Suzanne Woods Fisher's Blog, page 31

Author Spotlight with Melody Carlson

Scroll down for a chance to win a copy of Melody Carlson’s book, Under a Summer Sky. Winner will be announced in the next Author Spotlight feature. Congratulations to last week’s winner of Naomi’s Hope, Sherri Horn Myers! Please e-mail your mailing address to my assistant Christen (christenkrumm@gmail.com).

What part of the country do you consider home?

I live in Oregon, but not the rainy side where most of Oregon’s population resides. We live on the dry side (well, except for the 60 inches of snow we got last winter!). We’re next to the mountains, surrounded by pine trees, mountain lakes and various forms of wildlife. It’s a highly recreational area, where people come to camp, boat, hike, ski . . . and so on. I feel very blessed to live here!

Currently, how big (or small) is your household?

Our ‘household’ primarily includes my husband (of 39 years) my yellow Labrador retriever Audrey and me. Although we’re known to take in various family members from time to time—like our granddaughter who resides here for much of the summer. Also, one of our son’s lives on our property.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

I love traveling and ‘camping’ in our motor home, which thanks to a building project, we haven’t been doing nearly enough of late. I also enjoy gardening and home décor projects, as well as less energetic activities as simple as taking a walk or reading a good book.

Is there any habit or hobby you have that might surprise readers?

I’ve been a fan of ‘glamping’ (comfortable/glamorous camping) for some time and recently bought an old 1963 camping trailer that I’ve been fixing up with the intention of reselling. It’s cute as can be—but a lot of work. I’ve finished the interior (in 1960’s shades of turquoise and burnt orange) and am about to attack the exterior. I wouldn’t mind turning this into a regular hobby, but I’ll see how this one goes first.

You’ve just turned in your manuscript, and your editor won’t return it with revisions for at least a week or two. Where would you go for a vacation?

I would love to visit all the national parks in our beautiful country—in our motor home. We’ve been to a few (Yellowstone, Grand Canyon etc.) but we still have a lot on our bucket list. So taking two weeks to visit, say, Glacier National Park, sounds good to me!

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?

The truth is I’m not a huge ice cream fan (that would be my husband!) but I do like mocha-almond-fudge!

Are you a dog or a cat person? What does that tell us about you?

I think I’m split on that one. Depending on the animal, I like either one. We had an easy-going, independent and intelligent Maine Coon cat that I adored. But our laid-back lab Audrey is definitely a delight. I’m not a fan of yippy little dogs or entitled high-maintenance cats. What it tells you is that I rarely fall into a single category—I’m both left and right brained.

What was your favorite childhood book? What made it so beloved?

The Velveteen Rabbit stands out because it was the first book that wasn’t just a ‘picture’ book that I read from cover to cover. I was about seven at the time and I read it in the school library and cried at the end (which was embarrassing). But I still love that story!

How many unfinished book ideas or manuscripts do you currently have?

Oh, my—I have no idea. I’m sure there are dozens in my ‘idea’ file. As far as unfinished work that is in the works for publication, it’s probably five or six.

What’s your favorite movie? Favorite TV show?

Hmm, that really depends on my mood. I love old films (I’m a big Turner Classic Movies fan) but it’s hard to name a ‘favorite.’ One that comes to mind is The Women. Partly because it’s so cleverly done (filmed in 1939—with an all female cast) but I could list bunches of other movies that I love as much. I’m not a big TV show viewer these days (although I like HGTV’s Fixer Upper) but as far a dramatic show, I really enjoyed BBC’s Doc Martin and wish that series had never ended.

If you were casting yourself in a movie, which actor or actress would you pick? Why?

Well, since this is such a hypothetical question, I’ll pick someone who’s no longer available. How about Audrey Hepburn? Now if only I looked like her! LOL.

