A Holly Jolly Christmas on the Mine

 with Barbara Britton and Renee Blare

with

CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY!

CLAIMING CANAAN: MICAH'S JOURNEY

Beginning December 23, 2020 @ 12:30am

Comment below in Blog Comment Section:

 Entry must include ALL of the following:

1. Name and Email
2. Respond with Your favorite Bible Character and Why
(Who knows? It may provide fodder for a new Britton novel!)

Award: One Print or E-Copy (Winner's Choice)

 

Drawing Date: December 29, 2020 @ 11:59pm

1. Winner announced December 30, 2020, by 6:00pm

2. Winner will also be notified by email and will need to respond within 72 hours to claim the desired reward version of the book they wish to receive (print or e-copy.)

3. Lack of response within the specified time frame will rule the winning selection as void and another winner shall be drawn from the eligible comments, regardless of preference and desire.

4. Author, the Diamond Mine, or Miner (blogger) is not responsible for any communication, email, or delivery complications during the Christmas season which may impact the delivery of the winning item. It is said to be nearly impossible to meet delivery deadlines right now.

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MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

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Come on in, it's "Chat Time!"

RENEE: Hi there, Barbara! Welcome to the Diamond Mine. I'm so excited that you are with us today. For y'all joining us, my guest today is my great friend and Biblical Fictional author, Barbara M. Britton.

BARBARA: Hi, Renee, I am excited to be with you on the Diamond Mine. I cherish our meeting and the time we spent together in Deadwood, South Dakota. I can't wait to get started!

RENEE: Absolutely. Deadwood was amazing and I can't wait until we can spend more time together, professionally and personally. You are a great friend and writer. Your Tribes of Israel series captures Biblical characters in the Old Testament and gives them a day in the Christian Fiction sun. What drives you to start a book in a series such as that AND finish it? You must have true love and passion for writing or is it the story itself?

BARBARA: I would have to say both. When I'm working on a story that resonates with me, the characters grab hold of my mind and they don't let go. It's like I can't stop writing the story or they won't give me a moment's peace. Is that passion? Love? I think it's a blessing or some kind of special gift, but it can be very distracting as well. I write the "goings-on" of the scenes on a piece of paper, then I can obtain focus to accomplish other things. Once I finish the book, the characters leave me alone.

This makes me sound crazy, but other writers tell me their brains work the same way. This passion or constant character and plot brainstorming during the writing process is one reason that writers have notepads stashed in every nook and cranny from their nightstands to the consoles of the cars. It's because we never know when our characters are going to blurt some insanely perfect dialogue or when an ideal plot line or idea for a scene is going to pop into our heads. It's only when I pen the words, "The End" my life returns halfway to normal.

RENEE: How do you pick and then create your characters so they become "human" and deeper than the paper they are written on? After all, Biblical characters can be rather untouchable - unapproachable to most people today, at least at face value.

BARBARA: The Bible is filled with conflict. The Israelites were at war with several nations and they had conflict within their own tribes. Women didn't have the rights they do today, so when women were bold for God, they put their life in jeopardy, or at least their social standing. I try to understand how precarious life was in Bible Times and place the conflict within my characters. I draw on feelings and hurts I've experienced in my own life. I'm also a big music fan and I find that a song can capture the mood or feeling of a character.

You can mine character traits from people you meet or from friends. Don't make it obvious though, or people may be guarded around you. I've used perfume ads to find the personality of a character or what they look like. Perfume ads tend to be dramatic because they are selling a fragrance that is embodying a personality (or character). Being a visual learner, I can glean a lot from a picture more than a list of traits. Some authors interview their characters and write a list of "favorites" to flesh out their characters.

RENEE: Well, we all know the Bible has unique people and unique places. It must be truly amazing to have such an overflowing well to choose from for your books. Can you tell us how you chose this latest book's setting?

BARBARA: The tribe of Manasseh settled in the Promised Land among cities that had their kings vanquished, but their people survived. These Canaanites continued to worship idols and eventually led many Israelites astray in the tribe of Manasseh.

Biblically, the daughters of Zelophehad are descended from Joseph. Manasseh was the firstborn son of Joseph, but he was not given the firstborn blessing. His brother Ephraim received the firstborn blessing from his grandfather Jacob.

