Interview with author Jean Pike!!

Today we welcome author Jean Pike to The Diamond Mine to promote her new book, Super-Heroes!

Hi Jean!!

Tell us a little about your book, please.

Thank you for having me today, Nancy. I'd love to!

It all started with a prayer...

After a lifetime of of being controlled by her parents, and most recently by her ex-fiancée, Abby Callahan has had enough. She moves out of her parents' home and into a rented motel room a few towns away, where she takes night classes at the community college, finally free to pursue her dream of becoming a music therapist.

From now on, she will live her life her way, answering to no one except God. She is done letting her parents make her decisions. And she is done with men. Until she meets Rory St. George.

Growing up on the wrong side of town,  Rory has worked hard to claw his way out of poverty. He has a good job as assistant manager at the local feed store, a good church, and a few close friends. He thinks that's all a man can ask for in life. Until he meets Abby.

Their fragile relationship is tested from the start with missteps and misunderstandings, but their genuine attraction to each other and their faith in God hold them together. Until disaster strikes. Can their newfound love survive being tried by fire? And can the power of love turn ordinary people into superheroes? 

This sounds wonderful, Jean! How did you get your idea for this story?

Reading the daily news can be both depressing and uplifting. The ideas for many of my stories stem from things I've read about that have either filled me with wonder or filled me with sadness.

The world is full of stories of ordinary people performing superhero acts--- A volunteer firefighter who risks his life to rescue a family from a burning house. A man, fishing on the bank of a river, dives into deep waters to save a drowning child. Heroism is also found in a hundred small, everyday sacrifices made in the name of love.

A new romance can be so much fun!  Picnics and hikes and bouquets of flowers' just because! But when things get hard and life turns messy, few have what it takes to keep the flame burning. To stay in it for the long haul, even when it costs something precious. The truth is, one never knows if they have what it takes to be a superhero until they have no other choice.

Superheroes is a story about everyday heroes who love in the most extraordinary ways.

Wow! How could I not be interested in a story like that?

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

The underlying theme in Superheroes is that God is sovereign over His creation. God is still God, even in hard times. 

There is a verse in Job that I've always loved: But He knows the way that I take: when He hath tried me. I shall come forth as gold. (Job 23:10 KJV)

Bad things happen in life, but God can use them to refine our faith and make us more like Him. This story seeks to showcase His great love for us, and hopefully, point the way  to the greatest Superhero of all time, our Lord Jesus.

Well said, and I found your words very touching. I'm sure your story is, too.

I'm curious-- Do your characters ever surprise you?

Oh, all the time! I'll usually do a rough character sketch before I start any in-depth writing, a few sentences about who each of the characters are and what they want from life. Many times the characters turn out to be something quite different from what I first imagined. I like to think that's a combination of God's direction and my crazy, overactive imagination, lol.

In Superheroes, Olly was originally going to be Rory's youngest brother, heading down a wrong path that Rory would have to try and correct. But something as small as a typo changed my mind. Instead of writing the word coffee, I accidentally wrote coccee. Which is exactly how my special needs nephew, Michael, pronounces the word. I have always wanted to include a special needs character in one of my stories, but I struggled with how to do so with grace and dignity. As I started to look more closely at Olly's character, he and Michael began to merge together, and I knew the time had come to honor this lovely, complex young man. Hence my dedication: For Michael, a superhero indeed.

Tell us how you incorporated Olly with Michael.

First, as I said, Olly's character is based on my nephew. Michael is a young man with special needs who loves pink shirts, orange shirts and coloring books. It may not always seem as though he is paying attention, but he is! He notices the birds that come to his mother's feeders, and all the pretty colors of the flowers in their garden.

He notices who is in church each week, and who is not. On Sundays, after lunch, he makes a card for each person on the prayer list, using construction paper and pictures colored and cut from his coloring books. His favorites are the superheroes, whom he makes up his own names for, names that make sense to him.

Michael has a stubborn streak as wide as the Ohio river, but oh, he has a heart filled with love and compassion that often astounds me.  He uses what he's been given to lift others up. I gave those same traits to Olly. 

 

Michael sounds like quite a work of art, as well as being an artist himself.

