Marvelous Monday: Interview With the Author

Don't get excited. The interview is just me. I'm the interviewer and the interviewee. I'm so excited about the upcoming release of book #6 in my McKenna's Haven series, Delaney's Peace, that I thought I'd answer some questions. Questions you may or may not have asked. That's the beauty of a blog: I get to write what I want. ;-)

Some of these questions are based on emails I've received. Others are based on reviews. Still others come from questions I get asked on a fairly regular basis. So here goes.

How do you come up with your stories?
That's a really good question, and one that's not always easy to answer. As a writer, there are always stories going on in my head. Even while I was working on DP, I wrote a novella, You Were Always There, two short stories, and edited several other previously published works. But the whole time I was doing this, I jotted down notes for FOUR other stories. I don't know yet whether they'll be books, novellas or short stories. Only time will tell. So to answer the question, I'm not sure. The stories are always there.

Why is there so much praying in your books?
This has come up in more than a few reviews, and it always saddens me. I can't imagine not having that avenue of prayer. I mean, think about that for a minute. I assume most of my readers believe in God, so just let sink in the fact that He listens to what we have to say. God. Creator of the universe. He listens to me. He loves me and wants what's best for me, and He answers my prayers. Why wouldn't I want to include that in my books? Why wouldn't I want to reinforce that with some reader out there who may be experiencing doubt or discouragement? I believe God gave me this talent, and I need to use it for His glory, not mine.

Wow, there are some pretty steamy kisses in your books. Do you think that's appropriate for Christian romance?
Absolutely. I've blogged before about the fact that God is the one who made us as sexual beings. However--and this is important--He also expects us to enjoy that relationship in the proper bounds: marriage between one man and one woman.

When I write those kissing scenes, there is always a reason. I don't just throw them in to titillate my readers. Most of the time, those kisses are as big a surprise to my characters and me as they are to you, my reader. But in nearly every case, it's a single kiss. It's not extended 'making out' as one reviewer complained. And in nearly every case, following the kiss is an attempt by my characters to place themselves in another setting, a setting where they won't be tempted. You remember that old bumper sticker that says, "Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven," right? Well, in my mind I keep hearing, Christians aren't perfect, just prudent. Christians (at least my characters) feel the same sexual desires as anyone, they just don't place themselves directly in the path of temptation. And that's precisely why I write those steamy kisses. To show that a person can desire the man/woman they love without getting carried away until the time is right (after 'I do').

So those are my questions for today. Y'all know how I am. I may or may not blog tomorrow and answer more questions. If you have any questions, please ask them in a comment below, or on Facebook, and I'll answer them. I'm more excited than I can say about the release of Delaney's Peace. My hope and prayer is that it will be published on Friday, so who knows what I might blog this week?

Hope you enjoyed my little interview (wait, would this be considered talking to myself?), and that you'll have a Marvelous Monday.