Interview and Giveaway with Gay N. Lewis!!

 

Hi there, readers!! Today we welcome author Gay N. Lewis to The Diamond Mine for an interview and a book giveaway. You can be entered in the drawing for the free book if you click on the "leave a comment" button at the end of the interview and social links, and leave a comment with your email address.

Her book is: Sarah's First Mission to Earth, which I know you will be delighted by! 

Sarah's motto is Faith, Humor and Red Stilettos!

Here we go with the interview! 

Please tell us about Sarah’s First Mission to Earth.

Sarah comes to Earth to help humans, but she’s lost and bumbles her way through adventures. God gifted me with a generous sense of humor, and Sarah makes my readers laugh aloud. My husband often hears me chuckle as I write of Sarah’s goofs and he says, “What’s Sarah done now?”

In her first mission to Earth, Sarah’s first assignment is to help Tom Shoemaker find a mate by valentine’s Day. Mercy me! How can an inexperienced angel do this in such a short time? Sarah accidentally dumps food on Tom in a restaurant, and the accident causes him to meet Marcy Montgomery. Marcy is a military widow with a five-year-old, precocious child. Hope, the daughter, wants a daddy, and Sarah decides Tom is the perfect candidate. But is Tom the wrong man for Marcy? Well, “Poopty doopty!” Sarah may have to go to Cloud Nine for a reprove.

Poopty doopty is one of Sarah’s favorite phrases. It’s a nicer phrase than a string of naughty expressions, don’t you think? I use it often.

I love it! I'm chuckling already! Sounds like a charming story.

What do you like best about writing?

The best part of writing for me is the creativity. I invent a man and woman, throw rocks at them, resolve their issues, and then they fall in love. Most of my books have been Christian romances with the genre of fantasy or historical as part of the mix. I have one book that is Christian, but not romance. It is historical Women’s Fiction. In the book, Mattie’s Choice, two women face abusive husbands and must decide how to handle their situations. This book is historical and was the hardest one I’ve ever written.

I know what you mean about writing historical books. Lots of research. I've grown to love the research part, though. I've learned a lot in that process.

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

I don’t write from an outline. I keep a general story-line in my head and go forth. Sometimes a chapter will surprise me and take me in a new direction. I love it when that happens.

Me, too!! I love it when the characters surprise me, too!

What do you want your readers to take away from your books?

I want my readers to learn something about Christ. I am not preachy in my stories, but I install appropriate tidbits of theology. I hope readers find them inspirational.

I'm sure they will. Any chance we can get to learn more about Christ is a great thing!

Now I'd like to hear more about you personally.

Thanks, Nancy for introducing me to your readers. I was born in Fort Worth, Texas. My parents later moved us about thirty miles east to Irving, TX. As a child, I thought it great fun to catch a bus and travel to Dallas. Shopping in beautiful stores like Sanger-Harris was a grand event. Times change, and now the cities in the DFW Metroplex blend into each other, and alas! Sanger-Harris no longer exists. As of today, I’m a pastor’s wife in a bi-vocational church and live west of Houston in Fulshear, TX. When I was eight years old, I knew God wanted me in special service. As I child, I thought assisting the Lord meant years as a missionary in an exotic country. Ten years after I decided to make this sacrifice of home and country, I married a Baptist minister. My husband felt called to ministry, but not to missions. Except for our first year in Oklahoma, we’ve served in Texas.

What was your childhood family like?

I’m the eldest of three, and I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy, born on the 4th of July. The doctor told my mom she’d have a firecracker before Sunday School, and she did. Friends say my birthday fits my exuberant personality. A sister and brother joined me later. My mom named me Gay Nell. When I started writing, I chose the name Gay N. Lewis. However, a group of people use the name Gay to describe a lifestyle. I now write as G. N. Lewis. You’ll find my books under either name. The newest books are G. N. Lewis.

What’s your favorite pastime?

I’m a big fan of baseball and the Astros. We watch every game and sometimes go to Minute Maid Park to see them play. I even wrote about them in my latest book, Sarah’s Mission to Earth. The hero, Tom in the story, lives in Houston but once played football for the University of Texas in Austin. While visiting his mom in the Texas Hill Country, he meets Marcy. He’s thrilled when he learns Marcy loves sports.

What's your home life like?