Purchase a copy of Under a Summer Sky here:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | CBD.com | MelodyCarlson.com

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books with sales of more than five million. She is the author of several Christmas books from Revell, including the bestselling The Christmas Bus, The Christmas Dog, and Christmas at Harrington’s, which is being considered for a TV movie. She is also the author of many teen books, including Just Another Girl, Anything but Normal, Double Take, and the Life at Kingston High series. She is the winner of a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series and Finding Alice. Melody and her husband live in Oregon.

Website | Facebook

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Friday Caption Photo Contest: Waiting for your Wit

Winner of last week’s photo caption contest was Verna Vagle, with her, “Your books are very mooooooving.”

Verna, email me with your mailing address and I’ll send you a signed book. And to everyone else…I love reading your comments! They make me laugh out loud. Oh, the things you all think up!

Here’s this week’s photo…just waiting for your caption.

Author Spotlight with Jan Drexler

Scroll down for a chance to win a copy of Jan Drexler’s book, Naomi’s Hope. Winner will be announced in the next Author Spotlight feature. Congratulations to last week’s winner of Friends, Partners, & Lovers, Darlene Holley!

Please e-mail your mailing address to my assistant Christen (christenkrumm@gmail.com).

Despite growing pains in her 1846 Amish community in Indiana, Naomi Schrock has settled into a comfortable life in her parents’ home with her adopted son, Davey. Surrounded by family and friends, she tries not to think about the fact that she’s not at the top of any man’s list of potential wives. Yet when Cap Stoltzfus moves into the area and befriends Davey, Naomi finds herself caught between the plans she has made for her future and the tantalizing thought that Cap might be part of a life she never dared to hope for.

When a couple shows up claiming to be Davey’s true family, Naomi and Cap must unite to make the decision that will determine the boy’s future as well as their own. How can she relinquish him to these unknown relatives? And can God somehow bring wholeness to her heart?

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I live in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota, along with my husband of thirty-five years. Our four grown children also live in the area, and two of them have added spouses to our family in the last year. I guess you could say our family is growing by leaps and bounds! On weekends when the weather is good, you’re likely to find me on a hiking trail in the Hills. Otherwise, I spend my free time with a needle in my hand – knitting, counted cross stitch, smocking, and quilting are all hobbies I love.

Do you have a day job as well? If so, what is it?

I am blessed to be a full-time writer, and I never take that privilege for granted.

When did you start writing your first book?

I started writing later in life – I wrote my first book 2011, and it was published in 2013 when I was 55. I take comfort in the fact that I’m in good company, along with writers like Laura Ingalls Wilder.

How did you choose the genre you write in? Or did the genre choose you? Please explain.

My genre (historical Amish stories) chose me. I enjoy reading Amish fiction, but at the time I started writing, none of the stories I read told about the Amish communities I was familiar with in Northern Indiana. At the same time, I was researching my family’s genealogy, and discovering the details of my Amish ancestor’s lives. The two interests merged into stories that had to be told.

Does writing energize you or exhaust you?

The first draft of a book is exhausting. Sometimes I would rather do anything other than sit at my computer and write! But the revision process and editing energizes me. I love watching the story emerge from that first awful copy.

Do you believe in writer’s block?

Yes and no. I often have times when I seem to hit a wall, and you could call that writer’s block. But I know that if I give it time, the story will start to flow again. Most of the time when I hit that wall, I’m stuck because I’m not sure how the next scene is going to look. That’s when I walk the dogs, or do some household chore, or make lunch. Usually by the time I get back to my computer, I can see the scene in my head and start writing again.

Do you create an outline before you begin? Do you have the end in mind, or do you just wait and see where the story takes you?

I spend a week or two plotting my story before I begin to write. I don’t outline, but I do have between twenty and thirty plot points that I write down as a road map to show where I want the story to go.

What kind of research do you do? How long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

I love doing research for my books, and I’m often in danger of getting lost in the details! I have a collection of books about Amish history. Most of them are written by Mennonite or Brethren authors, but I make sure to hunt out books by Amish authors when I can find them. When I’m working on a particular book, I also do a lot of reading to learn about the world my Amish characters are living in. In my research for Naomi’s Hope, I read a fascinating history of Elkhart County, Indiana that was written in the early-1900’s by a man who had spent his life interviewing the early settlers from the area.