Do you have a favorite character in any of your other books?

I enjoy creating all of my characters, but some stand out for me because their parts are just so much fun to write! But with all of the time and effort spent developing my main characters, it is often the secondary characters that seem to grab my readers' hearts. In The Little Things, it was a grumpy senior bulldog named Gus. In King of Hearts, it was forgetful, lovable Aunt Clara.  As the reviews for Superheroes began to come in, it was clear that in this story, it was Olly that readers loved the most.

I can see why!

So, what are you working on now?

I was four chapters in to a new Redford's Crossing Romance when a coworker made a statement that brought all work on that story to a screeching halt. We were talking about relationships, and how, as a widow, she feels she is "done." 

And then she said, "But my mother thought she was done, too. She just sat in her porch rocker day after day, waiting to die. And then a man pulled in the driveway and asked if he could pick from her blackberry bushes. They've been together forty years."

Wait, what?

An opening sentence immediately popped into my mind: Norah Sutton was sitting in her porch rocker, waiting to die, when the red pickup truck pulled into the driveway...

And Blackberry Summer began to take shape. :)

Sometimes, that's all it takes for inspiration to hit: a typo, a passing comment, and the whole direction of your story  takes a different path.

Thank you so much for this interview, Jean. I have completely enjoyed hearing your answers.

And readers, here are some links for Jean, and her books:

https://www.amazon.com/Superheroes-M-Jean-Pike-ebook/dp/BOCYPSLQ5D/

https://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main page=product info&cPath=3746&products id=1711

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/superheroes-m-jean-pike/1147169381?ean=9781522305064

https://books.apple.com/us/book/superheroes/id6744548266

Jean's blog:

https:// jeanpike.wordpress.com/

Interview and Giveaway with author JoAnn Carter!!

 

Today we welcome author JoAnn Carter to The Diamond Mine! She will give a free copy of her book Detour: Destination Abiding Love, to the drawing winner.

In order to be in the drawing for the book, please leave a comment along with your email address in the comment link at the end of the interview. Now, here'a  peek at her book!

Sometimes Life’s Detours Deliver The Greatest Blessing 

Ex-bad-girl Sierra Sinclair has finally surrendered her life to the Lord. A hopeful future pursuing her dreams in music lies ahead. But first, she must provide restitution for those she wronged in the past. Returning to her hometown, she offers an eloquent testimony and a series of free concerts. And then, Colton Smith, son of a prominent town leader, shows an interest in her. Sierra's bright future looks trouble-free, but she soon finds out otherwise. When Colton's parents and the townsfolk won't forgive or forget her past, will this promising romance end before it ever has the chance to begin?

Sounds like a great read! Welcome to the Diamond Mine, JoAnn! I've got some questions for you!

What made you decide to be a writer?

What an interesting question. Most of my writing friends have this need to write everything down and if they’re not writing, they go nuts. It’s like a part of who they are. I’m not one of those people. Actually, as a child, I never would have dreamed I’d enjoy penning a story! You see, I have dyslexia. As a very young girl, reading and writing was a huge challenge. It wasn’t until my early teen years, that I found there could be great joy in entering story worlds, which let me experience life outside of my own. It was Christian authors, like Janette Oak, CS Lewis, and others that planted a seed.

It takes work to overcome a learning disability. For me, this only proved to strengthen my character and determination in many areas of my life. I wanted to encourage and inspire others as I myself had (and still am) through reading. So, my journey started there and I’m so glad that God is bigger than any difficulty we face.  

Perhaps today you feel inept to the task the Lord may be calling you to. Take heart. In our weakness is one of the most beautiful places where God’s strength can be found. Am I a great author? No, I wouldn’t say that -- and yet I know that God has used some of my very fallible stories to encourage others. I can't help but recognize, that's a God thing!

I was recently reminded that it’s not about what I/we can accomplish, but rather what the Potter can accomplish when I/we stay moldable in His hands. So, go ahead and take the leap today into whatever the Lord may be asking of you. I promise you, He can use anything you offer him, even those places where there is brokenness.

How true, and you said it beautifully! Can you tell us a bit about your book?