In my series, I place my faithful sisters in a land filled with faithless people. It reminds me of the church today. How would Milcah and her sisters continue to serve God in a land that did not praise His name? The sisters live near the city of Megiddo. Some scholars think the final battle in Revelation will be near Megiddo. Good versus evil. What better place to end my series about girls who sought God for their needs and didn't forget His promises?

RENEE: Wow, you make me want to read all three of your books this second! I love the way you work, ma'am. In fact, the books I have read of yours are awesome, just like you are. What would you say is your biggest challenge as an author?

BARBARA: That is a great question. Like most authors, I split my time between being creative and being a businesswoman. Don't get me wrong, I love to write my stories and get lost in my story world, but I also need to make sure readers know I have books in the real world.

When I began writing, social media was not the force that it is today. Publishers did most of the promotion in the "old days." Now a lot of marketing falls onto the author's desk. It is easy to be swept away into the social media realm and not realize that hours are passing by. I have to set boundaries on such things as marketing and social media, or it will consume my day.

My advice for writers of any experience level is to do what you enjoy and limit the rest. Once I was asked why I wasn't on Pinterest. I responded that I didn't have time to create fun and fabulous boards because I'd never get any writing done if I did.

Writing has to be and is my first priority.

RENEE: Time management is a serious subject in anyone's life especially the writer, published or not. I know from experience that my life was turned upside down when writing became a career instead of merely a hobby. I was a pharmacist when I wrote my first novel and already had many demands on my time. The writing was a joy, publication a surprise, but marketing? That was and is a nightmare. I have one final question for you and we'll toast our way into acknowledging and celebrating Jesus Christ's birthday (with coffee or tea, of course.)

Would you mind sharing your testimony and how it impacts those around you?

BARBARA: Of course. It's ironic, or some might say, a "God thing" that I'm a Christian Fiction author. I did not grow up in a Christian home. I had wonderful parents, but they did not seek a relationship with Jesus. My mom became a Christian through Bible Study Fellowship. She brought my sister and me to church, and I became a Christian in the third grade.

I can remember as a child having this great fear of death and believing "luck" to be arbitrary and stupid. When I heard about Jesus, all my questions about life were answered. 

One of my favorite things to do is teach the Bible to kids. I also like to write Christian books for teens and adults. The Bible is one story, God's story, but it is made up of 66 books. We tend to focus on the New Testament and ignore the Old Testament. I'm always learning about new-to-me stories in the Bible and I want to share them with my readers.

RENEE: You are a truly amazing woman and author. I wish I could write biblical fiction like you but until God graces me with that ability, I will continue to read how your elaborate characters within your tremendous biblical settings live their lives facing evil and triumphing with God to do and be good.

BARBARA: Thank you, my friend. And thanks again for having me on the Diamond Mine, Renee. Milcah's story is the third in my daughters of Zelophehad series, but it can be read as a stand-alone story.

In honor of our Savior's birth and this blog, I'm offering a print or e-copy of "Claiming Canaan: Milcah's Journey" (Print copy available for U.S. Winner only).

CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY

To enter: please leave a comment beneath the post in the Blogger comment section, sharing your favorite Bible character and why that's the case. Who knows? The person may become the lead character in my next novel!

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS

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About the Guest, Barbara Britton:

Barbara M. Britton loves to bring little-known Bible characters to light in her fiction. She is published with Pelican Book Group and ventured into Christian Historical Fiction with "Until June" in June of 2020. Barb lives in Wisconsin, but her college days were spent in Waco, Texas at Baylor University. Barb has a nutrition degree but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. You can find out more about Barb and her books on her website or on social media.

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

BookBub

About the Miner, Renee Blare:

In the Black Hills foothills of Wyoming lives Christian Author and Artist, Renee Blare. She's a pharmacist of twenty-three years, but although licensed, is inactive and has not practiced for the last three years due to her disability. She is a published author with Prism Book Group, a subsidiary of Pelican Book Group, and is a best-selling author of Romantic Suspense and Mystery and Contemporary Christian Fiction.

Renee is an advocate for Chronic Pain Warriors including the Disabled and Elderly who must use Opioids. She also is politically active for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Warriors and all other Chronic Pain Warriors being persecuted by State and the Federal Government Agencies for needing to take opioids to control their pain.

She seeks relief from severe and uncontrolled pain through learning and developing new skills in art, crafts, music, and writing.