The research for my books takes me months. I start reading when the new story is just a vapor of an idea, and continue the research throughout the writing of the book. For a series, I can easily spend a couple years buried in the past through my research materials!

Are you part of a community of authors? If so, how has it helped you?

I’m a frequent visitor and sometime contributor to the Seekerville blog, and I’m indebted to the Seekers for holding my hand through the writing and publication of my first book. I’m also a member of ACFW and RWA, and we have a local chapter of ACFW in the Dakotas. Writing is a solitary occupation, so the on-line and in person contact with other writers is refreshing and helps me keep my perspective on the end results rather than today’s word counts.

Friday’s Photo Caption Contest: Waiting for your Wit

I owe you all an apology! I was out of town for the Memorial Day weekend and completely forgot to set up a Friday post last week! Entirely my fault. As a small way to make it up to you…I’ll pick two winners from last week. They were that good! Linda Goad and Nyla Kay Wilkerson, email me with your mailing addresses and I’ll send you a signed book.

Here’s this week’s photo…can’t wait to see what you come up with for a caption! Oh, that face…it just says so much.

Author Spotlight with Kevin Thompson

Scroll down for a chance to win a copy of Kevin A. Thompson’s book, Friends, Partners, and Lovers. Winner will be announced in the next Author Spotlight feature. Congratulations to last week’s winner of The Con Man’s Daughter, Virginia Hildreth!

Please e-mail your mailing address to my assistant Christen (christenkrumm@gmail.com).

Great marriages don’t just happen—they’re made, intentionally, day by day. Yet most of us enter the covenant of marriage thinking that the role of spouse will be easy, natural, effortless. Rarely is this true. In fact, the number one cause of divorce isn’t adultery or finances or disagreements. It’s apathy—a lack of intentional emotional, physical, and mental investment in the relationship.

With engaging stories and clear, simple language, pastor Kevin A. Thompson explains the three critical roles of a spouse—friend, partner, and lover—and shows how to nurture those roles in order to keep a marriage healthy and strong. Using solid biblical principles, he helps couples understand how to grow their friendship, be a supportive partner through the good times and the bad, and develop a healthy and satisfying sex life.

Friends, Partners, and Lovers offers essential insight for couples at any stage of marriage but will be especially helpful to those who are struggling and those who are engaged or newly married and looking to start their marriage on strong footing.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m a pastor living in Western Arkansas. My wife owns an Advertising company and we have two children. While I love to write, I consider it a secondary venture to public speaking. The pastorate is the perfect profession for a writer. Few people are invited into the best and worst days of people’s lives. A pastor is one of those few people. Nearly every day I talk to people with what they assume to be a very unique situation. Of course, they are struggling with and saying the same thing as everyone else. This provides great insight into what are the needs of people.

When did you start writing your first book?

My first book, You Turn: when the nearest exit may be behind you, was self-published. It was a compilation of blog posts. In 2013, I began writing at kevinathompson.com. Over the previous decade, I had gotten away from consistent writing. Wanting to write a book and return to the habit of daily writing, I started the blog. It not only created a good amount of content for a book(s), it also created an audience which started asking for a book.

Can you tell us about your newest release?

Friends, Partners, and Lovers is my attempt to narrow down the job description of a spouse to the simplest forms. I regularly interact with engaged couples headed for marriage, the book helps me explain what they are vowing to do. At the same time, I spend a good amount of each week meeting with couples whose relationships are struggling. Over time, I kept seeing a pattern where most struggles could fit into one of three major categories.

Healthy marriages exist when couples are able to form strong friendships, partnerships, and a close intimacy. As friends, we promise to always be by each other’s side. As partners, we vow to always have each other’s back. As lovers, we fully see one another flaws and all while maintaining a deep affection for each other. If a couple can consistently do those three things, their marriage will be strong. When problems arise, they most often result as a breakdown of one of these characteristics.

