Interview today with author Morgan Busse

Morgan writes Christian fantasy and the first two books of her three-book series are already out, soon to be joined by the third one. For our giveaway, the winner will choose whether to receive book one, "Daughter of Light" or the second one, "Son of Truth." Enter by leaving a comment. Winner will be notified by email on May 21st.

Daughter of Light:
What if with one touch you could see inside the soul?

Rowen Mar finds a strange mark on her hand, and she is banished from her village as a witch. She covers the mark with a leather glove and seeks sanctuary in the White City. She lives in fear that if she touches another person, the power inside her will trigger again, a terrifying power that allows her to see the darkness inside the human heart . . .

But the mark is a summons, and those called cannot hide forever. For the salvation of her people lies within her hand.

Son of Truth:
Can a killer find forgiveness?

The war in the north is over, but the war for all the Lands has just begun.

As the Shadonae solidify their hold on the city of Thyra, Rowen Mar, the last Eldaran and savior of the White City, awakens to find herself hunted by those she has saved.

Meanwhile, the assassin Caleb Tala finds himself in the presence of the Word. The time of reckoning has come, and he must pay the price for all the lives he has taken. But in his moment of judgment, Caleb is given a second chance to change his life.

These two hold the power to save the Lands from the Shadonae. One must escape slavery, and one must choose to forsake everything before the world is consumed in darkness.

Okay! Here we go!

Hi Morgan, glad to have you on the Diamond Mine! Christian science-fiction and fantasy appear to be blooming, and in that genre, your books certainly stand out. Tell me what inspired you to write.

I never grew up wanting to be a writer. However, I always had a huge imagination and so the seeds to someday be a writer were there. As an adult, I had a lot of ideas and would share them with people, who in turn would say I should write. I would laugh, but inside I would say, “No way!”

Then one day I walked into a Christian bookstore looking for Christian science fiction and fantasy. I asked the lady working there and she gave me a weird look then pointed at the lone Frank Peretti book at the bottom of the shelf. What? That’s it?

I went home and my husband said I should write a fantasy. I still wasn’t convinced until we were on a long car ride to Seattle and I had this idea of a woman who could see inside people with a touch of her hand. As soon as I was back home, I found my husband’s old laptop and started writing. Eight years later that story was published and the title is Daughter of Light, the first book in the Follower of the Word series, a fantasy series.

         It’s always interesting to hear how an author begins this incredible journey into writing. I find it especially true with fantasy or speculative fiction, since the author is creating a world. I’m wondering, how much of yourself do you infuse into your characters?

All of my characters carry a piece of me inside of them. I know many authors who write characters apart from themselves, but I don’t know how you can dive deeply into your characters without firsthand knowledge of what they are like. That doesn’t mean they are all copies of me, but there is a quality, a fear, or a quirk that trails back to me.

         What aspect of writing do you enjoy most?

I once heard Jerry Jenkins say he doesn’t like to write, he likes to have written. I didn’t understand that at the time. Why write if you don’t like writing? But now having finished three books, one under a tight deadline, I get it. Sometimes you get so tired of writing and pushing yourself that you just want a break, but you can’t stop until you finish the story. So I love writing the end.

However, before you start to think I hate writing, I love it when the ideas flow, when everything comes together in a scene. It’s that aaaaahh moment! And it’s those moments that keep me going.

I also love the emails that come after the book is published. I love hearing how much people enjoyed my story and how it touched them or helped them through a difficult time (fiction can be such an encouragement during dark times).

         That’s so true. Good books and movies have given me many moments of inspiration and encouragement. What do you find is the least enjoyable aspect of writing?

Slogging through the wordcount each day. Sometimes the ideas flow, sometimes they don’t. But you have to keep pressing forward. However, it is very gratifying to look back after a couple months and see how far you’ve come and the scenes or chapters you didn’t think were good are actually quite good!

         Outside of your own books, if you were a literary character, who would you be?

Hermione Granger from Harry Potter. She’s smart, confident, and can be counted on through thick and thin.

         Good choice! How about describing your series in a single sentence for each book.

What if with one touch you could see inside the soul? Daughter of Light

Can a killer find forgiveness? Son of Truth

What would you sacrifice to save mankind? Heir of Hope

         Now describe each one of your main characters with a one-word attribute.

Rowen Mar: Hope

Lore Palancar: Loyalty

Caleb Tala: Strength

Nierne: Faith

         Admirable traits! What’s the most important thing you want your readers to know?

