Meet Debut Author Erma M. Ullrey

Welcome back to the Diamond Mine. Today, I'm so excited to introduce you to a friend of mine whose debut novel came out last week. Her book was inspired by You've Got Mail. Keep reading to find out more about Journaled with Love.

About the author

Erma M. Ullrey is a dedicated follower of Jesus Christ and author. She worked in the medical field for over twenty-five years. After completing her B.S.H.S., she became a health educator and received international credentials as a childbirth educator and lactation consultant. She has served as a women’s Bible study leader and participates in local and online writers’ groups and book clubs.

In the past few years, Erma has won several writing awards. Her first published work was “A Snowflake's Adventure,” a children's picture book about God's love and exciting purpose for each child. Erma's latest publication is "Journaled with Love," a clean and wholesome light-hearted Rom-Com in the style of "You've Got Mail."

Enjoy Erma’s weekly Blog as well as her other writings at her website: https://www.MerryHeartInk.com. Look for the heading “Once Upon a Romance,” for interesting articles and interviews related to romance writing.

Connect with Erma: Once Upon a Romance Substack | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter/X

Suzie: Welcome to the Diamond Mine, Erma. I'm so excited to introduce you to our readers and share more about your debut. But first, let's learn a little more about you.

What is your favorite drink and/or snack when writing?

Erma: That depends on the weather and what I’m writing. If my characters drink coffee, that’s my drink of choice too. But when it’s hot, they can drink all the coffee they want – I’ll have raspberry lemonade with lots of ice, thank you! :)

Suzie: Oh, raspberry lemonade sounds refreshing (it's in the 90s and humid in North Carolina this week). What does your writing space look like? Erma: Oh dear! Once a week it’s just my keyboard and lots of craft books. The other six days, it’s an explosion of sticky notes, loose papers, pens and list pads, books, dictionaries, and a copy of what I’d written the day before. Suzie: I think that's a pretty normal picture of an author. What’s something readers might be surprised to learn about your writing process? Erma: I’m learning to write while on a walking pad (a small-scale treadmill). Because it’s a narrow piece of equipment, I’ve tripped but haven’t fallen off yet. I’m determined to master the process – no matter what! :) I love that it makes me hyper aware and slows me down so I can ponder every word even more than usual! Suzie: Slowing down is so good for us creatively (and in many other areas). Tell us a little about you—family, hobbies, day job, or whatever you’d like to share that’s not in your bio.

Erma: I love my family and am so grateful for my husband, four children, five g’kids, our dog Tucker, and four granddogs. Writing was my first love, but my parents said, ‘you can’t earn a living at that.’ In seventh grade science, I learned about cells and was hooked. After working in the medical field for 35 years, I’m finally back to my first love!

Suzie: It's never too late to do what you love. What are three books on your current tbr?

Erma:

The Paris Housekeeper by Renee Ryan

The Christmas Inn by Pamela Kelley The Italian Holiday by Nicole Sharp Suzie: Those look like some great reads. What drew you to writing romance?

Erma: Romance wasn’t on my radar, suspense was. Then, a few years ago, I had a conversation with Lenora Worth. I’ve been writing romance ever since. :) Suzie: Oh to be a fly on the wall for that conversation. Which comes first for you: the characters or the premise?

Erma: It depends. When I’m in between stories, sometimes the characters start telling me their ideas. Other times, a premise lights up like a movie in my mind. From that point on, I let the characters dictate the plot. Suzie: Would you share with us a little about your road to publication?

Erma: Oh, my. This is going to get bumpy! I’ve won 14 writing contests and always wanted to be traditionally published. After prayerfully considering my options, I chose to sign with a small traditional publisher. The date for publication didn’t work out, so I’m going to self-publish that book - Sadie’s Gift: The Christmas Cabin, a Women’s Contemporary Romance - in November 2025. In the meantime, I’m self-publishing Journaled with Love, the first in the “With Love” series on July 16, 2025. I’ve always been a do-it-yourselfer. However, there is no shortage of things to do regarding self-publishing and promoting/marketing. I find myself praying more than ever before, asking the Lord to calm my fears and anxieties. I am more grateful than ever for encouraging, supportive family and friends. :) Suzie: Sometimes those detours lead to unexpected and memorable places. Tell us more about your debut release.

Erma: Journaled With Love is a clean, 62K-word, enemies-to-lovers Rom-Com (think You’ve Got Mail).

I had so much fun writing this book. The characters had a lot to say, and the tension between them, along with their humor, kept my fingers on the keyboard.

Macie Grammerly’s mother demands she come home and work for the family business or forfeit further financial support. Macie loathes her job but not nearly as much as her overachiever boss. Focused on his career, Ryan Tiggs plans to climb to the top of a family-owned business. Then everything changes when he finds a journal left on the bus. Though he’s attracted to his coworker, the journal author’s raw honesty speaks to his soul, and he’s desperate to meet her. When the truth is revealed, will Macie and Ryan fight for the love they never saw coming or walk away from the one person who has always been there for them? Suzie: What message or feeling do you hope readers walk away with after reading your book?

