Interview with Julie B. Cosgrove, author of The Visitor Makes a Retreat!

Hi, guys! V. Joy Palmer here! Since we are all friends here, you guys can call me Joy. ;-) And one of my favorite things to do is talk with my friends at coffee shops then head to the bookstores. Yes, plural. After all, books and yummy drinks are the perfect combination! So consider this our virtual coffee shop. I'll wait a second for you to get your warm drink and a fuzzy blanket before we chat with today's guest. <3

Today we are going to pry into the private life of CHAT with Julie B. Cosgrove!

Interview ~

This may be the most important question I ask -- no pressure or anything, LOL! 

*drum roll*

What are you drinking in our virtual coffee house? Coffee? Tea? Hot chocolate? Something else altogether?

Depends on the time of the day and the season. First thing in the morning? I definitely waddle zombie-like to the Keurig and pop in a pod, usually French vanilla or caramel cream coffee…sometimes cinnamon vanilla. Add a few droplets of stevia and a dash of half and half and I am ready to start the day. Midafternoon I grab a tea bag of Earl Grey or Vanilla Latte.  On a chilly winter evening―yes, we have a few of them here in Texas―a cuppa hot chocolate with a few ginger snaps or English biscuits for dipping is a great wind-down treat.

All delicious choices! If you could order anything in the world to eat (we can dream, can't we?), what would it be?

Raised in San Antonio, I have con queso coated DNA! Gotta get that cheese enchilada, frijoles, and arroz inside my tummy at least once a month. I also like the spinach and cheese tamales from Texas Tamale Co. They come frozen, a dozen to the bag. Two steamed in the microwave then peeled from the husk and sprinkled with shredded cheese is a meal!

YUM! Where is your favorite place to write, and why is that your favorite place?

I write at my desk in the breakfast nook of my apartment that I have converted into my office. My guinea pig’s cage is in here and he keeps me company. It is also where I am blessed to work my day job, virtually, doing the billing and credentialing for six wonderful psychotherapists practicing in various towns in Texas. I usually have my Christian radio station softly playing on my Google mini in the background. Yeah, I sing and write at the same time.

Great space! Do you have an odd habit that is only explained by your bookish, writer tendencies? Safe space. ;-)

Did I just answer that?? Seriously, I carve out time to write since I am still a working gal. I take a weekend off, get in a zone, then write, write, write until my tummy growls or my bladder urges me to stop a moment. I never word count. I just keep going until the mystery is solved, the red herrings are dissolved, and the wheels of justice revolve. I know some authors snack as they write. I don’t. Makes the keyboard too crummy or sticky and that yanks my mind out of the mystery plotting. And yes, I have to have a cleaned off desk to work, the laundry done, and the furniture dusted first. 

Awesome! What inspired you to write The Visitor Makes a Retreat! 

My publisher wanted to create a mystery/light suspense novella series and asked me to lead it off. It released on February 10^th.

There will be seven books, each written by a different faith-based author. A new one will release on the second Friday of every month through August. The Visitor is Connie B. Wright, raised and homeschooled by her parents who headed up the Wright Foundation. The family travelled as they promoted charities for children. Now as an adult, she has taken over, and still travels the US fundraising for these charitable organizations. Somehow mysteries always arise, like a tree root protruding in a sidewalk, to try and trip up her efforts. But by God’s grace, Connie helps solve the issue so the events and justice can prevail. By the time this publishes, book two, The Visitor Meets Old Hairy by Fay Lamb will be premiering. Be sure to grab it folks!

Sounds great! What led you to write in this genre?

Even at an elementary school age, I loved to watch the mystery movies matinees on TV. Charlie Chan, Nancy Drew, and Sherlock Holmes captivated me. Now I indulge in the ones on Brit Box. Endeavor, Morse, Lewis, Vera, Death in Paradise, Father Brown, Midsommer Murders, New Tricks … the list goes on. Mysteries have always been my favorite genre to read, too.