I write stories about how in darkness there is light. There is always hope, no matter how small. I have been through cancer scares, my husband has lost his job twice followed by months of unemployment, we’ve lost a house, and our youngest son almost died. Dark, dark moments in my life. But God was still there with me. That doesn’t mean I didn’t cry or wasn’t afraid. It means that even when I couldn’t see Him, He was still there, holding my hand. That is what I want readers to take away when they read my books: that God is with them.

         A message we all need to hear and remember, especially during the times of fiery trials and chastening that we all go through. Thank you for sharing some of your heart today. May God continue to bless you, your family and your writing. It’s been a pleasure to host you!

Morgan L. Busse writes fantasy for the adult market. She is the author of the Follower of the Word series, including Daughter of Light, 2013 Christy and Carol Award finalist. Morgan lives in the Midwest with her husband and four children. You can find out more about Morgan at www.morganlbusse.com

Facebook: Facebook page

Twitter: Twitter

To buy Morgan's books, here are some links: http://www.marcherlordpress.com/bookstore/fantasy/daughter-of-light-by-morgan-busse/

http://www.marcherlordpress.com/bookstore/fantasy/son-of-truth-by-morgan-busse/
http://www.amazon.com/Daughter-Light-Follower-Morgan-Busse-ebook/dp/B007R54JKI/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1400032155&sr=1-1&keywords=morgan+busse
http://www.amazon.com/Truth-Follower-Word-Morgan-Busse-ebook/dp/B00C438NAA/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1400032155&sr=1-2&keywords=morgan+busse

Carlene Havel's The Scarlet Cord (with Sharon Faucheux)

Welcome to the Mine, everyone. We’re digging for diamonds in Christian fiction. Are you ready to get your hands dirty? I sure am.

Today, I'd like to introduce you to Carlene Havel, a fellow Prism author. Join us as we discuss her literary gems.

Hello Carlene, welcome to the Mine. I'm so glad you could be here today. 

For those readers who may not know, what kind of books do you write and can you enlighten us on your 'process'? You know...how you create one of your jewels?

Thank you, Renee. I'm happy to be here. Let's see.

I write Biblical fiction with co-author Sharon Faucheux. We start by discussing Bible characters, finally narrowing the choice down to the one whose story we're most interested in telling. Then she peels off to do research while I begin writing the plot synopsis.

As a solo act, I’ve published two contemporary Christian romances and one historical novella. There are always new stories bubbling through my imagination. For me, ideas come easily. Staying focused on one long enough to complete a book is the challenge.

As busy as life can be, I can believe that. Still, I can see you've reached the finished line. Congratulations! And you've been published which is awesome as well. I see you're an author with Prism Book Group, like me and a couple of other miners at the Diamond Mine. What may a reader expect from a Prism book?

Congratulations on winning a Prism contract, and welcome to the fold! Like most writers, I also love to read. Prism Book Group publishes works that are clean, well-written, and carefully edited. I don’t care to read filthy language or casual sex disguised as romance, and you'll never find those things in Prism books.

You hear that, folks? Clean, and well-written. Thank you, Carlene. I'm honored to be part of a publishing company such as Prism. Speaking of publishing, have you ever been published by anyone besides Prism?

The answer to this question could fill a book. Hmm, maybe someday it will. I got off to a rocky start, but my mother, who also happens to be an author, kept encouraging me. I considered asking Mom (pen name: Barri Bryan) to intercede with Desert Breeze, where she has several books. Ultimately, I decided I would get a publishing contract on my own or not at all. Prism began accepting submissions at a perfect time for me, and I love working with Joan Alley and her crew.

That does sound like quite a story; one I would love to hear (or read) one day. Anyone else agree? I believe you have writing in the blood, so to speak. And did you say Desert Breeze Publishing? What a small world. One of our miners has a contract with them as well.

Back to your latest gem... what are you working on now?

Next up for publication is “The Scarlet Cord”, co-authored by Sharon and me. It’s the story of Rahab. You may recall she was the harlot who survived the fall of Jericho when the walls came tumbling down. Rahab and her family were spared because she had the faith and courage to shelter Israel’s spies. Later, she married Salmon, the Prince of Judah. The Bible doesn’t tell us much more about her life—that’s the part Sharon and I imagined and wrote.

What a story... and in the Bible. I've reviewed several Biblical romances for my blog. I enjoyed reading them, although I don't write them. I'll definitely have to check this one out. Can we get a glimpse?

Sure...

     The tall man held up a hand, and his companion fell silent. Rahab was accustomed to men who could not afford her services, but the reactions of these two stung her. One seemed completely indifferent, while the other made her feel unclean. The truth flew into her mind with such force it escaped from her mouth. “You are Hebrews.”

     “Yes, we are,” the tall man said, much to Rahab’s surprise.

