Q&A with Mary Connealy

Q&A

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc (July 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1602601429
• ISBN-13: 978-1602601420
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.9 inches

Is the Montana Marriage Series for those who loved the Lassoed in Texas Series?

Yes, more romantic comedy with cowboys. I'm being branded by Barbour, and dagnabbit, they really used a red hot iron. I had no idea until the lasso settled around my neck!

What is your favorite scene from Montana Rose? The Husband Tree? Wildflower Bride?

Montana Rose: My favorite scene is, I think when Cassie gets dragged by the horse, Buck, who has never forgiven her for spooking him the first day she came to live at the ranch.
She's trying to hide this fact from Red and when he sees her face all scratched up he goes ballistic. And Cassie doesn't want him to take all her chores away, she wants to help. Then, when he's in full blow rage, he gets real close to her and says, "Say it, Cass honey. Say that awful mean name you're thinking about me right now."
He's trying to get her to stand up for herself and fight back, but she's so obedient she just can't. But oh, she comes so close.

The Husband Tree: The scene that comes to mind is the first night Silas is at Belle's ranch and he's eating at their table, with Belle and her four daughters, and the girls, who have only always just said anything they wanted, very anti-male, spout these dreadful things and Belle realizes how she's poisoned their minds. And Silas is terrified of what he's gotten into.

Wildflower Bride: My favorite scene there might be when Tom Linscott first meets the heroine, Glowing Sun, a white woman raised by an Indian tribe when they find her with all her family dead. Tom grabs her to get her away from his vicious horse and she pulls knocks him to the ground and puts a knife to his throat.
Tom looks at the hero and says, "Does she pull a knife on every man she meets?"
The hero thinks a minute then says, "So far."

How would you relate your writing experience and research to some Creative Madness?

I think there is a strangeness to a writer. It's not really a very NORMAL pastime to sit alone and make stuff up....for thousands of pages. It's like nuclear powered daydreaming. So creative madness might be a very fair way to describe it.

Tell us about your blog and participation in other blogs...
I've got three blogs.
Seekerville
Petticoats & Pistols
My Blog
I love them all madly and spend waaaay to much time on them.

What is something that you have never told anyone in an author interview?

Wow, I can't even think of anything. I'm such a blabber mouth. I tell every single thing I know, then I start making stuff up. I doubt I have a single secret.

What is the one thing that you want to leave readers of Montana Rose pondering over?

Well, tough question. The first thing that comes to mind is the whole concept of a wife being submissive, because I deal with that a lot in the story. But at the end of the book is a moment I really like where Cassie talks about how allowing her first husband to so totally dominate her was a sin. It was weakness. And of course she behaved perfectly at all times and the people she's talking to tell her it wasn't a sin. But she talks about how sin is sin. Turning away from her faith, letting her husband be cruel and calling it submission was weak and its own kind of sin. And she doesn't have to break a commandment to fail to be the best person she can be, to miss opportunities to live for God. And when she failed at that it was a sin, just enough of a sin to make her know she needs salvation, everybody does.

For those of us, who cannot wait for more from our dear Mary Connealy, please tell us about your next planned project...

I've got a CHRISTMAS ROMANCE. I just love Christmas novels and I'm so thrilled that Barbour is letting me write one. I comes out in September. YAY! Another western historical romantic comedy, not part of a series. But a lot of fun.

Cowboy Christmas

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Barbour Books (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1602601453
• ISBN-13: 978-1602601451

What can you tell us desperate for more about Cowboy Christmas?
Elijah Walker 's lost his father at the hands of a deceitful woman. The one thing he can't abide is lies.
Citified Annette Talbot is on the run from something and once she's home she's determined to stand and face danger. Hopefully, she can stand behind her tough Wyoming rancher father. It's easier to be brave with her pa's gun drawn.
Her father fails her but Elijah can't ignore a damsel in distress. But it doesn't take Elijah long to find out Annette is lying about something. Because he's powerfully drawn to the little liar, he turns his back on her, feeling contempt for her, and for himself.
Which leaves Annette her first perfect chance to stand up and face trouble bravely.
And that gets her into terrible trouble.
Annette nearly dies trying to escape that trouble. Walker can't help protecting her, especially since God pretty much dropped Annette straight into his unwilling arms.
But helping her isn't the same as trusting her, and that he will never do.
As Annette and Walker fight their attraction and danger draws near, Christmas approaches. The bickering twosome will get one special chance to heal old heartbreaks and follow their own star.

Who do you think your number one fan is if you had to name one?

You know it might be a cliche but I think it has to be my husband. He's really been so great and encouraging about my writing. I suspect it's because he's hoping I make a fortune and he's being nice so I'll share--but whatever his motives, he's a great fan.

• Mass Market Paperback: 480 pages I have a copy, and it's really TRADE not MMP!
  
• Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc (June 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1602604185
• ISBN-13: 978-1602604186
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1.1 inches

For people who have come to love your fiction set in the western historical environment, how do the adventures of Nosy in Nebraska differ? Will it attract the same or a different brand of readers?

About Nosy in Nebraska, I said Barbour Branded me (ouch!) and they did but I don't really think of myself as a historical western romantic comedy writer as I think of myself as a romantic comedy writer. So to go for the comedy in a contemporary cozy mystery isn't that big a leap...in my own fevered head. It may be for readers?