Erma: All things are possible. God has a way of working everything out for our good and His glory. We sometimes pray for Him to change our situation or circumstance. In reality, He’s using that circumstance or situation to change us! We just need to trust Him – even when we don’t see or understand what He’s doing. :) Suzie: Amen and amen! What are you currently working on?

Erma: I’m working on the next book in the With Love series, Recipes with Love (to be published February 5, 2026, Lord willing). I’ve got another romcom, Lifted, that I find myself distracted by. The characters are hysterical, and they draw me into their New York setting in a hot minute. Suzie: Sounds like you've got a lot on your plate. How can we pray for you?

Erma: Pray that the work I do glorifies the Lord and blesses each reader. Every word that I perseverate over has no worth if not a one shines with Jesus’ love. Thank you for your prayers!

Suzie: Absolutely. All authors need prayer and encouragement. Thank you again for taking time to share with us today. And congratulations on your debut!

About the Book

Lost words, found love - a misplaced journal may spark a happily-ever-after in this You’ve Got Mail-style Rom-Com

Macie Grammerly’s mother delivers an ultimatum—come home and work for the family business or forfeit further financial support. Booted from her privileged jet-set life, Macie leaves sun-soaked Hawaii for Idaho. On her unglamorous bus ride to and from work, she pours her heart into her journal, writing about her dreams and the love she longs for.

Focused on his career, Ryan Tiggs’s five-year plan includes climbing to the top of a family-owned business. Then he can buy a car and move out of the garage apartment at his sister’s home. When he’s assigned the boss’s spoiled daughter as his intern, and they’re tasked with saving the floundering company, Ryan wonders if his days are numbered.

Everything changes when he finds a journal left on the bus. The anonymous writer’s vulnerability captivates him and sparks a secret email exchange that soon feels more real than anything else in his life.

As Macie and Ryan continue to work together, an undeniable attraction grows. Yet things are complicated by their individual online correspondence. When the truth is revealed, will they fight for the love they never saw coming or walk away from the one person who has always been there for them?

Goodreads | Amazon

Falling for Chris Posti

Hello Diamonds - As a reader, one of my favorite things to do is discover new authors. I'm intrigued by so many different pathways that lead to publishing that first novel. It's a dream come true for all of us, but it never comes easily. I often say God parts the waters differently for each one of us, but we all have equal parts faith and a 'failure to quit' that eventually bring our stories to life.  

Today, we get the chance to meet Chris Posti. She's been a great friend and source of encouragement, as we're both with Elk Lake Publishing, Inc. Within a couple of weeks, I will get to meet Chris in person at the Blue Ridge Writer's Conference. But for now, all we've got are my hot-seat questions and her enchanting answers. 

Before we get started, there are two things you need to know about Chris: 

1) Her debut novel, Falling Apart, Falling for You, is a Selah Award Finalist. That an amazing accomplishment! 

2) She writes in a genre geared toward 50-year-old women and up. It's even in her subtitle - Real Life and Romance for the 50+ Woman. Fascinating. 

Pay attention. These facts will come up again later. 

First, meet Chris. 

Chris Posti’s writing experience comes in a variety pack. She was a newspaper columnist for more than 20 years and has written three nonfiction books, two blogs, and a workbook. Self-employed for 30 years as a career & executive coach, Chris also wrote training programs, speeches, resumes, LinkedIn profiles, executive summaries, and proposals. 

Her debut novel, Falling Apart, Falling for You (Elk Lake Publishing in April, 2021), is a fun, witty, and uplifting story of three women who reunite 40 years after graduating from high school, just as their perfect lives are upended.

Chris's second novel in this series of three will be released in late 2023.

Me: What were your reading and writing habits as a child? 

Chris: I vividly remember my excitement the first time I read a book that had no pictures in it. I thought I’d be bored by it—but I wasn’t. After that, I got my library card and checked out piles of books every week. Reading led to writing. I still have a little book of poems I wrote for my mother when I was eight; it certainly wasn’t my first effort at writing, but it was a memorable one. Books taught me my life could turn out very different from what I saw around me—and, indeed, my life has been much more wonderful and exciting than I could have imagined, and writing has always been a significant part of it.

Me: At what point did you realize this was really going to happen? 

Chris: Being self-employed most of my career, I wrote a Sunday workplace & careers column for a Pittsburgh newspaper, as well as a lot of business-related communications. As a result, I considered writing an important part of my career. But in 2011 when I self-published my first nonfiction book, I remember turning to my husband and saying from somewhere deep from inside me, almost in another voice: “I am an author.” It was a powerful moment; I knew I’d taken a big step forward in my career and in my life.