Discover more about Renee Blare at the following sites:

Facebook: Christian Books by Renee Blare

                  Do No Harm: Do Doctors Know How to Treat Chronic Pain?

                  Renee Blare - CRPS

                  Inyan Kara Studio

Instagram: @mrzgrizwyo

                  @crps4life

Email:       Gmail

                  Yahoo Mail

                  AOL Mail

Diggin' in the Dirt with Susan Sleeman

The Purveyor of Tomatoes?

I'm so happy to be back on the Diamond Mine, folks. It’s great to see you! It’s good to be back with the Diamond Mine. Life hasn’t been kind but then since when is life anything but? I know I can always find solace in the Lord’s fold and that’s exactly what the Diamond Mine was created to be . . . a special place. The Diamond Mine is where Words are more than letters on a page and when God speaks, all are willing to hear.

For right now though, I know an amazing suspense writer I’d like you to meet. She is known for her many crime novels and series which are dead-on for authenticity. Many don’t realize that this author is a graduate of the FBI Citizen's Academy as well as other local law enforcement academies which gives credence to the action-filled plotlines and life-like characters filling her books. If you don’t know Susan Sleeman through her books, then you may know her as host of TheSuspenseZone.com. Either way, I rest assured that you’ll love this Purveyor of Sleuth as much as I do.

GIVEAWAY!!!

When the sunsets, justice wins the day, and Susan hangs her hat in Oregon with her retired church music director of a hubby, two beautiful daughters, an incredibly special son-in-law, and an adorable grandson. She snuggles into her big comfy couch as those big doors close and keep the evil world at bay . . . at least for a while.

So— to celebrate my Diamond Mine Homecoming, please welcome Susan Sleeman to the couch! Oh, and as part of all my Gemstone Interviews, don’t forget to check out the “special information” at the end of the chat! That’s geek-speak for GIVEAWAY!!! 😉

ONWARD AND UPWARD! Let’s meet Susan now.

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Interview

RB: Hi, Susan and welcome to the Diamond Mine. I’m excited to be back on board here and even more to have you as my guest! You are quite the suspense and crime author and we have so much to talk about today. How about I stop jabbering so we can get started?

SS: Wow, thanks for the introduction. You’d make a camel blush with all those fancy words. It’s me who is honored, and I’m thrilled to be here as well.

SUSAN SLEEMAN

RB: You are welcome. You deserve it and more. I’d like to start out this interview by getting to know you and I’m sure the readers would like to do the same. So, Susan, if you could say one thing about yourself and your books, what would it be?

SS: First and foremost, I would want readers to know I am a Christian and love God. I hope this shows in my books. I don’t set out to write a Christian book, but my faith is such a part of my life that I can't not include it. In fact, I have written one secular series, and not including my faith and a message of hope and change was the hardest thing I have ever done as a writer.

RB: I would have to agree. I don't think I could omit the very thing in my life that gives me the strength to breathe. I wish I could hike into the mountains and breathe in that cool, clear mountain air. That's what I usually do when I need time alone with the Lord. Do you have a special place for the two of you? Or a place you'd like to visit?

SS:  Mmmm... (A brief silence ensued. Suddenly a sharp sound reverberated through the stillness when Susan snapped her fingers.) England, I've always wanted to travel to England. I'm a big BBC TV fan and I would love to visit some of the small villages I see in the shows. And my hubby's family is from Cornwall so I would like to see that area too.

RB: I love to watch BBC as well! My husband and I got hooked on a show this last year through Prime called Poldark. It was great to watch one of these shows again! My dream is to go to Scotland, my husband's homeland, well, his not so distant ancestors' homeland. ;) I should've known that man was a Scot when I met him! His hobbies gave him away - coaching and officiating USA wrestling, hunting, fishing, debating, apologetics. I liked to read and hang out with my friends at the time!

Speaking of hobbies, what do you like to do when you aren't writing and editing your awesome tales, Susan?

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BOOK GIVEAWAY!

SUSAN SLEEMAN'S

SECONDS TO LIVE

HOMELAND HEROES #1

PRIZE:

One PRINT COPY of SECONDS TO LIVE by SUSAN SLEEMAN

HOW TO ENTER:

Leave a personal comment regarding this interview with your email address in the comment section following this post.