When you entered the world of writing, did you expect to write some cozy mysteries?

When I got my first book published I have 20 finished novels on my computer. That's 20 completely full length adult novels. I had children's books, middle grade books, poetry, plays. I don't count those in the twenty. I've written everything. Police procedurals, serial killers, sweet contemporary, suspenseful contemporary, gothic, just everything. So a cozy wasn't that scary but I did have to figure out what a cozy was. I really didn't quite understand it. And my editor told me that book two in Nosy in Nebraska isn't really a cozy, it's a suspense.

She told me too late to fix it though and she let it go through. Bless her HEART.

Why a mouse?

Two reasons for the mouse.
1) I'm terrified of them, so I could use that to make Carrie's mouse phobia real
2) I found out Algona, IA is the home of the world's largest Cheeto. It's true. Google it.
I thought, you know what? People will just use any excuse they can think of to hold a festival. So the mouse wasn't that much of a stretch.

Click on any of the cover images to go to buy/preorder a copy!!!

Christian Romance Fiction - interview

The other day I got a message from a grad student working a Master in Library Science who asked if I would participate in a survey since I appear to be fairly well read in the Christian Romance genre. After I giggled and felt elated and thrilled, I responded that I would be glad to. Going through all the questions, I realized that I had more to say than I thought I would so, I decided to post most of it here to share my responses in case of interest on any of my blog readers. That and I will email the post to specific authors who I think would benefit from reading it as well. *grin*

Here we go:

1. What age where you when you began to read for pleasure?
As long as I can remember I have been reading books. I remember in first grade, having it as a big accomplishment that I was in the advanced reading group. The first novel that stands out in my mind as addicting me to reading forever was The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi. Which in a way is rather funny, because I have never enjoyed any other titles from Avi. At that point I think I was about ten or twelve years old.

2. What were some of your favorite books as a child?
As a young child I loved books with animals or rhymes. My family has a set of Children’s Encyclopedias and I would pore over those for hours. Other specific books that I remember are various titles from Richard Scarry, Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, and dozens of titles from the Berenstain Bears. In later childhood, I enjoyed the Mandie Series from the late Lois Gladdys Leppard, some Boxcar Children, and the Baby-sitter’s Club Little Sister, as my older sisters were reading the Baby-sitter’s Club books. I also recall for a short time, I was enthralled with ghost mysteries such as The Dark Garden by Margaret Buffie.

3. What were some of your favorite books as a teenager?
The Mandie series was one that I got invested in later than I should have so I continued to read them into my teen years until I was able to collect the entire series. Even now I am excited as the publisher is reprinting the books five books at a time in omnibus editions. It was my teen years that I was in a program of higher classes that called for a lot of academic reading and severely cut down on my outside reading for fun. In school, I was reading things such as Walden Pond by Thoreau, As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner, Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons and others. I do remember on my own reading Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier and The Count of Monte Cristo, The Three Musketeers, The Knight of Maison-Rouge all by Alexandre Dumas. I guess it was also during this time that I started reading the Harry Potter series and then The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini. Although, I believe that Rowlings’ Harry Potter had been out for several years before I picked them up by my sisters’ and brother’s suggestions. Other books that I discovered during my late teen years were the beginning of my Christian Historical Romance genre addiction, which I will get to in the next question.

4. What age where you when you first began reading Christian romance?
Technically, I think that the Mandie Series could be could be counted as Christian Romance, but if not the next author and series that I discovered was Liz Curtis Higgs and her Scottish Christian Historical Romance Fiction Lowlands of Scotland series. Loosely based on the stories in the Bible of Jacob and Esau and then Rachel and Leah I decided to read these to get myself more interested in reading Bible stories for clarity and comprehension. Starting in 2003 with the first novel Thorn in My Heart, and then in 2004 with Fair is the Rose, I was extremely impatient and anxious for the next year when I could finally read Whence Came A Prince in 2005, and then in 2006 when I could read Grace in Thine Eyes. I am still impatient for Liz’ next series that will be one book now as things have changed in the editing phases that also pushed it back another year to be published March 2010 Here Burns My Candle. It was during my impatience for the following novel to come out that I had to find other books to fill in the void. So in a complete answer to the question, you could either say I was 12, or 17 years old when I first began reading Christian Romance.

5. Did you have a reason for first reading Christian romance? If so, what was it?
I picked up Liz’ books, because I have Scottish ancestry and the book looked intriguing. I continued with Christian Romance, because I needed to fill the void while waiting for Liz’ next book.

6. Do you recall the title, author, or story of the first Christian romance that you read?
Thorn in My Heart by Liz Curtis Higgs

7. How many books do you read per month on average? (Total number, not limited to Christian romance)
Up until December of last year I was reading about 25 books a month. I could easily read a good 250-page book in a day if it was interesting enough. After I got pregnant, things changed, and now I am at about ten or more books a month.

8. How many Christian romance books do you read per month?
While reading 25 books a month, I would easily say that 20 of the books are Christian Romance. With ten books a month, I would say still that about seven or eight of the books are Christian Romance.