Me: Your debut novel is now up for a Selah Award. What does this change for you? 

Chris: Anytime you write something—whether it’s a novel, a nonfiction book, an article, a newspaper column, a blog post, or even a carefully worded email—you always wonder how it will be received. You may think you have done a masterful job, but until you get some kind of validation from others, there’s always that doubt lingering in the back of your mind torturing you.

Since my debut novel, Falling Apart, Falling for You, was published on my 70th birthday, I didn’t want to waste any time writing any other books in this series if no one appreciated the first. So I entered a few writing contests to get some outside opinions. I was elated when Falling Apart, Falling for You got an Honorable Mention in the 2022 Angel Book Awards, followed by being named a Finalist in The Author Zone Awards.

Then, earlier this year, I was reading emails on my laptop at the dining room table when I happened to see my book had been named a Finalist in the Contemporary Novels category of the 2023 Selah Awards. I was so stunned that I slid off the chair and fell to my knees. I cried and gave thanks to the Lord!

Me: What do you wish you'd known before you published?

Chris: Before being published, I was thinking, I just want something challenging to occupy my mind during the pandemic. I figured I’d write one novel and then move on to something else like painting or mosaics. But I found love writing fiction. It’s a fulfilling mental challenge. I could be wrong, but I feel like it’s added years to my life. I’ve just finished the manuscript for the second book, and the plot of the third is already in my head. After that, I’m thinking I might write a romance about a woman in her 60s. 

Me: What happens next?

Chris: Along with writing the third book in this series and possibly a romance, I would like to get involved in some kind of artistic pursuit. I always say one of these days, I’m going to paint clouds. Maybe I will. Truly, only God knows.

Me: You came up with a new-to-me genre (50+ Woman). Yet, most readers I know fit this classification. How did you choose your genre, and will you ever write for another? 

Chris: I could never understand why nearly all the women in novels (and movies) were in their 20s and 30s—maybe (if they were “old”), in their 40s. When I had time on my hands during the pandemic, I searched on Amazon for novels about older women but in all honesty, I couldn’t find anything I wanted to read. Yes, there are many stories that include older women but I wanted them to be the main characters, not a doddering old granny who provides comic relief. I wanted them to be vibrant, smart, loving, real-life, and relatable women who overcome challenges, grow in their faith, have reasons to be hopeful about their future, and find some romance too. So, I wrote the book I’d like to read.

Me: Are your characters based on real people? 

Chris: Sometimes, yes, but only vaguely. Suzanne was modeled after a woman I met 40 years ago who worked as a trainer in the airlines. A classmate who appeared in my sixth-grade class, who stayed in my town only that year and resided with her aunt, was the inspiration for Marla. As an inside joke, I also scatter some names of family members and friends throughout the scenes. And it probably goes without saying, there is a lot of myself in each of the main characters.

Me: What do you do for fun? 

Chris: My two grandsons (6 and 3) who live nearby visit a lot and we do silly things together—mudpies, chalk on the driveway, searching for fossils in the dirt, playing hide and seek. My husband and I live in Pittsburgh, where it’s too cold most of the year to swim outside, so our house has an indoor pool. The grandsons love it, and so do I. Water a great place to play, think, exercise, and pray.

Me: What is the most satisfying part of writing? 

Chris: I wish I could say it’s the piles of fan mail, or all the times people tell me they loved my book, but the truth is, most authors don’t get a lot of that kind of feedback. Or at least I haven’t! 

So I’ve learned to write in a way that pleases me, and I hope it pleases others too. When I’ve labored over a scene or a chapter, I read it aloud to see if it flows. When I get through an entire chapter without stopping to edit anything, that’s a big thrill, and if the writing moves me emotionally, that’s the biggest thrill of all.

Me: Do you know how your stories will end when you start them? Or are you as surprised as your readers?

Chris: For both my novels, I painstakingly wrote out every single scene multiple times and felt sure I knew exactly how both books would end. But somehow when you’re in the flow of the writing process, you just type and see what happens. Usually, you will be surprised. I know I was.

Check out her books on Amazon. 

For more information on Chris, visit https://chrisposti.com.

Interview with Shawna Robison Young

Welcome back to my tea room friends. Pull up a chair, grab your favorite teacup, and help your self to some scones and whatever's hot that you like to drink. I've always got hot chocolate, coffee, and of course, tea.

Today I have the great honor of interviewing my writing friend and debut author, Shawna Robison Young. 

Shawna is the mother of four, a preschool owner and teacher, and a former children’s minister. She is the wife of a navy veteran and lover of all things chocolate. Whether it’s singing the ABCs, sharing what she’s learned with new writers, or passing along Bible truths to her children’s ministry classes, she’s a teacher at heart. 

Shawna enjoys writing a little bit of the unexpected. Why be normal? In a world of conformity, a touch of something out of the ordinary can make a work of art astonishing.

