The Diamond Mine of Christian Fiction

Waking the Sleeping Giant

New York Skyline

September 11, 2001 or 9/11 ("Patriot Day," as we call it today) changed our lives as no other event could, except maybe Pearl Harbor. We realized (again) as a nation, we weren't "untouchable." We could be struck down in our own home.

Did we cower...or hide? No. Instead of licking our wounds, we rose from the ashes, patched our injured, buried our dead, and stood as one against the enemy...much like we had almost sixty years before. The sleeping giant came out of her slumber.

That's what makes America an amazing nation.

We're diverse in culture and history. A young nation by the world's standards, yes...but when confronted, we unite and rise to the challenge. Not to conquer, but to defend.

So, has this great nation slipped into a doze once again? Become tired and sleepy? More worried about our next trip to the grocery store than the safety of our children?

What will rouse the sleeping giant again? A frightening question.

Until then...be vigilant, pray, and remember...

Hey y'all! It's Rebekah here. Angela Breidenbach has bravely agreed to be my first victim, uh, I mean first interview here on the Diamond Mine. I met Angela through our writing group Faith, Hope & Love. She's one of the many blessings I've found since joining FHL.

Angela is the captivating host of Grace Under Pressure Radio on iTunes, as well as a speaker and author. Angela is also the Christian Author Network's president. And yes, she's half of the comedy duo, Muse and Writer.

Angela's books include:

* The Lassoed by Marriage Collection (coming Jan. 2016)

* A Healing Heart (paperback, eBook, audio)

* Snowflake Tiara (paperback, eBook, audio coming Oct.) A book I fell in love with!

* Eleven Pipers Piping, Christmas Traditions Collection (eBook)

The GIVEAWAY:

Audio book of A Healing Heart

Leave a comment at the end of the interview to enter!

Rebekah: Hey Angie! I’m so glad you’re here! Can you tell me about the genre you write and why?
Angie: Oh boy ;) I write because I love to write…historical romance, contemporary romance, non-fiction self-help (called Christian Living in religious publishing). I also write articles, devotionals, and cat comedy with Muse and Writer.

Rebekah: What’s your favorite thing about your genres?
Angie: In historical romance, I love living in history. But in self-help and the non-fiction, I love feeling like I'm helping someone through a struggle to become the very special person they want to be or cope with a tough situation. I think my fiction, non-fiction, and cat comedy does that too.

Rebekah: What’s your newest releases?
Angie: Eleven Pipers Piping, Christmas Traditions Collection and my new Grace Under Pressure Radio show on iTunes ;) I'm working on a non-fiction book also to be titled, Grace Under Pressure. I'm hoping to release it late fall.

Rebekah: Describe Eleven Pipers Piping in 3 separate words:

Angie: historical, romance, newsies (boys who sold newspapers on the street in the late 1800s-early 1900s)

Rebekah: If your book was made in to a movie, what actors would you cast as your main hero & heroine?
Angie: Okay, this is a trick question, right?! You know I'm working on just that now. I want to write screenplays out of all my books. But if Eleven Pipers Piping was made into a movie I'd love to see someone like Luke Benward as Evan and I could see someone like Emma Stone as Mirielle.

Rebekah: How long did it take you to write this book?
Angie: A lot longer than I thought for how short it is! It took a year because it was the book I was writing when my dad passed away. Then I had another contract for Bridal Whispers (Barbour's The Lassoed by Marriage collection releasing Jan. 1, 2016) that had a more pressing deadline.

Rebekah: How do you balance writing with other responsibilities (job, family, etc.)?
Angie: Being an empty-nester, it's a lot easier now than when I had kids at home. I went full time writing/speaking in 2009 and haven't looked back. I've done a lot of public speaking and that takes so much time away from home. So to balance the fact that I love speaking, but I want to be home more, I've started the Grace Under Pressure Radio show on iTunes. I've been able to cut back my speaking schedule and now I'm speaking on the air instead of so many events. I think getting creative about what I love to do is helping me be more balanced, especially because I’m a workaholic. This helps me relax a little more.

Rebekah: When did you realize you first wanted to be a writer?
Angie: My dad taught me to read and write when I was four. I started writing and writing and writing. I guess I had a lot to say for a four-year old, lol.

Rebekah: Do you stick to your TBR pile or are you an impulsive book buyer?
Angie: I go by my mood, totally. I read fiction when I need a break and I read non-fiction when I want to learn.

Rebekah: What are you currently reading?
Angie: I usually have four or five books going at a time. They range from historical fiction to historical research to non-fiction education to self-help and I always have at least two devotionals I go between. Currently, the most consistent is going to just make you roll your eyes. But it's the Leadership Bible. I'm on a goal of growing in my leadership skills because of being the Christian Authors Network president. I want to do the best possible job I can. I feel very responsible for the people in my organization and their benefit for belonging.

Rebekah: At some point an author has to torture their characters. Tell us the truth. Do you enjoy or hate it?
Angie: I used to hate it. But now I really love it because I learned how it helps me and my readers to experience failure and success. I mean, without overcoming failure or fear, there really is no success. I like my characters to show that concept too. So I call my heroines the "Grace Under Pressure" kind of gals. I like showing women overcoming fears, obstacles, and people that try to hold them back.

Rebekah: Who’s your number one fictional character crush OR favorite fictional couple?
Angie: I love Leota from Francine Rivers Leota's Garden. I identify with her so much because she had to work while raising her kids. There's more, but it's personal J For the favorite male character, I think it's Rhett Butler ;) I love how his character arc brings him around to adoring his daughter and how much he loved Scarlett even though she couldn't realize she loved him too.

Rebekah: What’s one thing readers would be surprised to know about you?
Angie: As a writer, I think it would surprise readers to learn I have the Grace Under Pressure Radio show. But I hope readers will come listen on iTunes. I was surprised, by friends and readers, when I asked if I did a podcast, what would people want to learn from me. When the answer came back that people wanted to learn how to be gracious in stressful situations, I was really stunned. I didn't see myself that way. But it was overwhelming in response.

So I went on a quest to find out why that was such a unanimous topic. I spent over a year really listening, asking questions, and discovering what and why others saw that in me when I didn't even know. I asked for a few words to help describe what they meant. Those words turned out to be: confidence, courageous, genuine, candor (meaning genuine honesty), and a phrase that summed it up, "velvet gloves in hard situations". The Grace Under Pressure Radio show, and soon to be book, came from that journey. I learned to embrace the essence of who I am and I want to help others do the same. I'm still surprised by the outcome, but I am also very honored and grateful that others took the time to help me dig deep.

Also, I've done a ton of research on religions and the various forms of belief that are called atheism, agnosticism, etc. I think people would be extremely surprised to learn how much I know about not only world religions but also denominations within Christianity. I'm certainly not a degreed scholar, but I have spent a lot of time learning about beliefs and doctrine for my personal questions so I can discuss it widely and knowledgably.

Rebekah: Angie’s latest book release, Eleven Pipers Piping, a 1890 Montana historical is available now!

What would you do if you were given eleven rowdy street newsies and told either you turn them into model citizens or they get sold into indenture or sent to the military? Eleven Pipers Piping is the story of a sweet music teacher and eleven boys given one chance or else! Evan Russell lost everything—his ranch, his wife, and now after trusting relatives with his young son, even the little boy is missing. How can a beautiful symphony

of the heart come from such chaos?