I married a minister and we have three grown daughters. I’m grateful for hubby’s easygoing nature. When I wreck the car, he responds in his unflappable manner. I sideswiped a vehicle recently, and he texted, “No worries. All is good.” In my first year in Houston, I had nine wrecks. Yes, you read correctly. Nine. They weren’t funny at the time, well, some were.

One morning I drove my car to the body shop with the passenger side caved in. The man fixed it. A few weeks later, I wheeled in with the identical scenario—the same passenger side crumpled again. The manager scratched his head, “Ma’am, may I ask you a question?” I nodded. “Where did you learn to drive?”

That's so funny!!

Then, a few years after the body shop incidents, my husband was called as senior pastor to a Baptist Church in Central Texas. We’d been in the county-seat town for two weeks when a group ten miles away invited me to teach a Bible study. I left early. I always give myself time to make wrong turns. Or have wrecks.

In the heart of town, I made a wrong turn.

Uh-oh! You’re not gonna believe this, but as a brand-new citizen, right then and there, I stranded my car on a railroad track in the middle of that city. Yep. I did. Well, it was dark. Does that count? I thought I saw a street and turned. Boy! Was I surprised? It wasn’t a road—it was a choo-choo track. I drove forward, backward, nothing, nada, zip. I was stuck. I jumped out, left the car, and ran to the police station. The officer said, “We could have a major fire if that coming engine plows into your car.” I bit my nails as I waited for him to notify officials. I imagined the newspapers across the country with the headline. “Pastor’s Wife Burns Down Texas Town.” I called my husband. He didn’t say much. He’s used to it.

Sarah’s chaotic episodes are oftentimes things I’ve done. Like most authors, I include personal experiences. The idea of a dyslexic, bumbling, chaotic, angel came to me out of the blue. Or was it a God thing? 

Oh, my goodness, you have had an interesting  time of it! You must appreciate your hubby for being so understanding. I'd say that's definitely a God thing, too!!

You remind me of a dear friend who often has similar experiences. I always chuckle  with her when we remember some of her humorous dilemmas. We all need some laughs! And you  and Sarah are so generously giving us some.

Thanks, Nancy, for asking about Sarah. She’s a heartwarming little angel, and her baubles give the reader insights. I look forward to hearing from your readers.

Now, one more question: What are you working on now?

I thought I’d try something different – a murder mystery. My female lead is researching ways to kill two men. They robbed her and she seeks revenge. I haven’t decided if she will succeed with murder or not. There’s a therapist involved, he loves her, but can he talk her out of murder? I’m not sure yet. At first, I wasn’t going to write this as a Christian novel, but this style didn’t fit me. I finally gave up and allowed God to make His way into a few sentences. I’m halfway through, and I don’t have a title. I’m into year four with work on this one. 

As most of my readers know, my daughter is in the last stages of dementia, and we take care of her. This emotional roller-coaster often zaps me. Finding energy and time to write is a challenge.

I'm so sorry to hear that you have such an intense challenge. May God continue to help you, strengthen you and give you His peace. He is very close when our hearts are hurting.

Thank you so much for this interview. It's been wonderful to get to know you.

Thanks, Nancy. I appreciate being on the Diamond Mine.

Well readers, here are Gay's links, and don't forget to leave a comment so you will have a chance to win the drawing for the free copy of her book!

Gay N. Lewis is a Texas best-selling author, and she writes under the names Gay N. Lewis and G. N. Lewis. Most of her books are about a dyslexic angel, and they are laugh-out-loud funny. Gay has also written two historical, women’s fiction novels. Visit her blog at http://gaynlewis.blogspot.com/ Gay’s daughter suffers from early-onset dementia, and she writes a blog about their journey. https://dementiadaybyday.blogspot.com/ You’ll find Gay N. Lewis novels on Amazon and other online booksellers. http://amzn.to/2hwc6nB A link to G.N. Lewis. https://amzn.to/3G3ZdZm Catch Gay on Facebook as Gay N. Lewis You’ll find her on YouTube. https://bit.ly/3SQhIXc

Interview with Author Jodie Wolfe!!

Greet author Jodie Wolfe and her new book, Taming Julia!

A gun-toting, breeches-wearing wife wasn't what the minister       ordered!  In 1875, Kansas bachelor Drew Montgomery's sole desire is to serve God, but his congregation's ultimatum that he marry or leave, forces him to advertise for a wife by proxy. 