I am so excited for you to get to know this astounding author. 

GIVEAWAY: Don't forget to comment with your email for a chance to win a copy of her debut novel, The Unsuspecting Heather Meyers.

CC: Hi Shawna! Thanks so much for joining me. Let's start off with what are you reading right now?

SRY: Three Little Things by Patti Stockdale. I love seeing the relationship between Hattie and Arno bloom. 

CC: Oh, that's a good one. In fact, later this year I will be interviewing Patti for the Diamond Mine blog.

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

SRY: I’ve loved writing since I was a little girl. I never really thought about it. It was always a part of me, but about ten years ago I began dreaming and writing stories that I’d hope would one day be published. On February 27, 2020, my debut novel The Unsuspecting Heather Meyers releases on Amazon.

CC: It must be so exciting to see your work coming to fruition! I know this journey has been a crazy one. What would you say God has taught you the most through this journey?

SRY: He has taught me to listen and trust His voice. Also, when I know a door needs shut and I can’t bring myself to do it, He will.

CC: That can be such a hard lesson to learn, but I know that is not all that God has taught you. The Unsuspecting Heather Meyers was a very impactful book to write. How did writing it affect you? What did God teach you specifically in that story?

SRY: The Unsuspecting Heather Meyers healed my heart from some hurtful things in my past. I learned that people can change and that even though the past may affect us deeply, it doesn’t have to define where we are going or who we want to be. Mistakes can be amended. Forgiveness can be found. We don’t have to remain in the bondage of the past.

CC: I really can't wait for others to read this story! Who was the most challenging character for you to create? What made them so difficult?

SRY: Keith Meyers. When I originally started the story a few years ago, Keith was a different man. The kind that JJ (hero) had dreamed Heather would have married. But Heather (heroine) told me the man I pictured as her husband was only the man Keith wanted people to see. Writing the scenes that revealed his true nature took a lot out of me emotionally. Having to show what Heather endured broke my heart.

CC: And I think this is a perfect time to bring in your favorite Bible verse, as it seems to tie in so well with the story.

SRY: My favorite bible verse is Luke 5:31-32 “Jesus answered them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’” These verses remind me that we don’t have to be perfect before we come to Him.

CC: So true. So true. Last question before we share your book blurb, and I promise it's a fun one. If you were trapped on a deserted island, what is the one fictional character you would want to have stranded with you?


SRY: Captain America. Enough said. ☺ <3


I encourage you to check out Shawna's debut below and to ENTER THE GIVEAWAY below by entering your email address in the comments. The winner will be randomly selected on February 12 and notified by email. There must be a minimum of five commenters.

What if you’ve returned home to start your life over, only to discover you’re there to finish it?

Ready for a fresh start, Heather Meyers flees from not-so-sunny California to her hometown in Indiana. But fate has other plans—stage IV cancer and three months to live. Determined that one more kick from life won’t destroy her faith, Heather fights against its schemes. Before she can take her final rest, redemption must be found for someone she loves.

Physical therapist Dr. Jack Jones (JJ) would do anything to change the past, to not have let his high school sweetheart get away. Now that Heather’s back, he’d do anything to keep her from leaving. With her time running out, he may never get his chance to set things right.

By a twist of fate and with an extra dab of this and a little bit of that, nurse Anna Ingram sets out to prove that JJ is more than his past mistakes and Heather can find hope and love in the midst of the biggest battle of her life.

Book buy link:  https://amzn.com/B082S5HDQ9

Social Media Links: 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19874777.Shawna_Robison_Young

blog: http://shawnayoungatheart.blogspot.com

FB link: https://www.facebook.com/shawnarobisonyoungauthor/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShawnaYoung6

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER TO WIN A PRINT COPY OF THE UNSUSPECTING HEATHER MEYERS BY 11:59PM ON TUESDAY FEBRUARY 11TH.

Real-Life Story Inspiration with Kelly Goshorn (& a Giveaway)

Hello reader friends! I'm very excited to introduce you to a debut author whose book I've already added to my TBR pile! Kelly Goshorn's A Love Restored is brand new this week. Historical fiction, romance, and more are in store for you! Be sure and enter the giveaway before you leave!

Kelly Goshorn weaves her affinity for history and her passion for God into uplifting stories of love, faith and family set in nineteenth-century America. Her debut novel, A Love Restored, received recognition as the winner of the 2015 COTT Olympia Contest and as a semi-finalist in the 2015 ACFW Genesis Contest. Kelly has been enjoying her own happily-ever-after with her husband and best friend, Mike, for 27 years. Together they have raised three children, four cats, two dogs, a turtle, a guinea pig, a gecko, and countless hamsters. Thankfully not all at the same time. When she is not writing, Kelly enjoys spending time with her young adult children, scrapbooking with friends, board gaming with her husband, and spoiling her Welsh corgi, Levi.