Does writing energize you or exhaust you?

Writing is both energizing and exhausting to me. I love how writing forces me to think. I often say that I don’t truly know what I think about a topic until I write about it. Rarely do I feel as though I’ve had a successful day unless I’ve written 750-1000 words. At the same time, writing is exhausting. You expend so much energy without any physical movement. It feels like all the work of exercise without any of the benefits.

What did you (or your editors) edit out of this book?

The three elements—friendship, partnership, and intimacy—so intermingle that a problem in one area causes trouble in another area. When a man isn’t carrying his weight as a partner, he probably experiences the consequences in the bedroom. When a husband and wife struggle with intimacy, it can begin to erode their friendship. In the editing process, we worked hard on showing the interconnectedness without repeating issues.

What part of the country do you consider home?

I still live in my hometown. Apart from college and graduate school, I’ve lived in Fort Smith, Arkansas my whole life. It’s the perfect town to raise a family. It’s fascinating to pastor in my hometown. The city is big enough to have a diverse group of people, but small enough to where everyone is connected somehow.

Currently, how big (or small) is your household?

My wife and I have two children, Ella who is 11 and Silas who is 9. My mom lives next door so there is a good amount of interaction back and forth. My daughter has Down syndrome which adds a unique element to our house.

You’ve just turned in your manuscript, and your editor won’t return it with revisions for at least a week or two. Where would you go for a vacation?

I love Maui. While my phone still works, there is little I can do to help whomever is calling. Whenever we go, we rent a house that has an amazing view. I love to sit on the porch with a good book and just relax.

My wife prefers the mountains. Her favorite place is Glacier National Park.

Are you a dog or a cat person? What does that tell us about you?

I never have understood cats. I always feel as though they are judging me. Give me a dog any day. We have a German shepherd named Ruby. She’s smart, loyal, and just scary enough to keep outsiders at a distance. Not sure what they says about me.

What’s your favorite movie? Favorite TV show?

I don’t watch much TV apart from sports or news. As a family, we like Shark Tank. I love my kids watching other people develop ideas/products that can solve common problems and make money.

If you were casting yourself in a movie, which actor or actress would you pick? Why?

That depends on if my wife is playing herself or if she has an actress portraying her. Ha. If it’s an actress, I’d probably go Tom Hanks because he can play every man. If Jenny is playing herself, I’d probably go without whatever actor she prefers.

Thank you for spending time on my blog today!

Purchase a copy of Friends, Partners, Lovers here:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | CBD.com | KevinThompson.com

Kevin A. Thompson (MDiv, Beeson Divinity School) is lead pastor at Community Bible Church, a growing multi-site church with four locations in western Arkansas. Every year he meets with nearly one hundred couples with a range of needs, from pre-marital counseling to navigating the most serious betrayals. A marriage and parenting conference speaker, he and his wife, Jenny, have two children and live in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

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Author Spotlight with Candice Curry

Scroll down for a chance to win a copy of Candice Curry’s debut, The Con Man’s Daughter. Winner will be announced in the next Author Spotlight feature. Congratulations to last week’s winner of What Hope Remembers, Nancy Rothschild Bird!

Please e-mail your mailing address to my assistant Christen (christenkrumm@gmail.com).

When Candice Curry was a little girl, she put her hand in her father’s back pocket so that she wouldn’t get lost in large crowds. Little did she know that as she followed him, he was plying his trade: conning people. Her family drove stolen cars, lived in stolen houses, and shopped with stolen credit cards. Drug use was regular, as were visits from strange people who were trying to track her father down. Though she eventually cut ties with her father, Candice could not ignore the scars that were left from her childhood.

The Con Man’s Daughter is her story, one steeped in secrets but one that, ultimately, led her to a place of forgiveness and freedom. As she struggles to understand her criminal father, as well as her own imperfect life, Candice comes to realize that we are not defined by our circumstances but rather by how we react to those circumstances. She’s found peace in the knowledge that God doesn’t love us because we’re perfect—but because he is.