Jules Walker strides into Drew's life wearing breeches and toting a gun and saddle--more cowboy than bride. After years on the trail, she's not exactly wife material, but she longs for home and family, and will do anything to ensure Drew never discovers what she really is.

Welcome to the Diamond Mine, Jodie! Your new book sounds great! Before I share an excerpt, I'd like to know more about you. What caused you to decide to write books?

When I was in 2nd grade we had to write a poem as a class assignment. I had so much fun doing so, that I soon started writing little stories and making them into books. I was hooked. I knew I wanted to be a writer when I grew up. For me, it's a calling from the Lord.

Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?

Chuckle. Most definitely. It was about my dog Ginger going to the inaugural ball when Jimmy Carter got elected.

I'd love to read that! Sounds adorable!
If you could do absolutely anything right now, what would it be?

Hire a maid to take care of the house so I could get more writing accomplished. :)

Oh, wow! Wouldn't that be great!!
Do you base your characters on aspects of real people or yourself, or are they mostly invented by your imagination?

My characters are a combination of parts of me and also parts of people I know. I'll never tell which part though. :)  Although I'll admit, some are completely made up.

That's pretty much how my characters are, too! Do you write from an outline, or by the seat of your pants?

Both. I usually have a rough outline in my head, but my characters have a tendency to take over the story and lead it where they want to go.

Isn't that such an interesting phenomenon? I remember how surprised I was the first time that happened!
Do you work on one story at a time, or do you juggle stories?

Most times I work on one story at a time, but there are times when I'm writing one and editing a different one.

Is writing a daily habit or do you write in bursts of inspiration?

For a long time, it was a daily habit. I need to get back into that again.

It does help to write every day if you can, though sometimes I need to take a break if a story seems to be a bit stuck.
Do you listen to music or something else when writing, or do you prefer silence?

Most times I prefer having music playing quietly in the background. If I have the radio turned up, I tend to start singing along and distract myself in the process.

I can relate to that! So I stick to instrumental and classical most of the time. It's inspiring without the distraction of lyrics!
What do you like most about being a writer?

I love being able to create characters and a story from nothing. I love to see them and their story come to life.

It's so satisfying! I love the process, too!
What do you like least?

My least favorite is the business side of writing - editing, marketing, etc.

I hear you! I'm especially bad at marketing, but I'm slowly learning some of it. What are you working on now?

I'm working on a book entitled Hannah's Quest that's set in the town where I live now. It's set in the 1870s about a girl who is searching for a place to belong.
I love writing historical fiction, too. I especially love doing the research! Thanks so much for the interview, Jodie!! It's been fun getting to know you better. Now here's an excerpt from Taming Julia for our readers to enjoy:

Matrimony News, February 6, 1875 edition

Minister bachelor aged 27, height 5 feet 10 inches seeks genteel, honest and first-rate homemaker with a desire to serve God. Must be willing to marry by proxy and arrive in Burrton Springs, Kansas by May 1.

~*~

Burrton Springs, Kansas, Saturday, May 1, 1875

            Dear Lord, please don’t let that creature be my new wife. Drew Montgomery swiped the sweat trickling a path down his neck and shoved the new hat back on his head. He squinted, taking in the lone passenger stepping from the stagecoach. At least, he thought it was a woman. He shielded his eyes from the sun, taking in the britches.

            Britches? A gun belt strapped to a slim waist. He gulped. A rifle rested on her shoulder, and she wore a Stetson situated low on her brow. The figure shifted sideways, and Drew groaned, fearing his proxy mail-order bride had arrived by the look of all the curves. He squared his shoulders and crossed the street.

            "Are you Montgomery?" Her coffee-brown gaze seared through him.

            He snapped his gaping mouth shut and nodded. "Y-yes."

            "Name’s Jules Walker." She shoved her hand into his and shook it so hard his teeth clattered. "I reckon, Jules Montgomery since we’re hitched." She waved a slip of paper in his face. "Got the paper here to prove it. So are you my husband or not?"

            Drew caught a whiff of dirt. He coughed and cleared his throat.

            She peered at him as if he were a chicken with one leg.

            "I’m Drew." He managed to choke the words out. "Isn’t your name Julia?"

            She scrunched her face, pushed her Stetson from her head, and allowed it to dangle from the string around her neck. Her brown hair scattered in disarray, slipping from a shoulder-length braid. "I can’t remember the last time I’ve been called Julia. Like I said, name’s Jules."