9. What kinds of books do you read other than Christian romance books?
My favorite genre of reading is Historical Fiction and for the most part the books I choose do end up being Christian if not quality general market. The funny thing about most of the Christian Historical Fiction books that I read is that almost all of them could also be classified as Christian Romance as well. In picking genres, I am not certain what to really say. I loved the Harry Potter Series, and I enjoy the Inheritance Series. I loved the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer and anything and everything published by Historical Fiction author Michelle Moran and also Deanna Raybourn. Deanna’s first book was a little off with a plot twist for my taste, but the sequels have gotten much better and I look forward to her writing in the future. I really enjoy reading a good spy mystery. In example, I have collected the entire series of Alias – like the TV show books written by the show writers as well as other little Christian mysteries that I stumble across now again such as DiAnn Mills latest Call of Duty series with Breach of Trust, Jill Elizabeth Nelson’s To Catch a Thief series, most anything by Virginia Smith, and others. Lastly, another genre that I would put myself into being a fan of is Speculative Fiction including Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy. Here the authors I enjoy are Bryan Davis, Ted Dekker, Sharon Hinck and so on.

10. Do you read every day?
It is rare that a day will go by without my reading at least a few chapters, but it does happen from time to time, when life is insisting to be lived outside of my fictitious world.

11. How many hours per week do you devote to reading in any genre?
Almost always I could pick up a Christian Historical Fiction book and spend four hours straight during any given day on the story. Other books, such as Sci-Fi or Fantasy, I really have to be in the mood for the story and then could spend an equal amount of time enthralled in the adventure.

12. When do you do the most reading?
Each night I read about an hour before falling asleep or my husband turning the lights off, whichever comes first. During the day probably between noon and four pm is when I do the most, sit down and read reading.

13. Are there certain times during the week that you devote more time to reading?
Not really, it just depends on what else is going on.

14. Where do you do most of your reading?
Currently with our set up, and with pregnancy making the stairs not as nice of an option. I read on the couch in the living room. Or in bed. Or in my husband’s recliner.

15. Do you discuss your reading with others?
a. With whom?
b. What kinds of things do you talk about?
Yes, I joined websites like Goodreads.com so that I could find others who read what I read to discuss them. I also share and discuss books with my sister-in-law and various other friends through out the country that I have made the acquaintance of in the last year through either my blog or pages like Goodreads.
We talk about anything and everything. From our the story touched us, to how the writing style was perfect or flawed.

16. How frequently do you obtain books from: (very frequently, somewhat frequently, occasionally, rarely)
a. Bookstore – rarely, too pricy
b. Library – occasionally, the selection is not that great
c. From a friend – very frequently, we all trade
d. From a relative – somewhat frequently, she is not reading as much as she used to
e. Online – occasionally, when the budget allows

17. How frequently do you purchase these formats for the books that you read: (very frequently, somewhat frequently, occasionally, rarely)
a. Hardback – occasionally, usually only if it is the only format, or if others in the series I already have in this format, or if it is cheaper than paperback
b. Paperback – very frequently
c. Audiobooks - rarely
d. E-books - rarely

18. Do you document your reading in a way such as journaling or writing a list?
Yes. I am quite the junkie at this. Every single book I read, or have read since August of 2007 gets a review and a post on Goodreads. As well as my blog, and almost every book sellers website.

19. Do you use social networking websites such as GoodReads.com or Librarything.com?
a. What is your primary purpose for using these sites?
Yes. I use Goodreads.com the most, and used to use LT until I met their quota of books on a free membership. I also use Shelfari. On LT and Shelfari all I did was post my review. On Goodreads.com I do everything. I post my reviews, I participate in discussions, and I actually lead a group called Christian Historical Fiction. One of my favorite features of Goodreads that I take advantage of is once I have written my review, I can then click and get the html to blog it on my blog. It makes things much easier because it already has links and pictures included rather than my having to format everything again.

Knowledge and Evaluation of books in the Christian Romance genre

1. How would you define Christian Romance?
Originally, I would say that Christian Romance is whatever book has the little subtitle of Christian Romance written in typeface about the ISBN barcode, or is organized in the Library of Congress Catalog as Christian Romance listed on the copyright page.
Now, I would say that Christian Romance is often found when not even referred to as Christian Romance. Almost any and everything, which is genre-categorized as Christian Historical Fiction is also qualified to be Christian Romance. For Contemporary Christian Romance, I would say that it is any work of Contemporary Christian Fiction that has a deep Romance sub plot through out the story.
Christian Romance is really anything that has a plot line of romance to go along with the story no matter what it is and no matter how it ends.

2. How would you describe the typical plot of a Christian Romance novel?
Hah. Depends, if I were referencing a Lori Wick novel, it would be that some new appears to the main characters, someone falls in love, someone gets kidnapped or runs away, someone dies, someone almost dies, someone finds Christ, someone gets married, and usually two or more people have babies. Then in the three following sequels it happens all over again, except to different characters that you were briefly introduced to during the first book.
With most other Christian Romance novels that are being introduced today (pub 2007-2009), the story would consist of a new girl coming to town and immediately falling in love with whoever the other main character of the story is. They spend many chapters in internal turmoil wishing they did not love the other and not acknowledging that the other loves them as well. They also would go back and forth on the flaws and whether or not that was enough to keep them from this person. All the while, the girl is doing something independent that is unheard of for a girl in that day and age and he tries or rather attempts to reign her in. There will be some form of chaos where a bad guy attempts something, and usually Mr. Right will save the day and then they get married, and in the epilogue someone is pregnant. It makes me smile just to think about how many different ways someone can tell almost the same story.