So about six years ago my sister asked me why didn’t I try writing them? My publisher at the time did not contract mystery writers, but since I had published six suspense romances with them, the editor in chief agreed to take on a four-book contract called the Bunco Biddies Mysteries. Then, when that publisher sold out, Write Integrity Press picked me up. I landed a three book contract with them called the Relatively Seeking Series, the began the Word Play Mysteries, of which four out of the six contracted are published. In the Word Play Mysteries, set in the fictious town of Scrub Oak, TX, the widows of the community help solve mysteries using their word-playing skills. Word Has It involved a Scrabble game, Word Gets Around had one-word clue riddles left on windshields, In Other Words featured palindromes graffitied on the walls of the village and Hang on Every Word used clues in the Hangman game published in the local newspaper to target which local merchants were to be robbed next.

Now, I am involved in the Visitor Series.

How fun! What message do you hope to convey to your readers?

In each of my books I want my readers to learn something about a social issue. Christ’s last instructions on earth told us to go out to the nations, baptizing them and teaching them the way of life He commands, as well as exhibiting the love He gives. Unless we know what troubles people are facing today, how can we relate to them? Like our Lord did the Gospels, we must meet folks in need with compassion so we can then show them how faith can help them? 

Great message! Can you tell us a little about your next project(s)?

After The Visitor series is over, the next Word Play Mystery, Away with Words, is scheduled to release in the fall. Then one or two more are planned after that, probably one every six to eight months.

Lots of exciting stories in the future! Do you have a favorite Bible verse or story that inspires you on a soul level? 

Mathew 6:25-33 has always been my go-to. At different times in my life not worrying about the physical things in life have taken on different nuances, but it always rings true. As a widow who was left without financial security twelve years ago, I have clung to these verses. God has never let me down. I always have had a little money at the end of the month and a at least three to four meals’ worth in the fridge.

I grew up reciting part of Psalm 51 in the morning, and I still do to begin my devotional time. Create in me a new heart and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Give me the joy of your salvation and renew a right sprit within me.  It realigns my will with His each day.

So good! What are you currently reading? Inquiring minds -- mine! -- want to know. ;-)

I am reading A Murder of Crows by Anita Klumpers. In it a woman witnesses her boyfriend murdered in a woods filled with crows they were birdwatching. Now she is on the run, fearing for her own life. Anita and I used to share the same publisher and she is an amazing author. I love her vivid style of writing and how she interweaves dialog and action into her suspense romances.

Sounds like a fun read!

Thank you for answering all of my prying questions, Julie! 

Check out Julie's new release, The Visitor Makes a Retreat! 

Purchase The Visitor Makes a Retreat HERE!

The Visitor Series!

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer loves to write romantic and comedic stories that proclaim God’s deep love for us. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and an avid blogger. In her spare time, Joy loves to sing (especially Disney songs), drink large quantities of coffee, and take flowery photos for Bookstagram. When Joy isn’t fighting with fictional people, she’s hanging out with her husband and their adorable daughters. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

Welcome Mollie Rushmeyer

Posted by Penny Frost McGinnis

I got to read an early copy of Mollie Rushmeyer's debut novel, The Bookshop of Secrets. This is one of the best books I've read this year. Mollie is giving away an e-copy of her book. Please comment by October 19 to be entered to win. 

We'll start with 'what is your favorite' questions:

Coffee or Tea? Oh, man. You’re going to make me choose? I don’t think I can! I love coffee for my everyday morning caffeine pick-me-up. But tea is a great “treat” in the afternoon and reminds me of England. I’m a total Anglophile!

M&Ms or Reece’s Pieces? Reece’s, for sure. I love peanut butter!

Cat or Dog Person? Cat person, though I’ve come to enjoy dogs a lot more in the last several years. But we’re sticking with just our one sweet kitty boy, Brooks, at home.

Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter? Fall. Hands down. I live in Minnesota where autumn means crisp air, vibrant foliage, apple and pumpkin picking, and all things glorious fall.

Let's get to know Mollie as a writer:

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

I wrote little stories and poems as a child, but I first thought I wanted to be a writer while in college. I was reading voraciously (maybe a little escape from the stress of homework, tests, and essay writing), and I remember thinking I wanted to do for someone else what these beloved authors had done for me. Provide a safe place to escape, adventure, think and feel and explore in a way that we don’t always have space to do in the real world. I hoped to create stories and characters that would live on in the hearts of readers. The way I carry all of my favorites with me.

What is your favorite childhood book?

