Our own Penny Frost McGinnis Releases New Book!

Check the gift register stat, because we are welcoming yet another new book baby from our own Penny Frost McGinnis!

 OH! And don't 

miss the BOOK GIVEAWAY!

PT: Oh, Penny! We are all thrilled to welcome in your new addition Home Away from Home. So, tell the readers how you came to write and why you write in your chosen genre.

PFM: Over 25 years ago, I set a goal to write for publication. Along the way, I had a few poems and articles published. I intended to write for children, but God nudged me toward women’s fiction and eventually romance. I learned how to write that genre from conferences, classes, reading inspirational fiction, and how-to books. As I continued to work a full-time job, I honed my skills and started a blog. After I retired, my coworker encouraged me to finish my novel and seek publication.

PT: Many writers have a message they want to convey overall to their readers. What do you want to tell readers through your writing?

PFM: My goal in writing is to share the hope I have in Jesus. When God called me to write, I knew I needed to inject positivity into a negative world. By shining His light, I’m able to spread the joy and hope I’ve found in a relationship with God, and there’s nothing more hopeful than Jesus’ love.

PT: What a great goal to have. How did you come up with the idea for your newest release Home Away from Home?

Book blurb: Home Away from Home

When Marigold Hayes turned fourteen, her mother died, and her father went missing. For forty years, she has searched for her dad and lived a quiet life on Abbott Island, until she met Johnny. As her love for Johnny grows, her sorrow from the relentless search for her father breaks her heart. She begs God to help her move forward with her life before she has no love left to give. Then three mysterious strangers show up who could change her life.

Johnny Papadakis moved to Abbott Island ten years ago. His ex-wife had pushed him away and discouraged him from having a relationship with their daughter. After years of hard work, his restaurant flourishes, so does his relationship with Marigold. As he seeks Marigold's hand in marriage, his daughter shows up on his doorstep, looking for a place to call home.

Can Marigold and Johnny settle the past and move toward the promise of a blessed future?

PFM: Marigold, the main character, appeared in book #1 as a strong, independent woman who ran her own business, and loved her friends well. Since she is 54, I wondered what made her move to an island at 18 and live alone all those years. Her character is influenced by a woman my husband and I met briefly, who ran a kayak business. As an older adult, I knew Marigold carried baggage, lived life, and learned lessons. The story works through loss and grief in a different sense. I can only say, God inspired me to place Marigold in a situation where her father had been missing for many years and she needs to either find him or let go.

Johnny is a great balance for Marigold. He’s had loss in another way and wants to reconcile with his daughter. In the meantime, he hopes he and Marigold will have a happy ending.

PT: I love the name Marigold. I’m a sucker for cute, unusual names. Now, this is a second in the series Abbott Island. Do readers need to read your first release, Home Where She Belongs, or do the books stand alone?

PFM: Readers can read the book as a stand-alone, but I’d love for you to read Home Where She Belongs, too.

PT: Does Home Away from Home have a spiritual thread or is it based on a Bible verse?

PFM: The scripture I chose for Home Away from Home is Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Marigold’s story is all about hope and this verse shores her up when she faces some tough decisions. This is also one of my top ten verses that inspires me. I use it as the theme for my blog, Hope for Today’s Heart.

PT: Give us a peek into how your writing day goes.

PFM: Since I’m retired, I try to write at least 3-5 hours. I eat breakfast, then sip my coffee while I check email, then glance through social media. Once I’ve settled in, I work on something associated with my writing, write or edit the book I’m working on, or create devotions for my blog. I usually have breaks with Rosie May and tea in the afternoon. I’m a slow writer, and I edit my writing several times.

PT: Share with the reader the best thing you enjoy about writing and worst thing you hate about writing.

PFM: I’m thankful to have the opportunity to write. I enjoy the prewriting, research, and sketching out characters and their lives and love to create the setting. I don’t enjoy the final fine-tooth combing at the end where I’m trying to find any errors that may have been missed. It makes me fall asleep 😉.

PT: Do you enjoy any hobbies along the way?