3. How do you find new materials in this genre?
Well, almost anything that is listed in the genre that is a new book on the publishers website is one way. Or sometimes just surfing through ChristianBook.com’s Historical Fiction section or watching authors individual websites or blogs for new releases. And also, getting on the good list with publishers and publicists so that I can get emails of what’s coming next. The only problem then, is that I get super excited about a book almost a year from when it is due and often before it is even in the final editing stages!

4. How do you decide what to read in this genre?
Hmmm… Endorsements by other book bloggers that I trust is a big must. Also from other authors that I like, but more so the book bloggers of which reviews I read from weekly. Also the back cover book blurb and the cover image give me some insight into the story as well as to whether or not I might enjoy it. Also, if it is written by an author that I really enjoyed before, I am more likely to pick it up.

5. Who are your favorite authors in this genre?
Liz Curtis Higgs, Mary Connealy, Julie Lessman, Rachel Hauck, Rebeca Seitz, Deeanne Gist, Julie Klassen, Tamera Alexander, Tracie Peterson, Lawana Blackwell, Cindy Woodsmall, Kathleen Y’Barbo, M. L. Tyndall, Tracey Bateman, Lori Copeland, Lyn Cote, Shelley Shepherd Gray, Carol Cox, Lori Wick, Janette Oke, DiAnn Mills, and Francine Rivers specific book Redeeming Love.

6. What features do these authors have in common?
Depends on whether you mean in their own personalities or writing style? One similarity is that they are all women. I know many of them personally now at least through email and they are all similar but very different too. Some write contemporary and some write historical. Some focus on a group of people like the Amish, while others are whoever in whatever time period. They are all different ages and styles of life, so really I would say that they are all very different overall. Also, they live all over the place. (Most of the authors I enjoy are from the US).

7. Why do you like these authors better than others in the genre?
These are the authors that challenge me. Their stories are the ones that come to life and stick with me after reading. From these novels, I will remember bits and pieces about the characters and be able to learn from their lives and apply their lessons to my own life. In many times, I can learn from their mistakes instead of making them on my own. In some circumstances, I can really relate to a story or situation because it reminds me of something of my own. These are the authors that do not just entertain, but they get into your heart and under your skin and really challenge a reader as well as entertain.

8. Do you find that any types of characters appear again and again? What types?
I guess I would say the rugged cowboy who is gentle as all get out to the one he loves. Then there is the obstinate woman who is independent and does everything she knows to prove the fact.

9. Do you find any events that appear again and again? What events?
Babies are born in many of the stories. And many many times someone is kidnapped, severely injured, or missing. Almost in every story a new person moves to town that provides some creativity and imagination for the ordinary folk.

10. Are there any events that never appear in this genre? What events?
Well beside ridiculous speculative cosmic events? ☺ I do not know really how to answer that.
Because almost anything can happen and that is why even though certain things almost always happen, the unexpected occurs as well. Someone may or may not be murdered. Really events change drastically depending upon the time frame in which the story is told.

11. Would you say that people in this genre are real people? What makes them real or not?
In the most part yes, at least the books that I like and return to. They are the characters that when I put down the book can imagine their lives going on that makes me love a book. The writer who writes a plot that gets to me and really has me either angry or vying for a character are the ones that get a second read and a real solid recommendation. Personality of a character is a must, when they can make me laugh as well as cry they show they have their own individuality that makes me curious what they will possibly do next. When the phrases used in communication are real with parts of colloquial terms, the name in the book is more than just typeface.

12. Are events that happen in this genre like those in real life? Why or why not?
Yes and no. In the most part, the people that I know in real life are not as open and involved with scripture on a day-to-day basis as the characters in the book. That is part of why I enjoy them so much. They are real in the fact that they are not perfect and have plenty of flaws, but strive to be better. (Perhaps I need new real life friends.) In the stories, for me they are mostly historical, so I can say that I really do not know if they events would occur the same as they would have back then, but from the vague things I do know of history it is quite possible. For the contemporary Christian Romances, I would say that those plots are quite feasible to real life, so I do not see why the historical ones would not be if the appropriate research was performed.

13. If we met at a party and began discussing reading Christian romance, how would you describe your reading in this genre to me?
As an addiction. In the past I have suffered from depression that no chemical seemed to be able to cure. It was through reading many various novels of Christian Historical Romance Fiction that I was able to escape and spend a day or an afternoon in their world. Going from one emotion to another as the author takes the protagonist and other characters on a journey that I would get caught up in the story and then crave the next one. Some people used to say that you could spend too much time caught up in the faux-reality of a novel, but I think that if you live life and enjoy the novels that you can create a healthy balance. I am luckily enough to put my life around reading of novels by being a book reviewer.