I’m sorry, I have to be the rebel once again because I can’t pick just one. The stories that had the most impact on me were all given/recommended to me by my book-loving grandpa. The Giver by Lois Lowry. A Wrinkle in Time (and really the whole Time Quintet) by Madeleine L’Engle. And The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis. The all had characters I still think about and captures my imagination as a young person.

Do you have any upcoming projects, releases, or sales?

There’s my debut, The Bookshop of Secrets, releasing October 25^th, 2022.

It’s up for pre-order on all book-buying sites. It is on sale at Harlequin and you can read the first two chapters free! Here’s the link: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781335426215_the-bookshop-of-secrets.html

I also have a second book coming out with Love Inspired Trade/Harlequin next August 2023 called The Lost Manuscript. It’s set in Northern England and is about an estranged married couple coming together to find a famed lost medieval manuscript. So stay tuned!

Tell us about your book:

Do you have a new release you'd like to tell us about?

Yes! My new release is actually my debut novel, The Bookshop of Secrets. It’ll be out in the world on October 25^th.

Here’s the back cover: A collection of lost books holds the clues to her family's legacy…and her future.

Hope Sparrow has mastered the art of outrunning her tragic past, learning never to stay anywhere too long and never to allow anyone control over her life again. Coming to Wanishin Falls in search of her family's history already feels too risky. But somewhere in the towering stacks of this dusty old bookshop are the books that hold Hope's last ties to her late mother—and to a rumored family treasure that could help her start over.

Only, the bookshop is in shambles, and the elderly owner is in the beginning stages of dementia and can’t remember where the books lie. To find the last links to the loved ones she's lost, Hope must stay and accept help from the townsfolk to locate the treasured volumes. Each secret she uncovers brings her closer to understanding where she came from. But the longer she stays in the quaint town, the more people find their way into the cracks in her heart. And letting them in may be the greatest risk of all…

Is there a certain Bible passage or verse that goes along with the theme of your book?

“Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in the time to come.” ~Proverbs 31:25

I chose this for my character Hope who has endured unspeakable tragedy and trauma in her past. For her, the idea of looking to the future with joy seems impossible, but her heart longs for this very thing.

Just for fun:

If you could travel anywhere without worry about cost, where would you travel?

This is easy! England and Scotland. My family and I were planning a trip back to these countries of my heart in 2020. We’d still like to make that happen in the next couple of years!

Bio:

Mollie Rushmeyer writes contemporary fiction with a heart for history. She loves to write inspirational fiction in contemporary settings with fascinating historical elements, people, and stories woven throughout.

A born and bred Midwestern gal, Mollie, makes her home in central Minnesota with her husband and two spunky, beautiful daughters. She is not only a bibliophile (the dustier the better, in her opinion), she’s a true anglophile at heart. Tea and coffee fuel her travels, by Google maps at least, and her passion for the written word.

Meet Mollie:

• https://www.facebook.com/mollie.rushmeyer and https://www.facebook.com/authormollierushmeyer
• www.molliejrushmeyer.com (newsletter sign-up here)
• https://www.instagram.com/molliejoyrushmeyer/
• https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21798490.Mollie_Rushmeyer
• https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-bookshop-of-secrets-by-mollie-rushmeyer

Universal pre-order link: https://books2read.com/b/3kP87L

Mollie is giving away an e-copy of her book. Please comment by October 19 to be entered to win. 

Sign up for her newsletter at: www.molliejrushmeyer.com

Interview and Giveaway with Susan Kimmel Wright!

 Hi, guys! V. Joy Palmer here! Since we are all friends here, you guys can call me Joy. ;-) And one of my favorite things to do is talk with my friends at coffee shops then head to the bookstores. Yes, plural. After all, books and yummy drinks are the perfect combination! So consider this our virtual coffee shop. I'll wait a second for you to get your warm drink and a fuzzy blanket before we chat with today's guest. <3

Today we are going to pry into the private life of CHAT with Susan Kimmel Wright!

Susan Kimmel Wright is a child of the Appalachian Mountains. A former lawyer, Susan has published three children’s mystery novels and is a prolific contributor to Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Mabel Goes to the Dogs, Book Two in Mysteries of Medicine Spring, her first cozy mystery series for adult readers, is now available from Mountain Brook Ink. Susan shares an 1875 farmhouse in southwestern PA with her husband, several dogs and cats, and an allegedly excessive stockpile of coffee and tea mugs.