You can connect with Kelly on:

Her website: http://kellygoshorn.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.j.goshorn/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KellyGoshorn
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/KellyGoshorn/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyjgoshorn/

SW: First of all, congratulations on your debut novel! We’re so pleased you could join us here at the mine and share a little about your journey.

KG: Hi Suzie, thanks so much for welcoming me here on The Diamond Mine. I’m excited to share A Love Restored with your readers.

SW: Let’s get right into it with a few multiple choice questions to warm us up!
Original draft: computer, paper, or phone?

KG: Computer

SW: Chocolate, vanilla, or something else? 

KG: I like vanilla based ice cream with lots of stuff in it—peanut butter cups, chocolate covered peanuts, M&Ms, coconut, chocolate chips…well, I’m sure by now you get the picture. Was this supposed to be a short answer! LOL!

SW: Anyone else craving ice cream all of a sudden? Spring, summer, fall, or winter?

KG: Fall

SW: Night owl or early bird?

KG: Early bird

SW: I'm always in awe of early birds (but, to tell the truth, I'm not really a night owl anymore either). Ok, now that we know a few surface things about you: When (or why) did you start writing? 

KG: Truthfully, I never saw it coming! So many writers I’ve talked to have wanted to be a writer since they were a child. Many have drawers full of half-written manuscripts. Me? Not so much. I had always enjoyed writing papers for my college classes, but I NEVER considered writing fiction. I’d been a successful in-home childcare provider for nearly twenty years, but I knew in my heart it was time to move on to something new. My husband and I began praying for God to give me a new direction, a new passion in my life I would undeniably know He’d planted in my heart. On a whim, I began tinkering with story writing and it didn’t take long for my secret hobby to become my God-given passion!

SW: I love that. You have a unique writing journey that proves there are multiple roads to publishing. Authors often say there’s no such thing as a consistent routine, but what would you like your writing day to look like? 

Levi and I working

KG: I’m still chasing the ideal writing day. As that rare breed, an extroverted writer, I am usually my own biggest distraction. When a friend texts to meet up for coffee or lunch I have a hard time saying no. I work from home in the afternoons as a virtual assistant, so the mornings are my time to focus on my writing. After a lifetime of being a night owl, I have recently been rising early to write. This has brought a great deal of discipline to my schedule that I never had before. On an ideal writing day, I set the alarm for 4:45 a.m. I hit the snooze a few times and begin the day talking with the Lord. Then I head for the kitchen and make a cup of tea, usually Earl Grey. My trusty companion, Levi (an adorable Welsh corgi), follows me downstairs and gets his morning treat. He can usually be found by my feet while I write. Before I begin, I pray. Writing is the hardest thing I’ve ever done and each day I ask God to come and inspire me and to tell the stories He wants told through me. By 8 a.m. I have usually met my daily word count. After I dress for the day, Levi and I head out for a walk. When we return home, I try to focus on other writerly tasks like editing, marketing, blogging and critiquing.

SW: Wow, I don't thing I've seen 4:45 am in years. I’m in awe of historical writers due to all the research. What drew you to this genre over contemporary or suspense? 

KG: Hahaha! I love that part and can get lost in so many historical rabbit trails while researching. I guess I’m just a big old-fashioned, nerdy, history-lovin’ kinda girl at heart! I’ve always loved history, even as a kid in school. In college, I earned a B.A. in social studies education and an M.Ed. in History. It’s my favorite genre to read as well and on my birthday, I enjoy dragging my children to historical sites and watching them cringe as I read every sign and placard! LOL!

SW: Maybe that's my problem, I was never a huge history buff. But, I love how it's brought to life in novels. Tell us a little about your road to publication. 

KG: God has blessed this journey in so many ways. I began writing in 2011. By 2013 I had a completed draft of A Love Restored and joined a critique group through American Christian Fiction Writers.  In 2014, A Love Restored finaled in ACFW’s First Impressions contest. In 2015, that was followed by winning the COTT Olympia, a reader-driven contest, and finaling in the WisRWA Fab 5 and the Tara, along with a semi-final nod in the ACFW Genesis contest. At the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference that same year, I had the opportunity to pitch my story to several agents and editors. I was blessed to have several requests for full manuscripts. A few weeks later, I received a call from one of the editors I’d met, Paula Mowery. A weeks later she called and offered me a contract with Prism Book Group. I was floored. She’d never read the entire manuscript. From all the contests I’d entered, the first few chapters were well-polished, but no industry professional had read the entire manuscript. When I questioned why she didn’t want the full manuscript first she said, “I have a God nudge and I like to follow my God nudges.” I’m so glad she did!

SW: God nudge, I love it! Here is your chance to acknowledge those who’ve walked alongside of you in the writing process. Who is your tribe? Who supports you, reads along with you, helps you out of a difficult place in your story, etc. 

