to The Diamond Mine! Not only is this her first interview about her debut novel, but she is my awesome, precious older sister who is so dear to me. So this interview is very special indeed! It’s hard to know where to start, but here we go!

What’s the first thing you remember writing, and how did you feel about it?

When I was about six or seven, I remember writing a simple poem for Mom and marveling that I could make words connect with each other as if they were people singing together.  Just in case anyone reading this doesn’t know already, this interviewer is none other than my beloved sister Nancy. It gives me such pleasure to have my first author interview with you, Nance!

The feeling is definitely mutual! When did you know you wanted to write a novel?

I think I always viewed myself as writing novels, ever since I fell in love with Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books and (blast from the past), the Honey Bunch series. Now I’m really dating myself, but in defense of my true age (62), these books were published in 1928, so I’m sure they were originally Mom’s. Anyway, I loved all this little girl’s adventures, and I wanted to be just like her.

You know me, I’m a huge fan of the Little House books, too!

Since you’re a musician, how is writing different from music in terms of expressing yourself?

It’s funny. One of the things I value most about music is its immediacy. You play some notes, express yourself, it hits the air and it’s gone. Like the wind. And that’s what makes it so compelling. Even when I’m recording, I am inside this sacred sense of the moment, and I usually object to any excessive editing, autotuning, or processing of anything I’ve played because I want to honor that. Writing, however, is loaded with layers of effort. Being an editor by trade, it is often difficult for me to achieve that same sense of the moment when writing, so when a story really takes off and gives my editor-head a swift kick in the tush, I couldn’t be happier.

I have to admit that I just love the fine-tuning part of writing, especially going back to lay down more support for the actions and feelings of the characters. Some of my favorite scenes were added later to round out the picture I see in my head while I’m writing. It’s a lot like song development. The core of the song is there, raw and beautiful, complete in its own way, and then I get to add textures, harmonies, and rhythms to enhance it.

Wow! What a wonderful, thought-provoking answer! I love it!

How did you get the idea for this novel?

I dedicated it to our daughter, Julie, because I started writing it when she was about 12 and starting to have her first big crushes on boys. I was a romantic young lady myself back in the day, and I wanted to write something for her about how powerful these attractions can be—so powerful that you can lose yourself in them, as well as lose track of people, ideas, and beliefs that are important to you. This power needs to be respected and understood, as it can be a real game-changer.

The weird thing is, this novel started out as a simple exercise in a small writing group I belonged to: “Write a paragraph or two about a person who reminds you of an animal.” My original paragraph is still the opening paragraph of the book:

“The lion boy stood waist-deep in the pool. There was no other way to describe him.

“Melanie’s magazine dropped to her lap and the watery racket of children’s voices around her faded to a soft hum. The boy held his back and neck with regal straightness, surveying his surroundings with fierce disdain. His eyes flickered at various points around the pool. He was an exotic, caged animal looking for a way out.”

  

That’s a powerful opening, and really grabs the reader’s curiosity. Are you a seat-of-your-pants writer, or do you work from an outline?

Definitely seat-of-the-pants! If anything, it feels as if the story and its characters are piloting a plane and I’m trailing behind gripping a bit of flimsy rope, trying to hang on.

I know exactly what you mean! Pretty wild ride sometimes! Give us a thumbnail description of your main characters.

Melanie, the central character, is a 13-year-old “late bloomer” with the romantic imagination of a much older teen. In 1968 in a small town in upstate New York, she is the only white girl at her school who is best friends with a black girl. That’s not the only thing that sets her apart. Though she wants desperately to fit in with the more mature-looking and mature-acting girls in her grade, she holds true to her integrity and uniqueness and helps hold her family together, too. Until Jonathan comes along.

Jonathan, even at 13, is a natural-born rock star, gorgeous and charismatic. He’s suddenly a very big fish in a very small pond when he is plucked away from his life in New York City by his mother’s remarriage and deposited in Melanie’s little town. Jonathan has many plans for his big escape from Nowhere, USA, and to his delight, he finds a willing accomplice in lovestruck Melanie.