Connect with Susan Kimmel Wright on her Website, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Interview ~

This may be the most important question I ask -- no pressure or anything, LOL! 

*drum roll*

What are you drinking in our virtual coffee house? Coffee? Tea? Hot chocolate? Something else altogether?

“Yes, please!” but it all depends. I really need to start my day with one or two cups of dark-roast coffee, nothing added. From there, I switch to various black teas, and before bed, I usually have a cup of green or red bush (rooibos) tea. (Hot chocolate, though, is perfect by the fire after a wintry walk!)

Haha, great answer! If you could order anything in the world to eat (we can dream, can't we?), what would it be?

This will obviously vary by mood, lol, but after living for months in Honduras decades ago, I often crave desayuno típico—the Central American typical breakfast of eggs, fried bananas, queso blanco cheese, avocado, refried beans, corn tortillas, and coffee. ¡Buen provecho!

YUM! Where is your favorite place to write, and why is that your favorite place?

Being an introverted homebody, I do most of my writing in a corner of our family room, where I have a table, supplies, mug-warmer, and my dogs and cats! Sometimes though, I like to shake things up by popping on my headphones and writing in a bookstore café, where there’s the stimulation of people and books, but I can also retreat into my own world. (In cases of dire writer’s block, I sit in my car and write with a notebook and pen—just like I used as a kid. This will usually break through anyplace I’m stuck.)

Love your cure for writer's block! Do you have an odd habit that is only explained by your bookish, writer tendencies?

So embarrassing, but I sometimes mentally narrate my life! Susan stood in the doorway, studying the room. She wished she hadn’t taken that cold tablet earlier. Now her head felt fuzzy—and she needed to be thinking clearly if she was to navigate that awkward conversation with Gloria. Was she here yet? Susan picked up a glass from the table by the door—something to occupy her hands and keep from fidgeting. I’m so weird!

Let's just say you're not the only one who does that... ;-) What inspired you to write Mabel Goes to the Dogs?

Mabel Goes to the Dogs is Book Two in my series, Mysteries of Medicine Spring, and there’s some continuation from Book One—and some questions answered. I chose to write about search dogs primarily because of my personal love of dogs (I do Australian cattle dog rescue and have also fostered dogs of different breeds, sizes, medical needs, and ages over the years). Plus, my main character Mabel volunteers at a new place in each book, and I wanted to give her something a bit different from the more common shelter or dog rescue volunteer. Awhile before incubating this book, I’d volunteered to help train search dogs by hiding in the wild for them to attempt to find me. I’d thought it would be fascinating to watch them work—and a good way to contribute to what they do. My first call-up just happened to coincide with the writing of my book, and it taught me a lot.

That's really cool! What led you to write in this genre?

I just love, love, love mysteries—especially cozies, which have small-town settings and local characters you can get to know and care about over the course of the series. Cozies keep me turning pages, because of course, I want to know “whodunit,” but they tend to be clean reads and also steer clear of the graphic violence of harder-edged mysteries.

Very true! What message do you hope to convey to your readers?

I don’t write to convey a particular message, but I find that what I think and believe still has a way of coming through. I want readers who have struggles in their lives to be able to open one of my books and feel comforted—to laugh a bit and find relief from the stress they’re dealing with. Mabel isn’t perfect—who is? She might be a somewhat overweight fifty-year-old who’s suddenly unemployed and a bit insecure and disorganized. But God still has some pleasant surprises in store for her, including adventure and a new romance. I believe in hope, and I want my readers to embrace it too.

I think that's a wonderful message! Can you tell us a little about your next project(s)?

I’m currently working on Book Three in my series, Mabel & the Little Green Men, which opens when Mabel has a close encounter with a flying saucer…or did she really? I have a lot of fun in my books by upending scary things like UFOs and finding reasons to laugh. It’s no wonder I loved those old black-&-white comedy movies as a child, where the main character had to face their fears in a supposed “haunted” house.

Oooo, how fun! Do you have a favorite Bible verse or story that inspires you on a soul level?

It’s impossible to single out a favorite Bible verse or story, but I do love the story of the unlikely hero, weak-kneed Gideon, in the Book of Judges. When the angel calls to him, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior!” Gideon sort of looks around like “Who? Me?” Despite all his anxieties and asking (more than once!) for a fleece before he can believe God is really calling him, Gideon ultimately trusts God and knows the joy of fulfilling that calling.