Author Spotlight with Candice Curry

What part of the country do you consider home?



I am a born and raised Texas girl with deep roots. I’m still in the same city where I grew up and my kids attend the same schools I attended. I can’t imagine living anywhere else, not that somewhere else wouldn’t be beautiful, it just wouldn’t be Texas. Please come visit so I can take you to eat the best Tex Mex food and show you the best swimming holes.

Currently, how big (or small) is your household?



We are a family of 7. My husband and I have four daughters and one son living in our home and if we could we would add a dozen more. I love the sweet chaos and constant giggles. We don’t live in a huge home so we are constantly interacting with each other and I feel like it has made us a more patient and close family. Down side is that the washing machine and drying never ever stop running.

What do you do when you’re not writing?



Laundry or dishes. Kidding, sort of. I’m usually doing all things mom, but my husband and I sneak away for date night at least once a week. As family, we spend a ton of time outside by the pool or begging our garden to grow. I do speak to groups like MOPS when I can and help my ten-year-old daughter run her ministry that provides essentials to our homeless community. I try my hardest to make it up to my teenage daughter’s school at least once a month, find her car in the parking lot, video myself dancing in front of her car, then Snapchat it to her while she’s in class. It totally freaks her out.

Is there any habit or hobby you have that might surprise readers?



I drive with my left leg propped up on the car door. It’s a terrible habit that my husband hates.

I stamp old keys for fun and make them into necklaces or keychains. I spend a lot of time in my office making key necklaces. It’s kind of a form of therapy for me.

I think my friends are surprised when the find out that I make my own kitchen and bathroom cleaners as well as my own room spray (to get the kids stink out). I also make my own walnut butter, salad dressing, and bug spray. My next self-making mission is to make my own hand soap.

You’ve just turned in your manuscript, and your editor won’t return it with revisions for at least a week or two. Where would you go for a vacation?



A small cabin nestles quietly on a Texas river. I love to get waist deep in Texas rivers and hang out with my kids. We have rock skipping contests until our arms are about to fall off. There is nothing like a packing the cooler full of snacks and hanging out on the river’s edge. There has to be a BBQ pit and something to make coffee in, other than that we just need the river!

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?



Coffee…wait, it might be pistachio. Nope, it’s cookie dough, unless they have birthday cake then it’s definitely birthday cake. MMMM, now I want ice cream.

Are you a dog or a cat person? What does that tell us about you?



Neither. It probably tells you that I’m a terrible human but I swear I’m totally average. I grew up with great danes so there was period in my life when I was fine with a dog living with me. Now I have plenty of mouths to feed and people to clean up after, I don’t need to add another. But here’s a secret. Last year I let my kids adopt a dog, a huge dog. He was 10 years old, house trained and super lazy. I felt like we were one. He’s now obsessed with me and follows me around the house constantly!

What was your favorite childhood book? What made it so beloved?



Where the Side Walk Ends. My best friend had it at her house and I was in love with it. I loved that I could pick it up and read a short poem. I loved that it was clever and sweet. I loved that it was my best friend’s. I was always jealous that she had it, I wanted one at my house. I have no idea why I just didn’t ask my parents to buy me one.

How many unfinished book ideas or manuscripts do you currently have?



Not counting the ones I write in my head when I wake up in the middle of the night with my mind racing, two. I have two. I plan on writing a co-parenting/parenting book and to continue the story from my recently published book, The Con Man’s Daughter. Since The Con Man’s Daughter is so deep and emotional, I want to write something a little more light hearted and fun. I hope that’s what I can do with the parenting book.

What’s your favorite movie? Favorite TV show?



Modern Family is the greatest show ever. Every single character on that show is the hilarious and well written. It’s one of those shows that I feel my family is an extension of. We record all the episodes and rewatch them over and over. Dang it, did I just make my family sounds crazy? That’s another habit of mine.

If you were casting yourself in a movie, which actor or actress would you pick? Why?



Pink. She’s my spiritual animal.