14. What makes reading in this genre different from other types of reading?
Happy endings. No matter what there is a happy ending. That does not always mean that they girl gets the guy or vis versa. It does not mean that the bad guy is gone. It means that there is a plateau of contentment that can continue. There may be a story where people got into a bad circumstance, and instead of working out how the reader thinks they should it ends another way, but through the process the author has wedged away your opinion of what should have been right and made another scenario that works. Almost every book I read in the Christian Romance genre leaves me with a feeling of thorough satisfaction and that is the main reason why I come back for more.

15. Are there any books that you recently failed to finish? Why?
Yes, I will not mention titles though. In some cases, it may be that I was just really in the mood for something other than that book, and one day I will come back and it will be perfect. If the mood is not right, I cannot force myself to read it. Otherwise it defeats the purpose of why I read. Some books just fall flat. The characters are boring or unlikable and that just again defeats the purpose of why I read. I read for enjoyment and there are way to many books in the TBR (to be read) pile to waste my time on something ugly.

16. What do you do with the materials in the genre after you have finished reading them?
If I love the book, it goes on my shelf. I might mail it to a book buddy to borrow, but then it comes back and stays on my shelf. If I liked it, I might keep it unless someone wants it, then I will either loan it or give it away. I also trade books and give them to a specific school’s library.

Interview of ME!

In case you missed it, here is a great interview of me from Deena of A Peek at My Bookshelf. I had not realized she posted it yet, but apparently I missed it by about a week!!!

Go see for yourself, and learn a bit more about moi.

http://deenasbooks.blogspot.com/2009/04/special-friends-moments-meet-margaret.html

Great Q&A with Marcia Gruver over at the Friendly Book Nook

I discovered a great interview with Marcia Gruver over at the Friendly Book Nook as part of a blog tour. Go see...

Q&A with Michelle Moran, bestselling author of "Nefertiti" and "The Heretic Queen"

Oooh!! And now the post I've been waiting for!!! Today, I bring you a great Questions and Answers Interview session with Michelle Moran. And for a treat, leave a comment and at least two comments on other posts that are relevant and you'll be entered to win one of two SIGNED copies of The Heretic Queen.

QUESTIONS
Upon writing your debut novel Nefertiti, did you know that you would be continuing with the story of Nefertari in The Heretic Queen?
When my publishing house purchased Nefertiti, they did so in a two-book deal. Not knowing how Nefertiti would be received, or whether I have ever get another chance at writing about ancient Egypt, I chose to tell the two most compelling stories I knew: that of Nefertiti and her sister Mutny, and that of Nefertari and her life with Ramesses the Great. It may sound strange that I chose to skip over a pharaoh as well known as Tutankhamun, but the truth is that he had a very short reign. After marrying his half-sister Ankhesenamun, he ruled until he was nineteen years old and then died of a broken leg (probably infection, and possibly a chariot accident). After Tut’s death, his grandfather Ay took the throne for a few short years, followed by the general Horemheb.

I certainly could have written an entire book on Horemheb’s reign, beginning with his marriage to Mutny, but I like my stories to have some glimmer of hope, some element of romance (there were plenty of romances in history!), and Mutny’s forced marriage and death in childbirth (unlike many Amarna mummies, hers has been recovered) didn’t seem very cheerful to me. So I chose to focus on what could have been her daughter, Nefertari. Of course, it’s unknown if Nefertari really was her daughter, and if not, exactly how they were related. But the historian Manetho provided me with the possibility, and so I took it and wrote what I think is a much more hopeful story.

I have read different places about the dialogue of choosing this title, could you tell us a little bit about that?
Certainly! I struggled a great deal in trying to find a title for this novel. As I mentioned on other blogs, a more appropriate title for the book would certainly have been The Warrior Queen, but that sounded too much like a fantasy novel, and with the ambiguous cover, I didn’t want to risk that. Even Nefertari would have been appropriate, but that sounded too much like Nefertiti. So ultimately, I chose The Heretic Queen because I wanted the book to focus on how the sins of the older generation can be visited upon the young, and the question of whether Nefertari would ever be able to overcome that.

I enjoyed the story of Nefertari so much, that I really hated for it to end. Are there bits and pieces that were cut in editing that you might ever share with your readers?
Oh, there’s always so much great stuff (well, great in my opinion!) that has to be left on the cutting room floor by the time the final edit is complete. Originally, there were many more scenes between Nefertari and Iset, both of whom were married to Ramesses and were part of his harem. I had also included much more on Ramesses and how he was responsible for commissioning many of the ancient buildings still standing in Egypt today. However, in my first novel, Akhenaten was a prolific builder, and my editor didn’t want readers to feel that this was more of the same (and rightly so).

There were also small, wonderful facts that really had no place in either of my novels and didn’t get included, but were wonderful anyway. For example, historically it is known that one of Nefertiti’s daughters had her own perfume line. While that’s quite glamorous, it really didn’t fit in with what I was writing, so I didn’t use it!