Love Gideon's story! What are you currently reading? Inquiring minds -- mine! -- want to know. ;-)

I’ve been getting caught up with Alexander McCall Smith’s warmhearted No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Precious Ramotswe, and all the other characters who seem so real and make me want to visit Botswana.  

I'm sensing a theme! ;-) Sounds like a good read!

Thank you so much for hanging with us and for answering all of my prying questions, Susan! 

Giveaway ~

Susan is giving away a signed copy of Mabel Goes to the Dogs!

Mabel plans to bring the thrills of volunteering to the masses—if she doesn’t go to the dogs first.

When Mabel finds herself sharing a thicket with a dead body while volunteering with canine search-&-rescue, her life has clearly—once again—gone to the dogs!

            After her losing her job at age forty-nine, Mabel thought she’d turned things around. Now she’s doing good by volunteering, and surely, she’ll soon be a successful author, writing about her experiences. After solving two notorious decades-old cold cases while serving as a historical society volunteer, she’s already getting invitations to appear on TV.

            Her new assignment couldn’t be simpler. All she has to do is hide in the woods and let Millie the search dog practice finding her. But to her horror, Millie finds more than Mabel—there’s a dead body hiding in the same patch of brush. To make things worse, Mabel’s maybe-boyfriend, suspended PI John Bigelow, has a dark history with the victim.

            While struggling with maid-of-honor duties for best friend Lisa, a string of disasters created by handyman Acey, and a disagreeable new neighbor, can Mabel solve another murder in time to save John’s detective license—if not his neck?

Rules, Info, and Such ~

The author is giving away a signed copy of Mabel Goes to the Dogs!

This giveaway is open to the US only! 

This giveaway will close on 06/10/2022 at 12:00 A.M. for all the night owls.

A winner will be drawn within four days of close of giveaway. If the winner does not respond to our e-mails within one week of notification, then a new winner will be drawn in their place. This will only be done once. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

May the odds be ever in your favor. ;-)

Enter using the handy Rafflecopter HERE!

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer loves to write romantic and comedic stories that proclaim God’s deep love for us. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and an avid blogger. In her spare time, Joy loves to sing (especially Disney songs), drink large quantities of coffee, and take flowery photos for Bookstagram. When Joy isn’t fighting with fictional people, she’s hanging out with her husband and their adorable daughters. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

A Hopeful mouse-sized nibble

 

Welcome to The Diamond Mine of Christian Fiction. 

Today we have a mystery guest.

 

RS: Who do we have here?

Grace: Grace Hopeful. Let’s just call me Grace.

Rs. Would you mind telling us a bit about yourself?

Grace: There’s not much to tell. I know we each are given our own unique gifts.  But what on earth is one to do with the gift to gab with volume, to be able to dream with a vivid imagination on top of it all? My mouth and imagination tend to get me in some sticky situations.

RS: Care to expound a bit?

Grace: Somewhere a long life I was given some advice, a treasure. They suggested I learn to write my adventures as short stories and tell them on stage. Now I’m a writer, a speaker, and an entertainer for the Lord.

RS: I love how you’ve learned to use your gifts for Him. What is considered a short story?

Grace: A mouse-sized nibble of a novel.  

RS: Is that like a pinch in cooking?

Grace: Sort of. You must tell a complete story with all the components in a short amount of time. Like cutting the recipe in half. Think of an anti dot. No, wait an Aunty dot, no that’s not it. An oh, what’s the word? Anecdote. Well, you know, when a speaker gives an example to make a point.

RS: You often hear a minister use them in a sermon. How can these be helpful to an author?

Grace: Mine often change from me being in trouble to explaining the truth. Believe me, I’ve spent time in more than one interview with the police and that handsome Detective Justin Hardy. Writing tight and still getting all the important facts in is a key to a short story.

RS: Who is this detective?

Grace: You will need to read my short stories to find out. 😊

 Be sure and check them out in the coming week or so.

RS: I’ve read your short stories, Grace. You are a unique character. Do you think every author should write short stories?

Grace: What? You mean they don’t? Heavens! If it weren’t for short stories I wouldn’t be around. They can be used for so many things. A good laugh, a fun giveaway, to hook readers on an author—even as a teaching tool. Goodness, what wonderful practice and fun.