            "But..." Drew let the word hang between them. No matter. "Where’re your things?"

            "Got my knapsack and that there." She pointed to the top of the stagecoach. He expected to see a trunk, but a saddle rested there instead. What kind of woman brought a saddle into a marriage? What kind of woman showed up dressed like a man? No. No. Something was terribly wrong.

Wow! I'm hooked already! Sounds like a wonderful story! Readers, here's a short bio about Jodie, followed by her links!

Thanks again Jodie, for visiting the Diamond Mine!!

Jodie Wolfe creates novels where hope and quirky meet. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Romance Writers of America (RWA), and COMPEL Training. 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. She's a contributor and co-founder of Stitches Thru Time blog. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, walking, and being a Grammie. Learn more at www.jodiewolfe.com.

Purchase Links for Taming Julia:

https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Julia-Jodie-Wolfe-ebook/dp/B083L8MDD5/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=taming+julia&qid=1578503989&sr=8-1

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/taming-julia-jodie-wolfe/1136004491?ean=9781522302711

Website: https://www.jodiewolfe.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JodieAWolfe

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

Interview and Giveaway with Brooke Williams!!

Wow!!  What a treat! Brooke has two books just out. A Christmas novella called Backwards Christmas:

Local tour guide Noelle Richards loves everything Backwards Christmas has to offer in South Pole, Alaska. She gets wrapped up in the upside down trees, taking presents TO Santa Clause and all the festivities. Sled dog trainer Chris Furst, on the other hand, approaches the holiday with nothing but skepticism. When their history bubbles into the present, their difference of opinion comes to a head. When Chris gets himself into a dangerous situation in the snow, Noelle and the hope of Christ are his only hope for redemption.

And she has another "Dandelion" book out now as well, full of fun and Brooke's marvelous sense of humor:

Dandelions on the Road

Twelve men…one woman…plenty of dandelions. Eva Merida has her life in order. She loves her job at the Furry Friends Rescue League and has a loving, supportive family. But she’s still missing that one special person to stand by her side. When she comes in third place on the local TV version of “The Bachelor,” entitled Accept this Dandelion, she nearly loses all hope for romance. Fortunately, the TV station decides to do a second season of the dating show…and they name Eva as the Bachelorette! With a plethora of dating mishaps recorded for TV, Eva finds herself falling for several men at once…including the show’s host. Will she find love at last or simply embarrass herself in front of the entire city? 

Now that you've enjoyed a bit of a preview, let's move on to the interview! And don't forget to leave a comment for the chance to win a free copy of one of Brooke's books!!

Hi Brooke, and welcome back to The Diamond Mine. You’re a prolific writer, and a mother of small children. That’s quite a busy life! How do you manage?

One day at a time! Sometimes one hour at a time! I have priorities and I stick to them. When my daughters are awake and with me, they get my attention and that's that. Though I have to admit, sometimes I think about my novels and do a little plotting while I play. When my oldest is at school and my youngest is napping, that's when I write. I type really fast and write about as quickly as I think. I have 1-2 hours a day to get my writing in and I do my best in that amount of time. That being said, I hardly ever clean or put away laundry. :)

Good for you! I think you've got a good balance of priorities there! Tell our readers a bit about your new stories coming out this fall. 

"Dandelions on the Road" is book two in the Dandelion Series, but it can be read as a standalone as well. When I wrote "Accept this Dandelion," a book about a local TV show version of The Bachelor, I thought that was it. But some of the characters from that book kept bugging me to continue the story, so I did! I also wrote a third book called "After the Final Dandelion." It' involves a wedding and I hope to put it out this spring.

"Backwards Christmas" is a short, sweet, humorous Christmas-oriented tale. It takes place in the town of South Pole, Alaska (get it? Rather backwards, right?) in which they do the Christmas traditions backwards in order to draw tourists. There's a romance involved, a little danger, and plenty of laughs. It's a fun story and a quick, easy read.

They both sound delightful! 

Do your main characters in these stories have anything in common with you? If so, what? 

Yes, they often take traits or even stories from me. The women often don't care about hair and makeup and clothes (you've seen my picture, right?) :) They're often clumsy and don't always say the right things. Some of my background stories I get from my own experiences and some of the professions. I was in radio for a decade (the main character in Accept this Dandelion is in radio). I worked in TV news for a few months at one time (the main character in Wrong Place, Right Time is in TV news). As for what background stories are my own and what are made up, I'll let you wonder on that one!