I've never read much about Egypt before reading your Nefertiti, how did a desire to write these Egyptian legends stories envelope you?
My travels to archaeological sites around the world have been enormously influential in my writing career. In fact, my inspiration to write on the Egyptian queen Nefertiti happened while I was on an archaeological dig in Israel. During my sophomore year in college, I found myself sitting in Anthropology 101, and when the professor mentioned that she was looking for volunteers who would like to join a dig in Israel, I was one of the first students to sign up. When I got to Israel, however, all of my archaeological dreams were dashed (probably because they centered around Indiana Jones). There were no fedora wearing men, no cities carved into rock, and certainly no Ark of the Covenant. I was very disappointed. Not only would a fedora have seemed out of place, but I couldn’t even use the tiny brushes I had packed. Apparently, archaeology is more about digging big ditches with pickaxes rather than dusting off artifacts. And it had never occurred to me until then that in order to get to those artifacts, one had to dig deep into the earth. Volunteering on an archaeological dig was hot, it was sweaty, it was incredibly dirty, and when I look back on the experience through the rose-tinged glasses of time, I think, Wow, was it fantastic! Especially when our team discovered an Egyptian scarab that proved the ancient Israelites had once traded with the Egyptians. Looking at that scarab in the dirt, I began to wonder who had owned it, and what had possessed them to undertake the long journey from their homeland to the fledgling country of Israel.

On my flight back to America I stopped in Berlin, and with a newfound appreciation for Egyptology, I visited the museum where Nefertiti’s limestone bust was being housed. The graceful curve of Nefertiti’s neck, her high cheekbones, and the faintest hint of a smile were captivating to me. Who was this woman with her self-possessed gaze and stunning features? I wanted to know more about Nefertiti’s story, and thus began my forays into writing historical fiction set in ancient Egypt.

What is your favorite scene from The Heretic Queen?
Oh gosh, I’m not sure! Certainly the scenes which were the most fun to write involved the two times Ramesses went into battle and brought his wives. I mean, can you imagine the rashness and self-confidence of a man willing to do that?

How would you relate your stories to some Creative Madness?
Well, I’m not sure any part of my process could be termed madness. I’m quite boringly methodical in my plotting, my creation of characters, and my writing. But I suppose you could consider some of my research “madness”. I try my best whenever possible to visit the places my characters actually lived and walked, no matter how much it’s changed in the millennia since. Sometimes, this involves going into currently unstable places, like Amarna in Egypt where we had to travel in an armored convoy to see the sites, and at other times in involves tough decisions, such as whether or not it’s wise to spend several thousand dollars for a twenty minute visit to a tomb. This last quandary occurred outside of Nefertari’s tomb.

At one time, visiting her tomb was practically free, but today, it can cost upwards of five thousand dollars. If you want to share the cost and go with a group, the cost lowers to the bargain-basement price of about three thousand. As a guide told us of the phenomenal price, I looked at my husband, and he looked at me. We had flown more than seven thousand miles, suffered the indignities of having to wear the same clothes for three days because of lost luggage… and really, what were the possibilities of our ever returning to Egypt again? There was only one choice. We paid the outrageous price, and I have never forgotten the experience.

While breathing in some of the most expensive air in the world (I figured it was about $20 a gulp), I saw a tomb that wasn’t just fit for a queen, but a goddess. In fact, Nefertari was only one of two (possibly three) queens ever deified in her lifetime, and as I gazed at the vibrant images on her tomb – jackals and bulls, cobras and gods - I knew that this wasn’t just any woman, but a woman who had been loved fiercely when she was alive. Because I am a sucker for romances, particularly if those romances actually happened, I immediately wanted to know more about Nefertari and Ramesses the Great. So my next stop was the Hall of Mummies at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. There, resting beneath a heavy arc of glass, was the great Pharaoh himself. For a ninety-something year old man, he didn’t look too bad. His short red hair was combed back neatly and his face seemed strangely peaceful in its three thousand year repose. I tried to imagine him as he’d been when he was young – strong, athletic, frighteningly rash and incredibly romantic. Buildings and poetry remain today as testaments to Ramesses’s softer side, and in one of Ramesses’s more famous poems he calls Nefertari “the one for whom the sun shines.” His poetry to her can be found from Luxor to Abu Simbel, and it was my visit to Abu Simbel (where Ramesses built a temple for Nefertari) where I finally decided that I had to tell their story.

If you could write any and all books that you desired with no limits, who would your characters be and where would they be set?
No limits at all?! Well, then I’d probably set my book in medieval France. There would be fantastic romance, sweeping vistas and unassailable castles. If that sounds more like a fairy tale, that’s because I’ve always been fond of fairy tales and happy endings. Unfortunately, history doesn’t work that way. People die, plagues decimate entire villages, and women suffer loveless marriages and often terrible lives. In my own books, I try to find some middle ground; historical love stories that may or may not end happily, but always involve great love.

Tell us about your blog and author interviews...
I have a blog I call History Buff where I post excerpts to archaeological discoveries making the news today. Beneath those short excerpts I post links where readers can view the rest of the story. I’m a history nut. I love knowing what’s being unearthed and discovered around the world while I’m sitting at my desk typing away. Whether it’s in the field of anthropology or paleontology, I want to know about it!

As for my author interviews, that’s something I do to help promote other writers and the genre of historical fiction. There are so many wonderful authors out there, and so many types of historical fiction (romantic, suspense, literary…). I do one short interview a month (unfortunately, that’s all my schedule allows for), and I try to interview a wide range of authors, from NYT bestsellers to self-published writers. It doesn’t matter to me how an author’s been published; small press, large press, on the internet... If it’s good, and it’s something my History Buff readers might be interested in, I want to know about it!