RULES: One winner will be selected by Renee Blare seven days from the post date of this blog from eligible entries and notified by entry email. Entrant will be selected from those residing in the United States and its territories, void where prohibited by law.

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SS: Yes, I have a favorite hobby. I love to garden. Both flower and vegetable gardening. I love spending time outside, seeing God's handiwork as the flowers unfurl and the seeds sprout to produce organic fruits and vegetables for my family. To outwit squirrels who love to steal my first tomatoes and strawberries of the year., and the birds who think I have planted raspberries and blueberries just for them. Oh...and I also just plain love digging in the dirt. Maybe I didn't get enough of it as a child. LOL

And I enjoy trying out new varieties of plants. and foods. These purple tomatoes are just like God's jewels in the garden. in the garden.

RB: Diggin' in the dirt... that sounds like so much fun! I can see how that would be a great hobby. Talk about getting back to the basics! LOL

I guess we have to talk books now (winks), so . . . . turning to the writing side of your life now, what is your biggest challenge as an author?

SS: At this point in my career as an author, I have written over forty published books and another five that will never be seen. I write romantic suspense so coming up with unique and exciting plot twists is becoming a challenge. I can easily come up with an overarching plot, but the nitty-gritty details that move the story forward is getting harder for me to develop.

RB: I can see that being a challenge. And your characters?

SS: I always write in a series. So before I begin the series, I create the traits of all the main characters. I make sure they are all different in what drives them, and then I begin to ask them questions like what's your greatest fear or what do you want most in life?

RB: And in your books, they achieve these things?

SS: Sometimes, and in others, no. I do my best to create situations where their characteristics are displayed and show how they must change and grow. I put them with the lead character who is their opposite to provide instant conflict and a chance to show how they must change and grow to be their best self. Much like how we - in the real world - are challenged with dilemmas and must make similar decisions when faced with the same adversity. In many ways, I believe that makes the characters not only interesting but, for the most part, just as real.

RB: And I believe you do an amazing job at it, Susan. An amazing job! I have one last question for you and I'll let you go back to your digging in the dirt. If for some unforeseen reason you could not write anymore, what would you do? Would you continue in the "writing world" professionally?

SS: If I could not write novels, I would not have a writing career. Period. I am not at all interested in writing for other publications or short stories, etc. It's just not my thing.

So if I could no longer write, I would either retire or go into graphic design. I have basic design skills, but would have to get a degree to do it well, and that in itself would be fun and interesting for me.

RB: You sound like a determined, interesting lady and I wish you the best. Thanks for being here on the Diamond Mine with us!

SS: Thank you for allowing me to share my writing and life on your wonderful blog, Renee. I am happy to offer your readers a print copy of Seconds to Live. This is Book One in my HOMELAND HEROES series and it was just recently named a finalist in the FHL Reader's Choice Award in their Romantic Suspense Category. To enter to win the copy, just comment on this blog with your email address!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

SUSAN SLEEMAN is the bestselling author of over forty novels with more than one million books sold. She writes romantic suspense novels that are clear with inspiring messages of faith. Readers love her series for the well-drawn characters and edge-of-your-seat action. She graduated from the FBI and local police citizen academies, so her research is spot-on and her characters are real.

In addition to writing, Susan also hosts TheSuspenseZone.com. She has lived in nine states but now calls Oregon home. Her husband is a retired church music director, and they have two beautiful daughters, a very special son-in-law, and an adorable grandson.

To learn more about Susan's books sign up for her monthly email that includes exclusive excerpts, giveaways, and other goodies.

http://www.susansleeman.com/susans-newsletter/

Or stop by any of these locations on the web.

Website - http://www.susansleeman.com

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/SusanSleemanBooks

Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/susansleeman 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/susansleeman/

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4053429.Susan_Sleeman

BookBub - https://www.bookbub.com/authors/susan-sleeman

Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Susan-Sleeman/e/B003ANF6Z8

Review Site - http://www.TheSuspenseZone.com

ABOUT THE MINER

RENEE BLARE

RENEE BLARE loves to read and write. She spends her time now judging writing contests for ACFW, scribbling her thoughts in her journal, and editing for beloved friends any chance she can get.

A multi-published, bestselling author through Pelican Book Group and a pharmacist by trade, she wrote and served the down-home folks of Wyoming until afflicted in 2017 with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type 2 or Causalgia, the most painful nerve disease in the world. At this time, she struggles to write, blog, think . . . and has found a new love in the arts, but fights on.