KG: I’m so blessed to have a husband who supports this crazy writing journey of mine, in fact it was his idea to write A Love Restored. I also have a loyal group of friends who, are not writers, that regularly pray for my writing journey and read all my stuff—my sister, Cindy Scott, and dear friends Becky Redman, Steph Sloan and Colleen Hoernke. Colleen has read and critiqued my story so many times, I think she knows it as well as I do! My first critique partners through American Christian Fiction Writers—Angela Couch, Sarah Monzon, Tammy Kirby, Crystal Barnes, Jodie Wolfe, Jessica Konek Johnson and Linda Cushman. Where I’d be without those wonderful women, I do not know. And keeping me faithful to this writing journey are my early morning writing buddies, Megan Whitson Lee and Debb Hackett!


SW: Some of those critique partner names are familiar. What a fantastic group to get input and feedback from. I’m so excited that your heroine in A Love Restored is not the svelte character in so many (too many?) books. What influenced that decision?

Kelly and her groom

KG: You’re right, Suzie. The heroine in most romance novels does not resemble me or most of the women I see around me, but the primary reason Ruth Ann has a fuller figure is that A Love Restored is based on the true-life romance between my husband and myself. Ruth Ann is me in so many ways. She is stubborn, always seems to find herself in a pickle, and is definitely on the rounder side of feminine figures. I have struggled with weight issues my entire life and that struggle plays an important part in our story. Ruth Ann’s biggest weakness is not seeing herself as the beautiful, Godly woman she is. Her journey to self-acceptance is at the heart of the story.

SW: I think women need that reminder. And since we gave Ruth Ann some love, tell us a little about Benjamin.

KG: Now that you know A Love Restored is based on my story, you would be right to assume that Benjamin is based on my husband, Mike. Like my husband, Benjamin makes Ruth Ann laugh, holds her accountable to herself and is very generous with his time and talents. He is extremely intelligent, and like Benjamin, my husband wooed me with his guitar and teases me about my not-so-stellar singing voice. Like Benjamin, my husband struggled with his pride and let vows, words he’d spoken over himself, dictate his choices. Benjamin’s journey is about finding the courage to challenge society’s idea of what success looks like and trusting God’s plan for his life.

SW: What do you hope readers come away with after reading A Love Restored? 

KG: At its core, A Love Restored is a story about the power of words in our lives. It is a story about the struggle each of us faces to take our thoughts captive to the truth of Scripture, so we may experience the fullness of God’s unequivocal love for us.

Words have the power to lift us up and tear us down, and the most dangerous ones are the ones we repeat in our own mind every day. I spent way too many years repeating words of death to myself—that I was fat, ugly, unlovable and unworthy of the very God I believed sacrificed His son on my behalf.

1 Samuel 16:7b says, For the LORD does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. My prayer for you and your readers is that you will not allow the enemy to steal the joy that is rightfully yours as a child of God. Speak the truth of the gospel over yourself every day and ask God to give you His eyes to see yourself as He does.

SW: Amen! Are you working on anything new you can tell us about?

KG: I’m very excited about the series I’m working on now, Surrendered Hearts. Set in Civil War Virginia, the series examines what happens when God calls us to surrender those things we hold most dear. Characters are called to sacrifice their dreams and ambitions, their pride, and ultimately their hearts as God recklessly pursues each of them. Hearts and wills are challenged, and lives transformed as characters experience restoration with one another and with God. If readers are interested in learning more, the can visit the Surrendered Hearts page on my website.

SW: Thank you for visiting with us today and may God bless your writing career.

KG: Thank you, Suzie. I had such a wonderful time sharing my writing journey with your readers.

More about A Love Restored

She was nothing like the woman he’d envisioned for his bride, but he was everything she’d ever dreamed of—until a promise from his past threatened their future.

Twenty-year-old Ruth Ann Sutton doesn’t measure up to society’s vision of a perfect lady. She would rather read Jules Verne or teach Negro children to read and write than join the Women’s Benevolent Aid Society or practice her voice lessons. Her pert opinions and less than perfect figure keep many suitors away. When Ruth Ann accepts a position teaching at the new Freedman’s School, it threatens the only marriage offer she is likely to receive. Should she risk life as a lonely spinster or reinvent herself to accept a proposal from a man she does not love?

Determined to rise above his meager beginnings, Benjamin Coulter’s reputation as a fast learner and hard worker earn him the opportunity to apprentice with a surveyor for the railroad—a position that will garner the respect of other men. All he needs now is a woman to share his promising future. When Benjamin has a chance encounter with Ruth Ann Sutton, he is smitten with her pretty face, quick wit, and feisty personality. When others ridicule his choice, Benjamin must decide whether he will listen to his heart or put ambition first.