What is something that you have never told anyone in the blogosphere?
Oh, geez. Probably that I’m a vegetarian and that I don’t drink. Okay, that’s not totally true. I do make an exception for the very rare glass of Piper Heidsieck (a lovely champagne that’s totally irresistible), but usually that only happens once a year.

What is the one thing that you want to leave readers of The Heretic Queen pondering over?
I would love for readers of The Heretic Queen to wonder more about the story of Moses and his place in Egyptian and Biblical history. I would also love for readers to come away thinking that they would like to read more historical novels on ancient Egypt. I make no pretense of writing what I call “beach read historical fiction,” but there are many other historical writers out there who delve even deeper into the subject of ancient Egypt. Readers who enjoy Egyptian fiction would probably really like Margaret George and Pauline Gedge.

For those of us, who cannot wait for more from our dear Michelle Moran, please please tell us about Cleopatra's Daughter...
Cleopatra's Daughter will follow the incredible life of Cleopatra's surviving children with Marc Antony -- twins, named Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene, and a younger son named Ptolemy. All three were taken to Rome and paraded through the streets, then sent off to be raised by Octavia (the wife whom Marc Antony left for Cleopatra). Raised in one of the most fascinating courts of all time, Cleopatra's children would have met Ovid, Seneca, Vitruvius (who inspired the Vitruvian man), Agrippa (who built the Pantheon), Herod, his sister Salome, the poets Virgil, Horace, Maecenas and so many others!

Click here to find out about all three of Michelle's books.

Click here, to go back and read my review of The Heretic Queen.

So remember for a treat, leave a comment and at least two comments on other posts that are relevant and you'll be entered to win one of two SIGNED copies of The Heretic Queen.
- MJ

Q&A with Mary Connealy (GIVEAWAY)

Today is a special treat!

If you've been following me for even just a short while you've heard me mention one of my new favorite authors, that would be Mary Connealy. She won me over with Petticoat Ranch (February 1, 2007) and then kept me as a fan for life with Calico Canyon (July 1, 2008). I cannot wait to get my hands on her story Golden Days, lately re-released (August 1, 2008) in an anthology from Alaska Brides Heartsong Presents with stories from fellow authors Cathy Marie Hake and Kathleen Y'Barbo. On Sunday, June 22nd, I shared my review of Petticoat Ranch, as well as a blurb for Mary and Calico Canyon and a preview of the first chapter, click here to go back and see it if you missed it before. Wednesday, June 25th, I shared my review of Calico Canyon, also click here, to go back to see it. So, aside with all previous mentions of this fabulous book, now I bring you a fabulous Q&A with Mary (AND A GIVEAWAY!!!!!)!

Calico Canyon is the sequel to Petticoat Ranch, but could easily be read alone. It is a favorite of mine and on my keeper shelf for good. 4 1/2 Stars from Romantic Times and raved about all over the internet!

Let yourself be swept away by this fast-paced romance, featuring Grace Calhoun, an instructor of reading, writing, and arithmetic, who, in an attempt to escape the clutches of a relentless pursuer, runs smack dab into even more trouble with the 6R's - widower Daniel Reeves, along with his five rowdy sons. When a marriage is forced upon this hapless pair - two people who couldn't dislike each other more - an avalanche isn't the only potential danger lurking amid the shadows of Calico Canyon. Will they make it out alive? Or end up killing each other in the process?


And Now ... Please give a warm welcome to Mary Connealy at Creative Madness...


(Note: Normally, I'd write my initials and the author initials before the specific statements, but it's hard to decifer between MC and MC... so, I'll be using CB for CherryBlossomMJ, my alter-ego.)


CB: Upon writing Petticoat Ranch, Lassoed in Texas #1, did you know that you would continue the story of Grace Calhoun?
MC: Not at the beginning. IN fact, Petticoat Ranch was finished before I had the idea to make it a series by telling the flip side of Petticoat Ranch, a woman in an all male world. That seemed only fair.
So how do I come up with a woman who hasn’t been around men? I had to come up with the whole backstory, invent Grace, then invent the all boy family of the Reeves, then weave it into Petticoat Ranch. That all came after Petticoat Ranch was completely done. But the Hannah part of Calico Canyon was included in Calico Canyon from the beginning with an eye toward telling Hannah’s story.

CB: I'm so excited to read more about Hannah's story that I can hardly stand it, I'm not sure I can be patient about this one. I'm just too eager! *Sigh*
Sophie, Grace, Tillie, and Hannah are such strong examples of women in difficult situations. What strong women do you know that have influenced you to date?
MC: Well, I do know some strong women of course, lots of ’em, but I honestly don’t think of Sophie, Gracie, etc. as real people, instead I think of them as being how I WISH I was. I’m a really quiet person and I spend most of my time being the calm one, keeping peace in my home. My characters tend to be mouthy and say all the things I wish I could say.
Although, honestly, it’s probably best I don’t.