Before her new life with severe pain arrived, she wrote any time she could spare and now prays to do so again someday. A romantic suspense author who writes with a flair of mystery, Renee is known to keep her readers guessing while constantly turning the pages. "Never a dull moment," as they like to say.

You can discover more about this creative and fascinating writer at her website:

https://reneeblarebooks.com/

Search her out on social media too! She's everywhere. 

Diamond Mine's Renee Blare Releases a New Novella!

No, you're not experiencing déjà vu. You read that title correctly! Our own Renee Blare has sent out another release! Crazy Woman Christmas is just what you need to usher in a the holiday spirit. Stick around and I'll tell you how you can be part of a Renee's giveaway!

PT:  Hi, Renee. As always, absolutely love your new release! What catches my eye is the title. What inspired that?

RB: Believe it or not, Crazy Woman Creek is a real live place! The title of my Christmas novella was taken from a sliver of water that cuts a deep ravine through the rock of the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming. The canyon left behind is named after the creek, Crazy Woman Canyon. As for who this canyon was named after, that is a mystery. A couple of theories float about. One is that an Indian woman went insane in the canyon and the other is about an old settler woman. Either way, nobody really knows the origin of the name.

PT:  So I know this is part of Prism's Cowboy Christmas series. So what Bible verse did you base this on?

RB:  2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Bianca and Devon are at a crossroads in their lives. They have decisions to make. Do they stay mired in the past or do they move forward into the unknown future? Bianca has a past of pain and hurt with her parents which hangs like an anchor around her neck. It keep her from moving forward even though the Lord has promised that all of her sins have been forgiven. Devon clings to the past, clinging to his parent’s ranch as his reason for living. He pushes all things aside including his own dreams until Bianca’s presence reminds him of what he’s missing.

PT: So what inspired this story?

RB: I love Christmas but many people have a hard time celebrating this amazing holiday, even Christians. I wanted to explore some of those reasons and Crazy Woman Christmas does that. (You’ll have to read the story if you want to see how!) Grief is a major component but other things are discussed as well. I celebrate Christmas to honor my Savior’s birthday, and to me, that’s the only reason to do so. The day we take Jesus Christ out of Christmas is the day it no longer is Christmas.

PT: Since we're in the midst of the Christmas season, I can resist asking this question. What is the best Christmas gift you've ever received?

RB: My best Christmas gift? Wow, do you know how old I am? I’ve been given so many awesome gifts! How do I choose? My Kindle? Tablet? I guess I’d have to say my best gift would have to be the camera my husband gave me a couple of Christmases ago. I love it! I’m still figuring it out though.

PT: Renee, I can't tell you how proud we all are here at the Diamond Mine! You're getting quite a list of titles under your belt now! And of course, you fans want to know the answer to the million dollar question. What's Renee Blare's next writing direction?

RB: I’m actually working on two manuscripts right now. The next book in my Snowy Range Chronicles and a story that my husband and I are putting together about the end-times. I’m excited about what the Lord is doing as I work with James to brainstorm on the one and write the other. I can’t wait to start writing on the collaboration book. I should begin doing that any day.

PT:  And here it is! What a great cover! Thanks Renee, for joining us today. Here's how you can win a copy of Renee's newest book. Leave your name and email and one will be chosen! Best of luck!

Renee Blare Welcomes in a New Release!

Smack, smack! Waaaaaaaah! We have a new little baby! That's right. Our own Renee Blare has a brand spanking new release! We're all SO proud of this new addition to our Diamond Mine nursery! And since I can't wait to lay hands on that baby, let's mask up and dive in!

You can have a ecopy of this new bundle of joy for free! Leave your name and email in the comments section for a chance to win!

PT: Renee! Another new baby? Wow, what an accomplishment. This one has been christened, Racing Hearts. Give us a peek under that blanket. What genre would you say this

one falls under?

RB: Racing Hearts is a bit different than my other books. I write suspense and mystery with a touch of romance for the most part, but this book would be labeled more Romance and Women’s Fiction. It does have some suspense and mystery in it but that’s not driving forces in the story.

PT: I know it is part of the Love is Series. They are based on certain Bible verses. What's this one based on?