     They were such beautiful young men. What a pity it would be for them to be impaled in the public place. “Do you not know the king’s men keep track of foreigners in Jericho, because of all the trouble across the river? If you hurry, you may be able to escape.”

     The shorter man quickly pushed his food away, stood up, and shook out his clothing. The taller one stood and faced Rahab. “Would you hide us?” he asked.

     “I could be executed for helping you. And my whole family along with me.”  Looking into his eyes made her heart beat faster. Yet his face would no longer be handsome after a beating from the soldiers’ rods.

     The tall man spoke gently. “Help us and you will live when we take this city.”

     “Take Jericho? You cannot,” she whispered. “Our walls…”

     “Your walls are nothing to the Lord. We will conquer this city and all others who stand in our way, just as we have overcome the Amorites.” His manner conveyed absolute confidence. “Our lives in exchange for yours. Yes or no?”

I remember the fall of Jericho in the Bible. What an awesome story to tell. How do you decide which characters to pick for your books?

The Bible is filled with fascinating characters! How would it feel to be truly "given" in marriage?To live in an environment where a malevolent king had absolute authority? To be one wife among many? Those thoughts, coupled with a wish to write about a heroine from the Bible, eventually resulted in selecting Princess Michal, King Saul’s youngest daughter, to take the starring role in our first co-authored novel. After Sharon and I sifted through numerous possibilities, Rahab grabbed us next and wouldn’t let go. We were intrigued by the unlikely inclusion of a pagan harlot in the lineage of the Messiah. Once we selected our heroine, we include characters named in the Biblical account and invented the others.

I'm so excited for you (and Sharon). This book sounds absolutely amazing. Do you have any special events planned involving its release?

Prism covers are always smashing—perfectly reflective of each book’s theme—so I’m planning my first ever “cover reveal” event for “The Scarlet Cord”. A year and a half ago, Sharon and I looked at a picture Joan suggested for the cover of “Daughter of the King”. Almost as if we were leafing through a family album, we both said, “This is not a picture of Michal. She’s Rahab!”  

That is so cool. I love it. And I can't wait for the reveal. I can't wait to see her shine. After all, I think we have a diamond. Thanks for stopping by the Mine, Carlene. Are you open to taking some questions?

I’m honored to be your first featured author. It has been my pleasure to visit your lovely site.  May your jewelbox be filled with sparklers! I am most definitely open to questions, but I will be away from my computer for a while today, beginning a new Bible study. So if I’m slow to respond, you know why.

I completely understand. Don't worry, we have plenty of time. After all, we'll be here all week! (Oh my, I sound like a comedian.)

So if you have a question for Carlene, have at it, folks and don't forget to enter the giveaway for her latest release and a $25 gift certificate on Amazon! (see details below)

TWO
GIVEAWAYS!

$25 AMAZON GIFT CARD

AND

Carlene Havel's Daughter of the King
(e-copy or signed print version)
winner's choice

Enter via Rafflecopter!
(drawing on 5/14/14)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Giveaway's Prize:

Princess Michal was the youngest daughter of Saul, the first king of Israel. In an age when fathers arranged marriages, Michal dared to fall in love with a handsome young musician named David, from the little town of Bethlehem. As recounted in the Bible, Michal helped David escape from her insanely jealous father. King Saul punished his daughter with forced marriage to a distant war lord. Princess Michal unexpectedly returns from seven years of exile to find a changed world. Most of her relatives are dead. David has become King of Judea. He has acquired six additional wives, one of whom is a princess from Geshur. Michal longs to have a son to reign over Israel and reestablish the rule of King Saul's heirs.  But each royal wife has hopes of placing her own son on the throne. Can Princess Michal's love for King David survive war, madness, infidelity, and betrayal?

About the Author:

I grew up in Texas and married a military officer.  Courtesy of the US Air Force, I’ve also lived in six or seven US states, the Republic of the Philippines, and Turkey. My husband loves to travel, and we’ve had lots of fun satisfying his wanderlust. Although I prefer peaceful mountain forests, he enjoys big cities, exotic locales, and archaeological excavations. Glenn and I still laugh about our adventure in a Parisian coin operated laundry, and I’m pretty sure a couple of French housewives do, too. 

My home is now in Texas, in the midst of a big, extended family. I had no interest in writing until 2005, when I became a believer in Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. Along with everything else that changed, I developed a passion for writing. I love Bible study, normally devoting most of one day each week delving into the scriptures with a small focus group. I also enjoy sewing, knitting, crochet and embroidery.

FB:  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarleneHavel

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/carlenehavel

Amazon, Daughter of the King:  http://goo.gl/5WLKj

Amazon, all my work:  http://goo.gl/ugcII