We writers have to keep some secrets to ourselves! I'm curious: What’s the first story you remember writing? 

I actually have at least a dozen laminated, spiral bound books that I wrote in elementary school. There was a writing center at school and you could go there and "publish" your stories. The volunteers would type out a sentence or two per page and then you could draw pictures under them. They would help you pick a cover from magazine pictures and they'd laminate it and bind it for you. A full fledged book! I LOVED making those books. One in particular I remember is called "The Fuzzy Family." It's about a family of these fuzzy little creatures who live in the town dump. And they use people for chairs!? The fact that my parents weren't more worried about me as a child is beyond me! :)

I think that's awesome, that you had an opportunity like that at such an early age. And look at the fruit it's brought forth! 

So, do you have a favorite character from your stories?

I really enjoy Renee Lockhart from "Accept this Dandelion." She's also slightly in "Dandelions on the Road" and will be in "After the Final Dandelion." She's an everyday gal and she knows who she is and isn't afraid to speak her mind. I could use a little of her confidence some days! And because of the amount of terrible/funny things that happen to her, she's a hoot to write!

Tell us how your ideas come to you, and which element is first. Plot, characters, location, or dilemma? 

They come from a variety of places, but it's usually the main plot or general idea first. Then I come up with a title and forming the characters and the dilemma comes as I write. I don't plot in advance much. I simply sit down and see where the story takes me. The characters have to lead me!

Do you work from outlines, or write as you go? 

Ooh, I guess I just answered that! I never outline. I recently wrote another novel and actually TRIED to outline and miserably failed. Where the story goes depends on what mood I'm in on the very day I'm writing that scene. I honestly don't know exactly what will happen until it happens!

The same thing happens to me! The story and characters kind of take over. It's an interesting process.

How do you think your writing has changed over time? 

I feel like it's gotten better, in general. I've learned a lot about what not to do from working with editors etc. And I've grown as a reader and that always helps writing as well. It's also morphed into something much more humorous. My first novel, "Someone Always Loved You" is a serious, family drama. I also have a couple of Christian romance novels out there that are serious. But lately, I just like looking at the light-hearted side of life. I hope my romantic comedies give people a break from everyday life and stress. That's what they do for me!

And it's a very needed break these days! Tell us what you love most about being a writer. 

The actual work of writing. Doctors tell you to exercise for your health and while I agree that's important, I also feel like in order to maintain my health, I have to write. It's that important. I don't feel as good on the days I don't write! The act of writing is very important to my day. I love the way stories I dream up come alive and take a direction of their own. I feel like the stories and characters just use me to get out. I don't really have that much to do with it!

But you do! You enhance it with your personality and wit, and that makes your work special and unique. What are you working on now?

I've started editing "After the Final Dandelion," the third book in the Dandelion Series. And I just wrote a new novel called "The Leftover," which actually has nothing to do with food. I don't know what I'll do with that one yet. I need to let it sit for a bit before I revisit it!

I bet it will be wonderful, like all your other work. Thanks so much for sharing yourself with us today, Brooke!

Now here's a bit more about Brooke:

Brooke Williams is a sleep-deprived stay at home mom/freelance writer/author who has an unnatural interest in dandelions. She attributes her humor to her two young girls for keeping her in the lack of sleep state on a regular basis. She has been married to her husband Sean since 2002. Brooke has a background as a radio announcer and producer and also did a short stint as a TV traffic reporter. Brooke specializes as a freelance writer and creates blogs, articles, web content and more for clients all over the world. She has written a number of novels including: “Someone Always Loved You,” “Beyond the Bars,” “Wrong Place, Right Time,” “Accept this Dandelion,” and “Mamarazzi.”

And here are Brooke's social and purchase links:

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

Website: www.authorbrookewilliams.com

Blog: www.authorbrookewilliams.com/blog

Dandelions on the Road
http://www.amazon.com/Dandelions-Road-Dandelion-Book-2-ebook/dp/B0143HSRYG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1447703145&sr=8-1&keywords=dandelions+on+the+road

Backwards Christmas
http://www.amazon.com/Backwards-Christmas-Brooke-Williams-ebook/dp/B016VEMPHE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1447703165&sr=8-1&keywords=backwards+christmas