PFM: Probably too many. I’ve been embroidering since I was five and recently started again. I enjoy wool felting, crocheting, paper arts, and growing flowers and herbs in my tiny garden, and of course reading. My husband and I have a golden retriever named after Rosie in Home Where She Belongs and we enjoy spending time with our kids and grands (not sure that’s a hobby 😊 but it’s fun.)

PT: Now for my fav! It's time for my:

(Photo credit: Joe Caione/Unsplash)

about Penny Frost McGinnis that have nothing to do with writing:

PFM:

1. I’m fascinated by God’s creation.
2. Dark chocolate is the best.
3. I enjoy growing lavender.
4. Winter is my favorite season.
5. I’m a Cincinnati Reds fan!

Dedicated Reds Fans!

PT: What’s next for the Abbott Island Series? Another book or a new direction all together?

PFM: I’m currently writing a Christmas novella, set on Abbott Island, that will be part of a collection of Christmas stories set in Ohio, and I’ll be writing Lucy’s story as book #3 in the Abbott Island Series. With her sparkling personality, she’ll be fun to write.

PT: A Christmas Novella! That sounds like a great direction, and I’m sure everyone can’t wait until the next Abbott Island series debuts.

PFM: Thank you for interviewing me, Peggy.

PT: And thanks for sharing your little bundle of joy with us! As always, you can learn more about Penny at her links:

Website/Blog: https://www.pennyfrostmcginnis.com/

Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/PennyFrostMcGinnisAuthor

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/penny-frost-mcginnis

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22233131.Penny_Frost_McGinnis

Oh, and about that BOOK GIVEAWAY...

leave your name on our contact form or 

leave a comment with your email to be entered to win an EBook copy of Penny Frost McGinnis's Home Away from Home!

Penny Frost McGinnis, author of Home Where She Belongs and Home Away from Home, books #1 and #2 of the Abbott Island series, would live in a lighthouse or on an island if she could. Instead, she and her husband are content to live in southwest Ohio and visit Lake Erie every chance they get. She adores her family and dog, indulges in dark chocolate, enjoys fiber arts, and baseball. She pens romance with a dash of mystery and the promise of hope. Her life's goal is to encourage and uplift through her writing. Visit her blog at Hope for Today's Heart, where she brings God's hope to people's lives through the written word.

                        *************************************************************

I hope you enjoyed today's interview with Penny Frost McGinnis! Christian authors need your support. Consider checking out Penny's links, buy her books, join her newsletter, or write a review. Yes, it's that simple to keep your favorite author clicking away at those keys. And while you're checking out Penny's great books and links, please check out mine also @https://www.peggytrotter.com/. Join my newsletter for awesome giveaways and new releases!

       

         

Interview with Author Susan Mathis!!

 

Today we welcome author Susan Mathis to The Diamond Mine! She has a wonderful story to offer, and we get to take a closer look at it today! It's called Mary's Moment. Let's have a peek at it now:

Summer 1912

Thousand Island Park’s switchboard operator ​Mary Flynn is christened the community heroine for her quick action that saves dozens of homes from a terrible fire. Less than a month later, when another disastrous fire rages through the Park, Mary loses her memory as she risks her life in a neighbor's burning cottage. Will she remember the truth of who she is or be deceived by a treacherous scoundrel?

Widowed fireman George Flannigan is enamored by the brave raven-haired lass and takes every opportunity to connect with Mary. But he has hidden griefs of his own that cause him great heartache. When George can’t stop the destructive Columbian Hotel fire from eradicating more than a hundred businesses and homes, he is distraught. Yet George’s greater concern is Mary. Will she remember their budding relationship or be forever lost to him?       

WOW!! Sounds like a great story, Susan! Now it's time to get to know you better and ask you a few questions about you and your writing.

So, how did you get your idea for this story?

My mother, Mary, inspired this story.

When she was a young woman, she spent two summers serving her aunts in the Thousand Islands Park. Every summer she'd take me there for an ice cream at the Guzzle and tell me stories of her time in the Park. So, it was always my desire to write about it.

