Interview with author Katy Eeten!!

 

 

Today we welcome author Katy Eeten to The Diamond Mine!! We're going to be finding out some things about her, and her romantic suspense novel,"A Stalker to Die For."
Here' a bit to get us started:

Ashley Morris thought the worst part of online dating was awkward small talk. She was wrong.

After one disastrous date with Ashley, Nick won't take no for an answer. His calls and texts escalate into threats, break-ins, and a terror that shadows her every move. Desperate for safety, Ashley hires Jackson Russo—a talented painter with a kind heart and a protective streak—to renovate her home.

But as their friendship deepens into something more, Nick's obsession turns deadly. Caught between a stalkers rage and a love she never expected, Ashley must trust God's protection and her own instincts to survive. With Jackson by her side, she'll fight for her life—and for a future worth living.

Wow, Katy! Sounds like a great read! What else would you like us to know about the book?

This story is relatable for anyone who has dipped their toes into the online dating world or who has ever had a blind date. Ashley is just trying to get her love life back on track after caring for her ailing mother, but Nick has other plans. She calls it quits after their very first date, but Nick doesn't take it well.

As his stalking escalates, Ashley finds love in the form of the painter she hired to spruce up her home. Jackson is cute, caring and endearingly protective. But their growing relationship only fuels the fire of Nick's dangerous infatuation.

How did you get your idea for this story?

This is the first romance I've published that includes a suspense element. I love reading romantic suspense, so I thought it would be fun to try my hand at writing it. The inspiration behind this story was purely imagination, though! Thankfully, I have never had a personal encounter with a stalker, and I have never dated someone I hired to work on my house, lol. I've been married to my husband for 24 years now, and I'm happy to report no stalkers for either of us! :)

Well, that's good to hear!! 
What made you decide to be a writer?

I've always loved writing. It started with poems and short stories as a young girl, but even in high school, I was the oddball who didn't mind cranking out an essay. Later in my adult  life, I found that putting together a full-fledged manuscript was incredibly fulfilling, so I decided to submit one of my books to a publisher years ago, which turned into a publishing contract.

Wow! We have a similar trajectory in how our writing progressed! I'm curious. What was your first story?

My first ever story was probably some magical tale about unicorns I wrote when I was six years old. But my first published book was called Blast From Her Past, an enemies-to-lovers workplace romance set in North Dakota in the middle of winter. It's still available on Amazon.

Great! So, what is your writing style? Do you write from an outline, or just inspiration, or both? 

Definitely both. I start with a general path of where I want things to go, but the story really takes shape on the fly, and new subplots and  specific scenes are inspired as I go. 

Sounds like a very familiar process to me! Do you have any underlying themes  that you want your readers to come away with?

I would say the overarching theme is God's protection and the importance of community. Ashley would not have made it through her ordeal without friends and loved ones by her side. She relied on her faith, her friends, her brother, and her new love interest to help her deal with the monster stalking her. No matter what trials we are facing, God provides what we need to make it through, even if it's not what we would have chosen for ourselves if it was up to us.

That's a wonderful point and a great theme!
Do your characters share any traits with you or someone you know?

Subconsciously, I'm sure the answer is yes. It's hard for me to write a character that's completely opposite to how I think and act, so inevitably there is a part of me or my friends and family in my books. Occasionally, I purposely weave a specific personality trait into a character based on real life, but those people shall remain nameless. Ha!

That's a smart policy! Do your characters ever surprise you?

Oddly, yes. Sometimes I have a vision of where I want the storyline to go, but as I'm writing the dialogue or fleshing out the character's thoughts, I realize it's headed somewhere totally different than I intended. Putting thoughts on paper doesn't always yield the results we anticipate!

Absolutely! It probably sounds odd to people who haven't experienced a character that surprises the writer, but after seeing  many answers to that question, it is a common occurrence!
Do you have a favorite character in your books?

I think my favorite is Sarah from Christmas is Meadow Creek. She's just a friendly, down-to-earth gal—someone you'd want to spend time with in real life. Nothing flashy, but someone you can relate to and who you want to find happiness.

One more question: What are you working on now?

I have been working on a women's fiction that alternates points of view between  four former college friends who are united four years after graduation. It's written from a first person, present tense perspective. Although it involves romantic subplots, it's definitely the most unique manuscript to my name. Writing is a slow process for me though, as I have a full-time job and a family, but I do enjoy it so I will continue working on this one until hopefully one day it gets published.

I hope it does, too. I really enjoy writing stories with the first person present tense perspective. 
Thanks so much for the interview, Katy! I really enjoyed it!