RS: Is that all they can be used for?

Grace. No way. You can post them on the internet. Who knows? One day you may hear one of yours in a sermon or on stage! You can send them to contest, magazines or publish several as an anthology. There are even vending machines to put them in so people can have a quick read while waiting for the train, bus, or plane. Or you can pull them out of a hat to get yourself out of trouble.  Hehehe.

RS: Now Grace, I’m not sure that the last one is a good idea. I’ve heard tell pulling stories out of a hat is what got you into a mess, to begin with.

Grace: I suppose so, at that. But in the end, they get me out of the fix.

RS: What else do we need to know about short stories?

Grace: A short story can be about anything in any genre. If done correctly and well, they can scare the pants off you or feel like a hug from a warm teddy bear. Only your imagination and the sky are the limits.

RS: You mentioned your stories and a detective. Where can we find these stories?

Grace: You can find them and others on the Lady SONshine website.

 https://renettesteele.com/category/short-story/

https://thewritepractice.com/

https://medium.com/@renettesteele

RS: Thank you so much for stopping in today Miss Grace Hopeful.

Grace: You're welcome. Thank you for having me.

RS: Be sure and read a short story today. May you be blessed with His SONshine.

Renette Steele

Lady SONshine

renettesteele.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interview and GIVEAWAY with Joanna Davidson Politano

Hi guys! V. Joy Palmer here! Since we are all friends here, you guys can call me Joy. ; ) And since we are all friends, one of my favorite things to do is talk with my friends, family, the teens I mentor, and everyone else at coffee shops/bookstores. Books and yummy drinks are the perfect combination, after all. So, consider this our virtual coffee shop. I’ll wait a second for you to get your warm drink and a fuzzy blanket before we chat with today’s guest. ;-)

We are prying into the private life chatting with THE Joanna Davidson Politano, author of the amazing Lady Jayne Disappears (You can read my raving review here!) and A Rumored Fortune, which I am reading right now. IT'S AMAZING!

Joanna Davidson Politano spends much of her time spinning tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives. Her debut novel, Lady Jayne Disappears, released October 3 from Revell and A Rumored Fortune releases in July 2018. She lives with her husband and their two babies in a house in the woods and shares stories that move her at www.jpdstories.com.

 

Connect with Joanna on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest, too!

Interview ~

First things first, what is you go-to yummy drink when you sit down to read and/or write?

Ok, this is weird - grapefruit juice! I mostly drink water, but a real good and sweet pink grapefruit juice is my absolute favorite treat. I don't often do tea/coffee, but this tall glass of sugary goodness is my weakness.

I honestly did not expect that! Mind blown! Hahaha! What is your favorite snack when you sit down to read or write with your imaginary peeps?

Actually cereal is my go-to! It's a real easy snack to sit next to me and not drip on the couch. Cinnamon cereal of any kind is my fav. :-)

Cereal is a pretty common snack in my house, too! And I love all things cinnamon, much to my husband's dismay. Haha! Confession Time: do any of your characters have any of your own "odd" habits? Safe space. ;-)

Oh, definitely! My first heroine, Aurelie Harcourt in Lady Jayne Disappears, wrote the people around her into stories and while everyone recognized themselves in the stories, no one knew who was writing about them. I did the same thing in gradeschool when I was intensely bothered by certain kids being overlooked (they became superheroes in my little stories) and bullies never seeing justice (they saw payback in my stories too). I wrote them for myself, but somehow a few ended up circulating around the classroom and I was surprised at the impact it had on a few kids. So that was cool, and I was excited to play that out in a novel.

This is one of the coolest author-to-character quirks I've ever heard of! What inspired you to write your latest release, A Rumored Fortune?

Two real-life stories, actually. The mystery came from a family friend whose grandfather didn't trust the (highly corrupt) Italian banks...or his family, apparently. He hid his sizeable fortune and promised to tell them where it was before he died - but passed away quite young of a heart attack. In real life, the money was never found. I won't tell you if it plays out that way in the book! The romance was also inspired heavily by my own love story, from the time I first met my husband (and couldn't stand him) to the time I nearly speed-walked down the aisle toward the man of my dreams. I combined the two because the family friend in the mystery story is the one who convinced me to give my very Italian man a second look.