RB:  In 1 Corinthians chapter 13, verses 7, we find an aspect of love. Within that verse, we find the words, “always trust” or “believes all things,” depending on your translation. This book explores that very thing and how important it is to the foundation of love in a relationship, especially when faced with the unexpected.

PT:  It is true that love is not just an emotion. It's action. So where did you get the premise of the book?

RB:  Racing Hearts is actually based on real life experience. I borrowed a slice of my own past and put the pen to the page. I changed characters, time, and space, but a lot of what you read in Racing Hearts is taken from my own heart and life as well as my husband’s. Not all, of course, and that’s what makes writing fun!

PT:  Really?! That makes the story even more touching! This is your fourth published book and there is rumblings of a fifth. How has being a writer changed your life?

RB:  It’s made it much busier, but amazing. I love the stories that the Lord gives me to write. I just wish I had more time to write them down. Promotion is a nightmare! As if I had time to write, marketing? Are you kidding? I’m a pharmacy manager and my time isn’t my own, but those I serve. But I know God has a plan for my writing, and I’ll continue to trust Him not me.

PT: What’s next for author Renee Blare?

RB: You mean AFTER Racing Hearts? Believe it or not, I have another release in November. The 18^th to be exact. Crazy Woman Christmas, the first Christmas story I’ve ever written, is due out! 

PT:  Ah! So it's true! There's a fifth coming out. And so soon!

RB:  I can’t wait. I’m as excited about Crazy Woman Christmas as I am about Racing Hearts but for different reasons. Racing Hearts is such a personal story, and it’s close to my own heart because of it. Crazy Woman Christmas is special for other reasons. It’s set in the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming and involves two people as different as night and day. How can they connect? It’s Christmas!

PT:  And we know anything is possible at Christmas! One last thing. I always love to ask five things of each author that have zippo to do with writing. So let's hear it, Renee. Go!

RB:  Five things but NOT about writing? Mmm, that’s a tough one. Let’s see…

-                      I love to hunt but won’t take an animal unless I know I can bring it down with one shot. I hunt with a .243 Remington Model 700.

-                      I’ve had twelve surgeries that I can remember, and many more I can’t, but my husband still has me beat at thirty-seven.

-                      I’ve been a pharmacist for eighteen years and worked in institutional, hospital, nursing home, clinical, and retail pharmacy. I’ve also worked for the Indian Health Service and the Veterans Health Administration.

-                      I love to take pictures of my Wyoming home. In fact, a relaxing day for me is taking a drive and doing exactly that, rain, snow, sleet, or shine.

-                      I don’t take anything for granted. Why? A fire destroyed most everything I loved when I was very young. Later, after I was grown, I woke to my husband at the bottom of the stairs. When we left Wyoming, I realized too late what I’d had outside my door. So . . . I’ve learned the hard way that “things” don’t matter, my strength is an illusion, and the future’s not a given.

PT: There's a wealth of knowledge in that last one, and I can visualize a lot of story starters from the others! Wow, it's been an extreme pleasure to visit you with your new little arrival. How about a little pic of that lil' dumpling?

Don't forget to leave your name/email address in the comment section to be entered to win a ecopy of Racing Hearts!

Bio:  Renee Blare has been buried in a book for as long as she can remember. Raised in Louisiana and Wyoming, she started writing poetry in junior high school and that, as they say, was that. After having her son, a desire to attend pharmacy school sent her small family to the University of Wyoming in Laramie. She’s been counting pills ever since. While writing’s her first love, well, after the Lord and her husband, she also likes to fish and hunt as well as pick away on her classical guitar.

Nestled in the foothills of the Wind River Mountains, she lives in Wyoming with her husband, crazy dogs, and ornery cat. She serves her beautiful small town as a pharmacist while penning her stories about struggling Christians as they travel along the journeys of their lives. She loves to interact with readers and invites you check out her website, blog, and social media.

Website: http://www.reneeblare.com/
Blog: https://reneeblare.blogspot.com/
Group Blog: http://diamondsinfiction.blogspot.com/

A Friendly Chat with Erin Unger and Honorary Giveaway

Renee: Please welcome Erin Unger back to the Diamond Mine!