Thank you for spending time on my blog today! Where can readers find you online?

Blog | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Purchase your copy of The Con Man’s Daughter Here:

Amazon | CBD | Barnes and Noble | Baker Publishing Group

Candice Curry spent years working in sales doing what she felt she had to instead of what she wanted to. Then she put her faith in God and gave it all up to share her story through writing. The daughter of a con man and convicted criminal, Candice started a blog as a form of therapy, which has grown into a worldwide ministry and landed her on TODAY and Good Morning America. A speaker and a contributor to The Huffington Post, Today.com, and several other sites, Candice has a passion to give hope to those suffering the pain of rejection, the burden of unforgiveness, and the emptiness of great loss. Candice and her husband, Brandon, have five children and recently welcomed her sixteen-year-old sister into their home. They live in San Antonio, Texas, in the former home of her childhood best friend.

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Friday Photo Caption Contest: Waiting for your Wit

Winner of last week’s photo caption contest was Loretta M.: “I can’t believe I’m doing this.” Loretta, email me with your mailing address and I’ll send you a signed book. And to everyone else…I love reading your comments! It’s always hard to choose just one because they’re all good.

Here’s this week’s photo…waiting for your caption. It’s a pix of one of my Guide Dogs for the Blind puppies. Silly pup.

New Chance to Win!

BookSweeps is at it again! Until June 12th you have a chance to win 100+ titles as well as a 20 bookstore gift cards, PLUS a Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet!!

You could win a copy of my book, The Quieting and more contemporary romance titles!

Enter the giveaway by clicking here: bit.ly/inspy-azbb-may17

Author Spotlight with Johnnie Alexander

 Scroll down for a chance to win a copy of Johnnie Alexander’s newest book, What Hope Remembers. Winner will be announced in the next Author Spotlight feature. Congratulations to last week’s winner of Trusting Grace, Pam Kellogg!

Award-Winning Author Weaves Story of Grace, Hope, and Heart-Gripping Romance

“Fresh, flirty, and fast-paced, When Love Arrives is an engaging story that will have readers falling in love with the characters as they navigate the tricky waters between romance and revenge.” —Fresh Fiction on When Love Arrives, book two of the Misty Willow series

Amy Somers didn’t exactly leave Misty Willow on the best of terms. Bridges were burned and mistakes were made. But when Amy loses her job as a lobbyist, the only option she has is to return to the place where she faces regret and heartache. She can hardly believe happiness will find her, especially when she sees her old fling ride back into her life atop a buckskin mare.

A former Marine, Gabe Kendall, was Amy’s first crush and first kiss. Now he finds himself in Misty Willow once again after serving a prison sentence for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s easy for Gabe to see through Amy’s hard exterior, and he longs to open the heart of the woman he once knew and loved. But saddled with the shame of his past and fear of the future, Gabe has a hard time seeing the path ahead.

Despite the hardships that seem to keep Amy and Gabe from remembering hope, the memory of that long-ago kiss might just be the spark that starts the flame of romance.

Purchase your copy of What Hope Remembers here: Amazon | CBD | Barnes and Noble | Revell

Johnnie Alexander is the award-winning author of Where Treasure Hides and Where She Belongs. She is an accomplished essayist and poet whose work has appeared in the Guideposts anthology A Cup of Christmas Cheer. In addition to writing, Johnnie enjoys reading, spending time with her grandchildren, and taking road trips. She lives near Memphis, Tennessee.

website | Twitter | Facebook

 

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Friday Photo Caption Contest

Winner of last week’s photo caption contest was Eric: “Tea and leeches, anyone?” Eric, email me with your mailing address and I’ll send you a signed book. And to everyone else…you did great! So clever. Hard to pick a winner!

Here’s this week’s photo–it’s taken inside an Amish schoolhouse. I had spent the morning observing a teacher and her class. (FYI: I had permission to take pix.) So caption away!

 

Winner of this week’s caption contest will be announced next Friday, so come back to see if you’ve won!