Now readers, here is a short bio, and some links from Katy:

Bio: Katy Eeten lives with her husband and two teenage sons in southeast Wisconsin. She writes contemporary Christian romance, including several Christmas novellas. A Stalker to Die For is her first romantic suspense. When she's not writing or working at her day job as an Office Administrator, you can find her taking walks, playing board games, baking, dreaming of her next vacation, and spending time with her family.

Social media links:

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

X: http://www.x.com/KatyEeten 

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

Website: https://katyeeten.wordpress.com 

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Katy-Eeten/author/B0796L1CVK 

Purchase links:

https://www.amazon.com/Stalker-Die-Katy-Eeten-ebook/dp/B0GS7ND8LC/

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-stalker-to-die-for

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-stalker-to-die-for-katy-eeten/1149674389?ean=9781522305477

A Stalker to Die For - Illuminating books from Pelican Book Group

Interview and Giveaway with author Penelope Marzec!!!

 

Today on The Diamond Mine we welcome author Penelope Marzec!!  She is offering a free copy of her book, Love's Gift, to the winner of the giveaway. To be entered to win, please leave a comment with your email after the interview!

Now, here we go with the interview!

Hi Penelope! Welcome to The Diamond Mine.

Can you tell us a little about your book?

Love’s Gift is set 1903. It is the story of Amaranth Beach, who is Chinese and burdened by her ethnicity due to the Chinese Exclusion Acts. Abandoned on a beach as a newborn and raised in an orphanage, she is a skilled secretary, but the threat of deportation looms constantly and all employers turn her away... until Mrs. Tildon of Sea Haven, New Jersey, hires her. 

Soon after Amaranth' s arrival, she discovers that the Tildon family secrets run deep— a reprobate father, a long-lost brother, an obnoxious maid who is never fired for her behavior, and William the son who worries too much about what people will think. 

When a series of alarming events occur, it' s up to Amaranth and William to unravel the secrets that threaten to destroy the Tildon family. 

Can Amaranth heal the family' s divisions with her faith? Or will a greater danger threaten them all?

Sounds like a wonderful read!!

How did you get your idea for this story?

 

The idea of the Chinese orphans came to me due to my husband’s fascination with trains. From him, I learned about the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. Chinese laborers were recruited to come to this country to help build the railroad. They were given lower wages than the whites plus their work in tunneling through the Sierra Nevada Mountains was the most dangerous. Yet, they were excluded from the famous photograph that marked the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in Utah, which was celebrated by the hammering of the Golden Spike. 

Unfortunately, the Chinese became victims of racial prejudice and in 1882 the Chinese Exclusion Act banned Chinese laborers from entering the United States. The Chinese already in this country were not allowed to become citizens. In fact, Chinese people in this country needed to carry residency papers with them at all times. Otherwise, they could be sent to China.

Wow. I didn't know that.

So, what made you decide to be a writer?

I was nine years old when I decided I was going to write a book. I wrote it on yellow legal paper with green ink and I illustrated it, too. That ‘s when I found out I loved writing. 

What was your first story?

That first story was about a young girl who could fly. She wasn’t a super heroine, but it was definitely a paranormal. I realized it wasn’t good enough for publication, but I intended to write a book that would be published eventually. And I did. 

Sounds like you've always had a great imagination.

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

I always start with a very loose outline, which is subject to change as I write. I’m probably more of a pantser than plotter, but I do need a general idea of where I’m going with the story.

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

One of my favorite themes is injustice. That’s why I wanted to write about Amaranth in Love’s Gift. In Patriot’s Courage, I pointed out some of the injustice aimed at the Native Americans.

Yes, I remember that! Another great story of yours.

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

Most of my characters are usually composites. I will take a variety of traits from people I know and form a different person who fits what I need for my story. However, there are a few characters I based entirely on some truly wonderful people I have known. I will not reveal who they are though. 

Smart girl!! :)

Do your characters ever surprise you?

My characters do have minds of their own. So, sometimes they go off and do things their way, which is usually for the best. I don’t mind. 

Agreed!

Do you have a favorite character in your books?

I’ve written quite a few books at this point. The characters in those books are like children to me. I love them all—except for the villains, of course. 

What are you working on now?

At the moment, I’m revising an older book. The rights were returned to me by the publisher and I’d like to reissue it. But once that’s finished, I’d like to write another historical romance. I need to do more research first. I enjoy research. History is fun.

I agree completely. I love the research for a historical story.