Erin Unger weaves romantic suspense tales long after the midnight oil has burned out. And her fast-paced life sometimes rivals the suspense in her books thanks to a house full of teens. Her first novel, Fateful Fall (Worthington Detective Agency Book 1), released on August 2. She illustrated Memphis Learns the Hard Way by Karla Priddy Gragg in 2013. And, Splickety Magazine published her flash-fiction story, An Accomplice to Love, in February 2016.

For those who may not know, Erin is one of the founding members of the Diamond Mine of Christian Fiction. She helped create this wonderful blog and as I like to say, once a Miner, always a Miner. I can’t wait to get started so without further ado, here’s Erin.

Erin: Hello, everyone. It’s a great pleasure to sit and talk with you today!

Renee: It’s so nice to see you here. Even though you’re no longer gracing our blog as a Miner, I know you’ve been busy. What’s your biggest challenge as an author?

Erin: A house full of teens, makes writing quite difficult at times. My kids love to have friends and family around, and they know how to wheedle me into allowing everyone to visit when I should be writing. No matter how much they promise to be quiet, I never manage to get much done with a bunch of guests. But they are lots of fun to be with.

Renee: I have an official empty nest now. No child, no parents, just me and the hubby and believe it or not, I’m busier than ever! LOL When you do get around to putting the pen to the page, what is one of your favorite settings?

Erin: There’s nothing like being in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the fall. The colors are phenomenal and there’s a festival or fair to attend up there pretty much every weekend. There’s this one festival I put on my calendar every year. There’s no cell reception and it’s very remote. It’s the perfect location for a murderer to hide.

Renee: I love the fall colors. The Rocky Mountains and Black Hills are beautiful that time of year too. I’ve never been to many festivals though. Fairs and rodeos, yep. They make for good story fodder too. It’s amazing where the ideas come from! What would we do if we couldn’t write anymore?

Erin: Writing is ingrained so deep I don’t know how to not write, but if I stopped I’d go back to doing foster care. I love the kids so much. And, I’d be thankful for the opportunity to show them Christ’s love, even if only for a bit.

Renee: You are one special lady. And strong. I bet you’d read one of your children’s books too. By the way, what’s your favorite book and where do you like to read?

Erin: My favorite book is The Host by Stephenie Myer. The emotional way the story grabs me, keeps me turning the pages, and gives me the inclination to want my readers to feel the same way when they read my work. I have this great sunroom. It’s light and airy, full of beach pictures and memorabilia. Yep, it’s the most comfy room in my house to cuddle with my cat and read.

Renee: That’s the type of room I want my office to be. Light, airy, and fresh. A place where I can go and breathe lighter and easier when I write. That sounds crazy, don’t it? Do you have any hobbies or things you like to do when you aren’t working?

Erin: Renovating my house, ha ha. It’s a never ending battle but I quite enjoy most of the work. And most of the houses we’ve owned, we’ve remodeled. I’ve done almost everything from kitchens, dry-walling, roofing, even a bathroom remodel just the other week. But my favorite is painting. It can transform a room with minimal work.

Renee: Painting? I wish I liked to paint. I like it for the first ten minutes. I have a few rooms you can transform if you want to come on by. I’m sure my landlord won’t mind. Truly, I’d love to just get away from it all. Not sure where’d I go, but—hey, if you could spend a week anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

Erin: Ireland for sure! We took a two week trip last year and drove around the country. It was the best vacation ever, and I want to do it again.

Renee: Oh, I’d love to see Ireland and Scotland. Those are two places on my to-see list, but things are getting a bit hairy in Europe right now. I’m not sure if it will ever happen. I may pass on those dreams . . . for now. How do you face life in this changing world today?

Erin: Boy, do we live in a scary world these days. I can’t imagine life without Christ. He keeps me going every day.

Renee: Amen to that, my friend. Thank you for visiting with us and don’t be such a stranger here at the Mine. We’ve missed you!

Erin: I’ve missed you too. Thanks for chatting with me.

Renee: Find out more about Erin at the following sites! She's awesome.

Website: www.erinungerwrites.com

Social Media Links:

https://www.facebook.com/ErinUngerWrites/

https://twitter.com/erinungerwrites 

https://www.instagram.com/erinungerwrites/

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* * * HONORARY GIVEAWAY * * *

To celebrate Erin’s visit back to the Diamond Mine, Renee’s offering one of her books as the giveaway prize (winner’s choice)! Answer the question below to enter:

How do you face life in this changing world today?