When I began researching and discovered the tragedy of the three 1912 fires that nearly destroyed the Park, I had my story, especially because my mom nearly lost her father in a barn fire when she was fourteen.

Researching is one of my favorite parts when writing historical novels.

What made you decide to be a writer?

I taught Language Arts to middle-schoolers for nine years, wrote curriculum for ACSI for five years, then became editor/editorial director at Focus on the Family for nearly a dozen years. So, I've had over 1,000 articles, etc, published. I guess I've always had that desire, but when I started writing fiction, I was hooked!

I know what you mean! What was your first story?

My debut novel, The Fabric of Hope:An Irish Family Legacy, is loosely based on my family story. I traveled to Ireland, Wolfe Island, and the St. Lawrence River for research and got to read it to my 94 year-old mother before she went to heaven.

How wonderful that you got to share that with her!

I'm curious: Do you write from an outline, or just from inspiration, or both?

Both. I develop a general outline, but often my characters have a mind of their own. I've even argued with them! Smiles.

I hear you on that!

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

All eleven of my Thousand Islands' stories have hope as the central theme. Hope for a better future. Hope for love. Hope for healing. Mary's Moment also focuses on healing broken hearts, forgiving those who hurt you, and embracing God's redemption.

Wonderful messages! Do your characters share any traits with you or someone you know?

Mary is my mom's name and has some of her characteristics. George is my father's name, whom I never met because he died three months before I was born.

I'm sorry your family had to go through that at such a time.

As writers, we become attached to the characters we create, Do your characters ever surprise you?

Goodness, my characters often surprise me, make me giggle, cause me to question their actions, and more. Hahaha.....

I bet that sounds weird to most people, but not to fiction writers! Do you have a favorite character in your books?

At the moment, Mary is my favorite. She's smart, feisty, strong, but grows in amazing ways.

What are you working on now?

A Summer at Thousand Island House is coming out July 25 with Wild Heart Books. It's part of their  Gilded Age series. Here is a bit about it:

She came to work with the children, not fall in love.

Part-nanny, part entertainer, Addison Bell has always had an enduring love for children. So what better way to spend her creative energy than to spend the summer nannying at the renowned Thousand Island House on Staple's Island? As Addi thrives in her work, she attracts the attention of the recreation pavilion's manager, Liam Donovan, as well as the handsome Navy Officer Lt. Worthington, a lighthouse inspector, hotel patron, and single father of mischievous little Jimmy.

But when Jimmy goes missing, Addi finds both her job and her reputation in danger. How can she calm the churning waters of Liam, Lt. Worthington, and the President, clear her name, and avoid becoming the scorn of the Thousand Islands community?

Sounds like another great read! 

Thank you so much for visiting The Diamond Mine, Susan! It's been fun.

Now readers, here is a bit more about Susan, along with her social links.

Susan G Mathis is an international award-winning, multi-published author of stories set in the beautiful Thousand Islands, her childhood stomping ground in upstate NY. Susan has been published more than twenty-five times in full-length novels, novellas, and non-fiction books. She has ten in her fiction line including, The Fabric of Hope, Christmas Charity, Katelyn’s Choice, Devyn’s Dilemma, Peyton’s Promise, Sara’s Surprise, Reagan’s Reward, Colleen’s Confession, Rachel’s Reunion, and Mary’s Moment. Her book awards include two Illumination Book Awards, three American Fiction Awards, two Indie Excellence Book Awards, and four Literary Titan Book Awards. Reagan’s Reward is a Selah Awards finalist. Susan is also a published author of two premarital books, two children’s picture books, stories in a dozen compilations, and hundreds of published articles. Susan makes her home in Colorado Springs and enjoys traveling around the world but returns each summer to enjoy the Thousand Islands. 

 

Visit www.SusanGMathis.com/fiction for more.

Buy links: Amazon | Barnes&Nobles | Walmart

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm3oK-79Rdo 

Social media links: Website |Author Central |  Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Blog | Goodreads