Thanks so much for doing this interview! And now readers, here's a bit more about Penelope, along with her links. And remember to leave a comment to be entered for the giveaway!

  Penelope Marzec grew up along the shore of Raritan Bay in New Jersey. Now a retired teacher, she writes inspirational romances. Two of her inspirationals won the EPPIE award and one finaled in that contest. One paranormal, Irons In The Fire, was a nominee for Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award. Her historical, Patriot’s Courage, won 1^st Place in theCentral Region Oklahoma Writers, National Excellence in Story Telling for an Inspirational. She paints seascapes in oils when she isn’t writing. You can find her online at http://www.penelopemarzec.com, read her blog at http://penelopemarzec.blogspot.com, or become a fan at www.facebook.com/penelopemarzecbooks 

Purchase Links:

Find it at:
Amazon
Barnes&Noble
Kobo
Apple

Pelican: https://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=37_73&products_id=1678

Penelope Marzec

www.penelopemarzec.com

www.facebook.com/penelopemarzecbooks

http://twitter.com/penelopemarzec

About author Barbara Britton, and a giveaway!!

 

Hi there readers! Today we welcome author Barbara Britton to the Diamond Mine. She's going to speak about how she went from writing her first book, to becoming an author writing a series. It's quite an interesting progression to hear, especially for writers!

She is also offering a free copy of one of her books, "Christmas at Whispering Creek." You can enter the drawing by leaving a comment with your email. Good luck! Now here's Barbara!

Sticking With the People You Create

I had no idea that I would ever be an author. I taught chapel to elementary students and when I needed to write curriculum, I prayed for creativity. I guess I should have been more specific because I received a prompting to write a book. Needless to say, I had a lot to learn when I had a completed novel and no experience in the publishing industry. Writing a series never crossed my mind. Writing a single story was difficult enough.

After I had completed two novels of biblical fiction, my publisher placed a “Tribes of Israel” tag on my books. I knew that series were usually three to five books back in 2017, so I got to work on a third book. All of those works of biblical fiction were standalone stories placed under an identifying tag.

Later on, I decided to stay with the daughters of Zelophehad and write a series with the same characters. A sort of series within a series. These books would be different in that I stayed with the same five sisters and carried them across a longer timeline. Was it easier to stay with known characters? Yes. I knew these girls well and I had a lot of fun deepening their personalities and interactions. Though, I had not planned to do three books on the famous sisters, so I scrambled to get the series written. 

You would have thought that I would be a series professional, but my mind wasn’t thinking in series mode. When I jumped genres and wrote a Contemporary Romance, I never thought about writing multiple books around a small town.

Fortunately, I had a pitch session with an agent who suggested I write three book blurbs around my characters and small town.

That was wonderful advice. Because I had book blurbs written, I could easily write a sequel, or several more books. I was beginning to embrace the series model.

I highly recommend drafting book blurbs for a series even if you think your current novel is one and done. Readers like staying with beloved characters and returning to familiar settings. It just took my brain a while to figure out this writing gem.

Thanks so much Barbara, for sharing with us today!! And now readers, here's more about Barbara, followed by a blurb from "Christmas at Whispering Creek."

Barbara M. Britton lives in Southeast, Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. She writes Christian romantic adventures for teens and adults from Bible Times to present-day USA. Barbara has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. You can find out more about Barbara and her books on her website barbarambritton.com.

And here's the blurb for “Christmas at Whispering Creek”:

All Samantha Williams wants to do is to use her teaching degree to instruct a classroom of second graders. But, after a breast cancer diagnosis at the age of twenty-three, and failed reconstruction surgery, Sam finds herself without a job and temporarily living with her parents. This isn' t the life Sam expected. When a family friend dies and leaves Sam a house and land in Whispering Creek, Tennessee, Sam must decide if leaving Wisconsin for Southern living is in her lesson plans.

Nashville native, Cole Donoven, left his family' s electrical business to write country music. When Cole' s song-writing partner and girlfriend dumps him for a country music star, Cole abandons Nashville to hole up in Whispering Creek and compose one more song. The last thing Cole expects to find in the sleepy small town is a deceased friend, estate squabbles, and a Northern beauty. Will the chaos in Whispering Creek help create a bestselling song for Cole and possibly help him find a life-long collaborator?

You can find “Christmas at Whispering Creek” on Amazon or wherever books are sold.

And yes, there will be a sequel releasing on September 27, 2024— “Escape to Whispering Creek.” I learned my lesson. EtWC Link

                Remember to leave a comment to be entered in the drawing!!

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/