Winner will be selected by random draw from eligible comments on 8/13/2016.

(Minimum of 5 comments required to validate contest. Please include your email address with your comment to facilitate contact if you are selected as the winner.)

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About the Books:

Beast of Stratton (Amazon Best Seller):
2014 ACFW Genesis Semi-finalist

He appears the beast but she sees his heart.

Architect Aimee Hart, determined to locate her father, infiltrates Miles Stratton’s engineering firm as a secretary. Her presence wrenches the shaggy, wounded man from his penthouse, and the quest begins.

He’s been betrayed by his best friend. Miles would rather hide than help, especially his daughter. But it isnt over. Someone’s trying to destroy Stratton Industrial. A war veteran, he knows how to defend his own, the Beast of Stratton can do it again.

Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/aENB6DcJxfQ

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Beast-Stratton-Renee-Blare/dp/1508606021/

To Soar on Eagle’s Wings:

Spring’s in the air. While the sun shines in Timber Springs, snow falls on the Snowy Range, and trouble’s brewing in the meadows. The area’s new game warden, Steve Mitchell launches his first wildlife investigation of the season, but the trouble follows him—straight to town.

Rachel Fitzgerald’s on Spring Break. Or at least she’s trying. Between paperwork, and harassing phone calls, she may as well have stayed in her classroom. So much for relaxation. A ‘chance’ meeting with her brother’s old roommate offers her weary soul a shred of hope, but she discovers love, like life, isn’t easy.

He talks with the wisdom of the Lord but rejects the future. She wants to soar with the eagles but walks alone. And trusting God proves to be more of a challenge than ever before…

Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/6g0TNc5WLEI

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Soar-Eagles-Wings-Renee-Blare/dp/1514775387

Through Raging Waters (Amazon Best Seller):

If Mother Nature has her way, Timber Springs will never be the same...

A warm spring and early rainstorms melt the snowpack. Spring runoff compounded by the storm of the century sends Timber Springs into a tailspin.
Tossed into the role of rescuer, local pharmacist Paul Fitzgerald must face his past before the whole world falls apart. While he fights to contain the beast around him, he finds his steadfast control slipping through his fingers. And life…everyone’s life…hangs by a thread once again.
She isn’t a hero. Melissa Hampton has her own demons to battle. After she learns of her mysterious beginnings amidst her mother’s keepsakes, she faces more than just the river rushing outside her door. Now, she must discern friend from foe…but as waters rise and tension climbs within Timber Springs, she needs to rise to the challenge or lose the only man she's ever loved.

Can two people find each other through raging waters? 

Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/tE055Wyzaso

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Through-Raging-Waters-Renee-Blare-ebook/dp/B01HBSB9BM/

Welcome to the Remodeled Diamond Mine!

Welcome to the Newly Remodeled
 Diamond Mine of Christian Fiction

The Diamond Mine of Christian Fiction crew has new members...and a new schedule! I'd like to introduce you to the entire crew, but first, we must say farewell to Misty Wilson. Her sense of humor and fun interviews will be missed. Rebekah Millet leaves as well...but not until July. They may move on to different caverns, but these wonderful ladies will always be Rough Diamond Writers.

Please welcome Joi Copeland, Gail Kittleson, Tracey Lyons, and Peg Phifer. Each of these writers offer their own unique writing talents to the Mine. They join us...old...(shh, stop laughing!) Miners, Renee Blare, Nancy Bolton, Rebekah Millet, Peggy Trotter, and Suzie Waltner.

The Blog Schedule:

I'm sure everyone is wondering about the blog schedule. That's the best part!
Beginning in February, we'll be increasing the blog schedule to bi-weekly posting (Wednesdays and Saturdays). This will continue until the end of July. Take advantage of these extra posts while they last! After July, we will return to normal weekly posting.


Genres:

Did you notice the new genre we've included on the Diamond Mine? Amish! We interview the gamut of Christian Fiction authors. From Amish to Science Fiction and Dystopian, we welcome all writers to our blog as long as they strive to spread the Word of God. Don't hesitate to check out our calendar and see we have a spot for you! If so, shoot us an email.


Thank you for your support and enthusiasm through the years. Hold on to your hats, folks, 2016 looks to be an exciting one!

In Christ,

The Rough Diamond Writers