I don't want to give any huge spoiler alerts about this story, but let me share what one review said on CBD, "This little and lovely story teaches a big message about persevering love. It's not only a sweet romance, it is a gentle life lesson, encouraging readers to keep on loving...keep on being gracious...even when it's hard. The author reminds us that we can only do this with the power of Christ within..."

Sounds wonderful! How did you get your idea for this story?

I got my idea for this story after hearing a testimony at Church one evening (unrelated to the one in the book) in combination to going to a Youth Orchestra on a different night. It made me ask "what if these two worlds were to collide" and that's what this story grew from.

I love hearing how a story idea begins. The creative process is so interesting, and varied. What was your first story?

Hidden Paths was the first story I ever wrote, though not the first story I had published.

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

I typically have a loose outline, though there have been times that my characters decided to go in a different direction. When that happens, I see where it leads. That being said, I am a planner. The more stories I write, the more details I desire about the characters and plot prior to writing a single word. I have come to realize and appreciate getting to know my story-world well before trying to share it with others. 

It's funny how the characters we imagine often end up surprising us!  Do you have any underlying themes that you want your readers to come away with?

As far as underlying themes that I would love a reader to come away with is, well, I guess I would say this is different for each reader. What I mean by that is, we all have lenses in which we see the world. Something that I need to hear right now may be quite different than what you need depending on our circumstances. Perhaps you're in that place where you need to forgive yourself for something in your past or perhaps you're the person who's been judgmental towards someone else. Where we're at as individuals could be very different. However, the universal truth is that God loves us all -- just as we are -- but loves us enough not to leave us here. Any other themes you can glean from the characters lives in this story,  I hope the Holy Spirit can use to reveal God to you and encourage your heart wherever you're at as an individual today. 

I love that answer! Full of wisdom and understanding. Do your characters share any traits with you or someone you know?

For Christmas, one of our sons gave me a book about personalities. It's so fun to look at the books and try to figure out what classification I am and what my loved ones fall under -- or what love language is the main way we feel loved. People are so interesting! So, of course my characters share traits with people I know. It helps me know how my fictional person will respond to a circumstance. 

Great point! Do you find that your characters often surprise you?

For some stories, my characters stay very true to who I thought they were. Actually, it's only recently that a few are going rogue on me, though it could be because I've been facing a huge learning curve with trying to write within the sci-fi genre. :)

Do you have a favorite character in your books?

The Floating Palace is a book that I wrote several years ago, which unfortunately is no longer available. But, this manuscript has my favorite character to date; Ellie Dunkling. She was a sassy, yet classy lady from the 1920's.

Those sassy characters are often so entertaining! What are you working on now?

I am currently working on a Sci-fi story, writing in collaboration with one of my sons, Jeff. It's been a lot of fun, but it's been several years in the making already. Jeff recently joined me and it's brought a freshness to the story. I'm super excited and really enjoying not only the process of writing with him, but just spending time in this creative space together. 

I think that's so great that you and your son are working together! Thanks so much for the interview, JoAnn!

Thank you for having me, Nancy. It's been fun. :)

Okay, readers! Here's a bit more about JoAnn:

JoAnn Carter is married to an amazing husband for 30 years. The Lord has blessed them with four children, and four daughter-in-laws spread across many states. Currently she resides in NJ and works as a nurse. She enjoys being with her family & friends, writing, reading, exercising and cooking. Her desire is to write in such a way as to encourage readers of all ages and to strengthen their faith in our amazing God.

Please feel free to check out her webpage at: https://joannwrites.wixsite.com/website

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://a.co/9K7g2JT

Pelican Book Group: https://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=636

Christian Book Distributors:

https://www.christianbook.com/detour-destination-abiding-love-ebook/joann-carter/9781611164251/pd/74000EB 

Barnes and Noble: Detour: Destination Abiding Love|eBook

Don't forget to leave a comment with your email in order to be eligible for the drawing for a free copy!

Interview and Giveaway with author Susan Spess!!

 Today on The Diamond Mine, we welcome author Susan Spess. We're going to find out a bit about her and her new book: Jordan Valley Miss.

 Sometimes it takes the loss of everything to gain the joys God has in store... 