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Giveaway

Kelly Goshorn is giving one reader a book charm with a quote from her debut and a copy of A Love Restored (Paperback if you are in the US, Ebook if you are international). To enter, leave a comment below along with a way to contact you if you are our randomly chosen winner. For an extra entry, follow Kelly on social media or sign up for her newsletter and let us know you've done that as well. Plus, if you sign up for her newsletter, you'll get a sugar cookie recipe (yummy!).

Book Charms for A Love Restored

***Must be five unique commenters for giveaway to be valid.

Traveling Abroad with Kyle Hunter + a Giveaway

It’s Wednesday, which means we’ve got another author interview for you. Today’s guest is someone I roomed with at the 2016 ACFW conference. She released her debut novel earlier this year, and it's a delight and privilege to introduce her to each of you.

Kyle Hunter

I wanted to write fiction since the age of ten. My first book was at the age of eleven, about the adventures of a frog and turtle. Though I got away from writing for many years, the desire never left me. So, in 2009 I finally dove back in. I was living in France at the time.

I love to read and write stories about strong women who still have flaws, but are ready to pursue their dreams, even if it takes them out of their comfort zone ... or their country. 

I write inspirational romance novels and women’s fiction with a twist: My characters sometimes go places. This led me to create the Love on the Move collection of novels. Readers can take a trip with them and experience their journeys. They can see how the characters’ lives unfold as they make decisions to trust God (or not) in their next steps, learning about themselves and their faith, and finding love along the way! 

I currently live in North Carolina but spent over a decade in France (where some of my books take place.) I also write non-fiction and teach French. In my free time I enjoy doing pottery and salsa dancing.

Connect with Kyle:

Website
Facebook
Twitter


SW: Welcome to the Diamond Mine, Kyle. I am thrilled you could join us and share a little about yourself, your writing journey, and your debut novel. (Readers, I should mention here that the pictures in this post are all from Kyle's personal collection).
Let’s start with a quick round of this or that. 

Cake or cookies? 

KH: Cookies, though right now I’m trying hard to be disciplined and eat the right things! I never eat “industrial” cookies anyway but have a weakness for homemade…especially chocolate-chip coconut.

SW: Oh, those sound amazing! Morning or evening?

KH: I’m definitely a morning person. I feel more energetic and mentally sharp at that time. I can be creative in the evening too but start dozing off around 10:30.


SW: That's about the same time I shut down. Chocolate or vanilla? 

KH: Absolutely chocolate!  Dark only. It’s the European influence, I guess.


SW: Painting or drawing? 

KH: To do or to admire? I’m more of an artistic type, so I’ll opt for doing! I like doing both but am only average. I think my talents must lie in other areas!


SW: My sister got the artistic genes in my family, I try and steer away from most artwork. Painting pottery is the exception. It's so relaxing to me. 
Sandals or sneakers? 

KH: Both! I try to stay active but in North Carolina where we’re blessed with wonderful spring and fall (usually) and scorching summers, sandals are preferred.

SW: That was fun! Now that we’ve learned some basics about you, let’s go a little deeper.

A Parisian cafe. Welcome to Nikki's World!

After living in France for more than a decade and now living stateside, what do you miss most about living in another country and what don’t you miss at all?  

KH: After 13 years I was ready to come back to my own country, so I don’t have any regrets there. With so many years and experiences, though, it really feels like my second home. I miss some cultural things, like the way people linger at restaurants, buy produce at the open markets (which are set up twice weekly and easy to find!) as well as the beauty of nearly everything. I guess I’m just in love with France!







SW: I loved the open markets in the book. Speaking of, in One December, the heroine takes several trips to other countries during her year in Paris. Were you able to travel like this during your time in France?


KH: Yes, I did travel, but not as much as I would have liked. I still have a very long travel list, as well as my favorites I’d like to return to repeatedly, like Provence, Greece, London, and Italy! I’m planning to write novels in all of those places! (I have one in Provence already and am about to write another in the same area.)

Peaceful street on the Ile de Saint Louis (smaller of the 2 islands in the Seine)

SW: Italy is on my bucket list! On the flip side of the previous question, what one country or place that you have not yet been to would you most like to visit? 

KH: I’d love to go to Portugal. I’ve heard wonderful things about Lisbon in particular. Also, I had one trip to Spain, but was with friends and couldn’t explore as much as I wanted to. I’d like to see Seville and Barcelona. (That may be for next year!)

Book sellers along the Seine

SW: Your book touches on the complacency the French have toward Christianity. As a Christian living in a foreign country, what did you find most difficult or surprising? 

KH: I was in France in a ministry role, so I encountered this fact daily, the French indifference to Christianity, and the attitude that it was mainly for traditional holidays, but otherwise outdated. It was surprising the number of atheists in France, and many French people consider this a French cultural trait! If you look at their religious history, it’s tragic. The Reformation began very strong but was snuffed out with 200 years of brutality and wars of religion. Today there’s some distrust of small evangelical churches and ignorance about them. Churches and Christianity are slowly growing, however. God is still at work there.