Josephine (Jo) is Melanie’s best friend. Smart, no-nonsense, and with big plans of her own to become a history professor, she takes a dim view of Melanie’s deepening crush on Jonathan. Her vibrant family life and church community have always been a source of strength and comfort to Melanie, and Jo finds it hard to believe that Melanie would risk losing all that and their close friendship over a boy.

Melanie’s Grandma, Grandma G, is her favorite person in the whole world. She’s great at keeping secrets, only giving advice when asked, and never judging—plus she makes cookies and hot chocolate for their late-night Scrabble marathons whenever Melanie sleeps over. Melanie respects her Grandma’s devotion to her church and to lots of prayer, but when Melanie begins to doubt, she isn’t sure if Grandma G will accept her or approve.

Tracy is Jonathan’s 6-year-old sister and is autistic. In the 60s, not much was done for children with autism besides placing them in a separate room at school with other disabled children, and Tracy was used to being misunderstood. Baffling her mother, her teachers, and other babysitters, Tracy finds a kind, compassionate ally in Melanie. Despite Melanie’s original intention of worming her way into Jonathan’s life by becoming Tracy’s babysitter, Melanie finds herself drawn to this unusual, endearing child.

You’ve got some mighty interesting characters and conflicts there. Sounds marvelous! Is there an underlying message you hope readers will take from your book?

Well, I hope readers will see that our feelings, at any age, are valuable and need to be understood, and that God is there even though he seems far away when situations are complicated. I tried to portray a complex character going through a tumultuous time in her young life, making choices and having reactions we can relate to. 

How much of yourself is in your characters?

There’s a lot of me in Melanie, certainly, though I wish I had her feistiness. I know I painted some of myself into Melanie’s mother as well.

I’m glad they contain some of your sweet, warm character! This is your debut novel. What are your feelings on becoming a published author?

Giddy, totally giddy. I don’t think it’s quite set in my head yet that this lifelong wish is becoming a reality. It’s pretty cool, and of course, I have you to thank for all your encouragement, as well as Jacqui and Joan at Prism for theirs!

What are you working on now?

I’m busy on a novel dedicated to our son, Chris, about an 18-year-old boy who spends most of his time and nearly all his energy dreaming. This one has more of a psychological, almost scifi, twist to it and poses the questions: What if God uses the best part of us while we’re sleeping to help others across the world who are awake (and vice versa)? What if we are much more connected to each other in our dreams than we could ever imagine?

What a unique premise! I can’t wait to read it! Thank you, dear Linda for this interview. I’m so thrilled for you!

Linda’s book release date is August 7^th. If you leave a comment for her, you’ll be entered in a drawing to win a copy of “A Firefly Life.”

Here’s an excerpt from her book:

Well, at least today, she wouldn’t have to worry about propping her eyelids open in class. Just before the bell rang, the new boy sauntered in and headed for the last empty seat at the back of the room. He acted like he didn’t notice the way the buzzing in the room swelled to a crescendo, or the way all the heads turned toward him like starving flowers groping for the sun.

The air became electric. Melanie felt as if her hair was standing on end. She clamped her fingers around her composition book and willed all the blood in her body to flow away from her face and down her arms. Thank God, he was sitting behind her and couldn’t see her face!

This is all in Your hands now, God. You’ve got to get me through this!

Melanie had a hot-cold relationship with God. Most of the time, she barely thought about Him. She had even nodded in agreement once when Barry Muldoon explained why he was an atheist. Some of his arguments did make sense. But at times like this, when her heart was threatening to slam a hole through her chest any second, she remembered how many times God had certainly rescued her in the past.

Now here’s a short bio and Linda’s social links:

Linda Shew Wolf grew up in Ithaca, New York. She graduated from Cornell University and went on to play saxophone in an R&B band in Chicago, where she met her husband, Bobby, a fellow musician. After raising two children, they both returned to performing, and she also rekindled her lifelong passion for writing fiction. She now works as a curriculum consultant for elementary and middle school students in Chicago, sharing her love of writing and music with young people of all ages.

blog: https://belonging2all.wordpress.com/    

twitter: @LindaShewWolf

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007781806053