When Pastor Eli's wife and brother ran away together, he was the one who lost- his family, his church, and his faith. All he has left are his four-year-old daughter and a little church in the world's smallest town. But he still has his speaking talent, and with it, he's sure he can build up their numbers so he can catch the attention of another mega-church. He needs to be back in the big time where he belongs.

Glory Matthews voted against hiring the new minister. He's single and handsome and more charismatic than any man has the right to be. He'll draw every man-hunting woman around. And because he's used to the big time, he won't stay long. But when Eli is with his daughter, he's down-to-earth, loving and everything she could want, and Glory's heart melts like a forgotten candle burning in the night.

If it's one thing Eli Daniels doesn't need, it's Glory Matthews. She's head-strong, pretty, faithful and doesn't seem to be fazed by his "celebrity." But Glory is also everything he could ever want, and somehow this Jordan Valley miss just might help him find his faith and mend his heart.

Wow! This sounds like a great read to me! Now let's get to the interview. 

Susan, what do you like best about this story?

I enjoy the characters and the setting. They're all composites of people and places I've known in my life. Writing it was kind of like going home.

How did you get the idea for the story?

I went to a Christian college when I graduated from high school, and I might have known a guy or two who were super talented like the hero of my story.

Do you have a favorite character, and if so, why are they your favorite?

Yes, my two favorite characters are the mother and aunt of the heroine. They write children's books and have a ball doing it.

I bet you had fun writing those two characters!

Do you have the whole story planned out before you write it, or do you write it as you go?

I don't have the entire story planned out, but I usually have my turning points before I start.

That sounds like a good method.

Do your characters ever surprise you?

Absolutely. Once I wrote a scene (not in this book) about a man who punched a wall and broke his hand. Later I had him getting into the shower when he waved his casted arm at me and said, "I can't get this wet." LOL!

I love that!! What a great glimpse into the sometimes wacky world of writing characters! 

Speaking of characters, are yours based on yourself or people you know?

Yes, they are. Usually, they're a little bit of several people I know... with my emotional responses.

I often wonder if the people reading our books know which of their traits we've borrowed for a character!

What's the most difficult thing about writing?

Finding time to do it. I still work full time in the family business.

That must be stress-full for you at times.

What do you enjoy most about being a writer?

Actually putting the words on paper. I've always made up stories to entertain myself, and now that I write them down, I know where I left off.

I'm glad you write them down now!

So, how much of a role does your faith play in your writing process?

My faith is part of all of my life. I just pray I'm not too preachy when I write.

Yes. I think most Christian writers worry about that!

What would you like readers to take away from your stories?

That God is a loving father who'll never leave us or forsake us.

That is a most precious and vital understanding for everyone to know. I'm so glad you weave that into your books.

What are you writing now?

I have two more books finished in this series set in Jordan Valley, Oklahoma, and now I'm working on a series set in Purdy Water, Oklahoma.

I'm just an Okie at heart. 

Thank you for having me. This was so much fun!

Yes, it was, and I'm so glad to have had a chance to showcase you and your book. Thanks for the lovely interview, Susan!

Okay, readers! If you'd like to be entered in the drawing for a copy of Susan's book, please leave a comment and your email address!

Also, here are some of Susan's links: 

Instagram: sshay74020

Twitter: @shaywriter

Purchase link: Amazon

INTRODUCING AUTHOR CAROL JAMES

Good morning, Carol! I’m delighted to have this time to sit and visit with you on this beautiful Wednesday morning. All readers want to know more about their favorite writers.

Thanks so much for inviting me here today, DiAne. I am thrilled to be visiting the Diamond Mine.

At what point in your life did you decide to become a writer?

Writing kind of sneaked up on me. I was an English major in college because I loved to read, and I loved grammar (weird, I know). I wanted to teach, and I felt English was the one subject that would give me the opportunity to really get to know what was going on in the minds of my high school students. But only about ten years ago, did God call me to write.

Ahh, like me, you were a late bloomer in the writing field! So how about giving us the cliff note version of how and when your personal writing journey began?

I would love to—It’s a beautiful picture of God’s faithfulness, and I’ll do my best to keep it short. In 2000, I was teaching part-time in a small private school—my dream job! Life was wonderful…until my husband had a health issue and lost his job. I knew I had to get a “real” job, but I had always considered teaching my personal ministry, and I hated the thought of giving that up.