I love, love, love this! #allthehearts Such a cool look at the story behind the story! What is your favorite thing about writing in this genre?

To be honest, I'm not even sure what genre I write! I've seen it pop up in half a dozen different ones, and I'm fine with that. I just sat down to write for fun one day, and I let it flow into the type of story I wanted to read, complete with a little mystery, a little romance, and an atmospheric English country house. The mystery angle keeps me asking, "What's going on? What in the world??" and keeps me pressing forward to find out. The romance portions just delight my little heart.

Hahaha! Your stories do reach into a lot of genres, but that just makes them even more amazing! What is the hardest thing about writing in your super-genre (rabbit trail, but this should be a thing, yes?)?

It can be really hard to connect all the intricate pieces to make a full picture and have all the pieces work together. Although that's also the most fun part, because it's such a thrill to watch all the elements God's given me fit together to create a larger story than I'd imagined.

YESSS!!! It is awesome to see how God works the story! What message do you hope to convey to your readers with A Rumored Fortune?

I'd really love for people who are dry, or living in survival mode to find the difference between a full life and actually being full of life. It took me the length of this book project to reach a place where I was living well, and not being driven by daily tasks, attending to needs, and stomping out the flames of my to-do list. There's so much that God intends to communicate to us through vineyards, and I hope that people understand those Scripture passages - and what God says about how they receive life and grow fruit - so they know how to live more richly. It was such a needed "message," if I can call it that, for my young-mama heart while I faced a little burnout and exhaustion. Trying to keep up with life can be draining, and most of us KNOW there has to be something more out there.

 

Those are powerful truths that I know I need to be reminded about! <3 Can you tell us a little about your next project?

Of course! This is one I'm super excited about. The heroine is a rag vendor who switches places with her lookalike, who is a lady, and ends up in a very bookish romance. That's all I can say right now, but I think it may be my favorite - and most suspenseful - story yet.

I can't wait for this story!!! *squeals* What is your (current) favorite Bible verse or story that inspires you on a soul level?

My guiding life verse is Matthew 6:33, about seeking God's kingdom first and letting everything else fall into place. Isaiah is my favorite book because it most clearly shows the duality of God's nature - the holy righteous judge and the protective, gracious father. Proverbs is currently slapping me upside the head and making me examine my speech and the heart from which it comes!

Oh, man! I have gotten many spiritual slaps from Proverbs! LOL! What are you currently reading? Inquiring minds - mine - want to know! :-)

I'm reading an older novel called Edenbrooke and LOVING it. My last great read, however, was Kristy Cambron's The Lost Castle book, which is probably one of my favorites of all time.

LOVED The Lost Castle, and I'll have to check out Edenbrooke! *adds eight hundred and thirteenth book to Amazon cart*

Thank you for answering all my prying questions, Joanna! Such a blast talking with you! <3

Giveaway ~

Joanna has generously offered to giveaway one (1) copy of A Rumored Fortune.

 

Tressa Harlowe's father did not trust banks, but neither did he trust his greedy extended family. He kept his vast fortune hidden somewhere on his estate in the south of England and died suddenly, without telling anyone where he had concealed it. Tressa and her ailing mother are left with a mansion and an immense vineyard and no money to run it. It doesn't take long for a bevy of opportunists to flock to the estate under the guise of offering condolences. Tressa knows what they're really up to. She'll have to work with the rough and rusticated vineyard manager to keep the laborers content without pay and discover the key to finding her father's fortune--before someone else finds it first.

Award-winning author Joanna Davidson Politano welcomes readers to Trevelyan Castle, home of the poorest heiress in Victorian England, for a treasure hunt they'll not soon forget.

Rules, Info, and Such ~

The author is giving away one copy of A Rumored Fortune!

This giveaway is open internationally. If an international winner is drawn, they will receive an ebook. If a US winner is chosen, they will receive a print copy.

This giveaway will close on August 22nd, 2018, at 12:00 A.M. for all the night owls.

A winner will be drawn within four days of close of giveaway. If the winner does not respond to our e-mails within one week of notification, then a new winner will be drawn in their place.

May the odds be ever in your favor. ;-)

Enter using the handy Rafflecopter here ~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for stopping by, my writerly, bookish friends! <3 See you next time!

Hugs,

V. Joy Palmer 

V. Joy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.

 

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!