Notre Dame Cathedral

SW: Amen! You’ve published some non-fiction works. Share with us a bit about the decision and journey to fiction. 

KH: As I mentioned in my bio, I wanted to be a fiction writer since the age of 10. The decision to write non-fiction began as a desire to create something that would be useful, fun to write, able to take me back to France, and also help finance me until I could publish fiction! I write travel books for France and I blog through Oliver’s France, a website I created. I also wrote a French language book for travelers. But fiction has always been the main goal for me. I discovered I enjoy writing non-fiction too, but it doesn’t thrill me in the same way as creating a scenario and setting where characters interact with each other, with God, and with themselves, facing challenges, growing, etc. That is thrilling for me, and I’d say it is my main calling. 

SW: From cheerleaders to critique partners to beta readers, reviewers, and more, every writer has a support system behind them. Tell us a little about who makes up your team. 

KH: I live in Raleigh, NC and about a year ago we got our own ACFW chapter. I joined right away and have really enjoyed our meetings. We have speakers, encourage each other, give critiques, network, and sometimes reviews. It’s wonderful to be part of this community, because I was alone as a writer for many years. Now I feel part of a community. As a newer writer, I can learn from the experience of others. I’ve been encouraged by their helpfulness.

SW: The ability to spend time with other authors is such a blessing for authors since writing

Island in the Seine River

is so often a solitary experience. What are some of your plans for your upcoming trip to France (anyone else want to try and sneak into Kyle’s luggage)?  

KH: The last novel I wrote was called Prodigals in Provence and is my next one to be published. This takes place in a gorgeous area of Provence called the Lubéron, where there are hilltop villages, vineyards, and a lot of history. I’m now planning a sort of sequel to that book, to continue the journey of the character’s best friend, Lauren. That will take place in a town called Cavaillon, in the same area. Part of my goal in going on this trip to Provence is to research for that book. Since I also have a France travel blog, I’ll take a lot of photography and video of Provence, Lyon, and Paris while I’m there. I’ll also reconnect with old friends and enjoy tearing across France from the south to the north! (and catch up on my croissant and cheese consumption!)

SW: Nikki and Mike go on very different journeys in One December. Share with us some of the motivations behind the book. 

KH: I was intrigued by the idea of two people who had known each other since childhood but come together much later as adults and as believers. That being said, Mike and Nikki were still not ready for each other. Things get started between them but they’re pulled away for a time, while all the while there’s the thread tying them together as they grow through their individual change journeys. I won’t get more detailed than that, but hopefully that will intrigue potential readers!

Arc of Triumph

SW: As we all know, reading is a personal experience. We all leave a story with different takeaways. What do you most hope your readers come away from your books with? 

KH: Hope in the growth process as well as the idea that God is really at our center as believers, and relationships are complementary, yet important. Mike and Nikki each have a different perception of relationships and how these balance with one’s relationship with God.



SW: And a reminder that while the answer we seek might not be yes or no. Sometimes the answer is wait. What are you working on now? Can we expect more travels to foreign places in future stories? 

KH: The next book to be published takes place in Provence, France. As I mentioned, the next project will be a follow-up of that book. I want to have ongoing books in the Love on the Move series, which will take readers to other places, not just France. Eventually I’d also like to write in other genres, like romantic suspense. 


Thank you for spending some time with us this week and congratulations on your debut novel. I’m looking forward to what you’ve got in store for readers next. For those wanting their first taste of Kyle's books, she's offering an eBook to one of you! Keep reading for details on the giveaway.

About the Book

Nikki has loved Mike for as long as she can remember (as early as age seven!) Mike has his own past hurts to resolve, having lost both parents in an accident when he was fourteen. He’s tried to escape those painful memories by leaving New York and starting a new life on the West Coast. New facts indicate, years later, that his parents’ deaths might not have been an accident. 

At Christmas Mike comes back to New York for the first time in three years. He and Nikki rekindle the friendship they had as children and share their newfound faith. Under a Christmas moon romantic sparks fly . . . but their mutual attraction takes an unexpected detour. 

Nikki is devastated, believing her one chance for a relationship with Mike is over. She impulsively takes a one-year teaching opportunity in Paris, so that she can face her own fears and get over Mike. 

If Mike and Nikki run away, how can they find each other again? 

Amazon // Goodreads

Giveaway

Kyle is generously offering one of our readers an eBook of One December. To enter, simply leave a comment below and let us know what country you would visit if time and money were not an issue. Be sure and let us know how to contact you if you win. Let us know you followed Kyle Hunter on social media or signed up for her newsletter to get an extra entry in the drawing. 

*Giveaway not valid with fewer than 5 unique commentors. Giveaway ends midnight EST, Tuesday, May 15, 2018.