One day while sitting in our city park reading my Bible and eating a Chick-fil-A biscuit (some things are worth the calories), I stumbled across Isaiah 43:18-19. In that moment, I knew those verse were written for this time in my life. God was leading me into something new. I just had to trust Him to reveal it at the right time.

About ten years later, after trying out several ministries that just didn’t fit, God brought a friend into my life who encouraged me to write, and the moment I put the first words on a piece of paper, I knew writing was that new thing for me.

  

How about your family? Husband? Kiddos? Grandsugars (as Caryl McAdoo calls hers.) Tell us about them, please.

My husband Jim and I have been married almost forty-seven years (how is that even possible). We have two married daughters. Lauren is a teacher, and Jordan works with at risk children. We have five Grandsugars—I love that—ranging in age from four to ten. We stay busy babysitting, attending soccer games, and recitals.

Oh and, I can’t forget Zoe, our Jack Russell Terrorist! She keeps us busy.

When you’re not pounding the keyboard, what occupies your time—other than that gang of precious gifts from God?

I’m grateful to be retired so I can spend time with the Grands. I’m a Frappuccino aficionado and soccer fan extraordinaire. I love watching Atlanta United and English Premier League soccer on TV. Attending a live EPL game is high on my bucket list.

What words of wisdom would you share with newbie writers?

            For years a quote from Harriet Beecher Stowe hung above my desk. “Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.”

            So, write, write, write. Perfect your craft.

            Join, join, join. Become involved with professional groups.

Enter, enter, enter. Contests are a wonderful way to gain impartial feedback about your writing. And if you final, your work may be seen by editors and agents.

Please tell our Diamond Mine readers about the genre you write and why you chose that particular one.

I enjoy reading many genres, but I have always loved stories with happy endings. So, I write inspirational romance. When I knew I was being called to do this, I remember thinking, “Why romance? People make fun of romance writers.” And then a still, small Voice said, “Carol, the greatest story of all time is a romance.  The story of a loving Father pursuing the hearts of His people.” So, romance it is!

And I know romance writers everywhere are cheering the words the Spirit whispered in your heart. If I’m reading this interview and think, I’d really like to write, but don’t know how to begin…what would you advise me to do?

Join local professional groups. Writers are some of the most selfless and encouraging people I know. It’s a wonderful way to learn your craft and to network. 

Do you have a verse in the Word God gave to carry you when the going gets tough? Would you please share the verse as well as any other comments you wish with our readers?

There are many, but I’d like to share the verses God gave me that day in the park, Isaiah 43:18-19:

“Forget the former things;
    do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland.”

God is so good to place gold nuggets in His Word. Words He knew you would find and apply that day. What a Magnificent and Mighty God we serve! I know our readers are already scrolling to find where they can purchase your books, as well as other places they can find your writings.

My most recent release, The Waiting, can be found at:

Amazon, Pelican Book Group, Barnes&Noble, KOBO

Links to my other published works can be found by visiting my Amazon author page, or my website:

Carol James Amazon  Carol James Website

I currently have another book under contract, but I don’t have a release date for that yet. The working title is Seasons of Hope. It’s a story of forgiveness and hope set during and after the Vietnam war.

What about your WIP (work in progress)?

I currently have 2 WIP’s.

A Christmas novella for Christmas 2019, and a manuscript entitled No Longer Captive that addresses overcoming childhood abuse. Stay tuned for more!

Carol has graciously offered a copy of The Waiting, either ebook or hold-in-your-hands- book that’s signed. All you must do is leave a comment with your email address, and indicate which you’d rather have.

We have enjoyed meeting and getting to know the real Carol James today! Thank you, Carol, and I’m anticipating the release of Seasons of Hope.

Thanks so much for letting me visit today, DiAne.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MQC2C1W

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1130121870?ean=9781522301240

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-waiting-11

Pelican Book Group: https://pbgrp.link/WaitingCJ

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Carol-James/e/B00IGMW2WI?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_fkmrnull_1&qid=1553107936&sr=8-1-fkmrnull