CB: *snicker* I know what you mean! Although for me it is so difficult not to think of characters in a book as not being real people, it's almost like I'm reading someone's letters I'm so drawn into their lives.
Well let me as you, this book, both books actually, capture so many real issues and do it in a wonderful fashion and light. In brief, there is the concept of slavery, and child abuse, and death, and love, and do not forget the idea of multiples (twins, triplets, etc)! How were you able to twist and turn and put all of these large issues in such a book?
MC: You know, when you say this I think yikes, there really is some heavy stuff in here. I didn’t exactly think of the book as tackling serious subjects, I just wanted my characters to be put into tight situations and the times lent them selves to these you mentioned. Slavery and the scars left by it were easy. And I found the Orphan Trains fascinating, they really piqued my interest. I read a book about young girls pressed into work at a carpet mill and it seemed like they’d have to come from troubled homes, at least poverty stricken if not orphaned, or they’d have never gone into those places. So the choices for orphaned children were orphanages, the street or forced work. Not any of them great choices.
I do think there were a lot of good hearted people trying to make an orphanage a decent place to the extend possible. But if you’ll look closely, the main references to the Orphan Trains are that children ‘vanish’. They’re sent away and never seen again. These are child-ish fears from young ones who don’t understand what’s really happening. So their fears drove them more than reality.

CB: I have never read much about Orphan Trains, but now I'm intrigued and think I should. My main exposure to orphans in history are probably through the story of Rose Hill and of course Anne of Green Gables. Now, I have something else to put on my research list. Oh, what strong people these times must have made...
What is your favorite verse of which emphasizes the virtue of strength?
MC: I’ve just finished a three book series for Heartsong Presents and each book begins with a verse about strength.
The one that came to mind when you asked is this:
Colossians 1:11 - We want you to be very strong, in keeping with His glorious power. We want you to be patient. Never give up. Be joyful.
This is the life verse claimed by my heroine who has a deep seated need to be a doormat and, not surprisingly, has married a tyrant. They both become Christians and are trying, trying, trying to have a healthier relationship. I had a lot of fun with this.

Hannah’s story is coming in Gingham Mountain in February 2009. I just saw it on Amazon and I’m so excited to have the whole series available really soon.

Here’s a bit about sweet, maternal Hannah, who is afraid of everything, but can’t turn her back on a child in need. A rancher runs head-on into the new school marm, who believes he's made slave labor out of eight orphaned children. Grant Cooper crowds too many orphans into his rickety house, just like Hannah Cartwright's cruel father. Grant's family of orphans have been mistreated too many times by judgmental school teachers. Now the new schoolmarm is the same except she's so pretty and she isn't really bad to his children, it's Grant she can't stand.

CB: Oooh, I look forward to reading that series! And you already know how excited I am about Gingham Mountain, but now even more so with that little piece! Oh, I will have to go find some other great books to read to pass the time before they all come out. Who are your favorite fiction authors? (Secular and Christian)
MC: Well, the ladies I’m on Seekerville with are my favorites right now. http://seekerville.blogspot.com/
Julie Lessman
Janet Dean
Cheryl Wyatt
Debbie Giusti
Missy Tippens and
Camy Tang.
And the rest of the Seekers are wonderful authors, too. Their day is coming.

CB: I just love Julie Lessman's A Passion Most Pure (January 1, 2008 Revell), she's a favorite of mine as well, I reviewed her debut novel here, and cannot wait for the sequel A Passion Redeemed (September 1, 2008 Revell)!! The others I have not yet read, but definitely are being put on my TBR list now. *sigh* I'm such a book-a-holic...
What is the book that you read when you realized that you just loved books?
MC: Hard to say this, I’m a life long compulsive reader. I think I was a writer from a very young age, too. I’ve always been very entertained by my made up stories.

CB: If the market were to stay strong and you could continue the Lassoed in Texas books for as long as you desired, how many books would there be and how many stories would we learn to love?
MC: I’m right now beginning a series that’s going to feature Sophie’s daughters. Now, I could do that for all of the Reeves boys too, couldn’t I? So I could write for a really long time.

CB: What is your favorite scene from Calico Canyon, Lassoed in Texas #2?
MC: I love the scene where they get married, pure mayhem. That’s what I like to write best, mayhem.

CB: I was completely and literally laughing out loud at that time. I received some pretty quizzical looks from my hubby then too. *giggles* Where can readers find you on the web? In real life?
http://www.maryconnealy.com/
http://mconnealy.blogspot.com/
http://seekerville.blogspot.com/
http://petticoatsandpistols.com/

And now, *drum roll* you all have the chance (US and Canada Only please) have a chance to enter to win a copy of this wonderful book Calico Canyon!! Leave a comment on this post telling why you would like to read the book and state how you are thinking that Mary just might make it on to your favorite author lists. I will pick a winner on Saturday, August 9th, 2008 and contact the winner via e-mail to get their info. Please leave your information as such to avoid spammers cherryblossommj (at) gmail [dot] com. Good luck to all!!!

God Bless your day!

- MJ




To Order Petticoat Ranch from Christian Books Click Here
To Order Calico Canyon from Christian Books Click Here
To Order Alaska Brides from Christian Books Click Here



Petticoat Ranch; Calico Canyon--July '08
Of Mice...and Murder--September '08
FOUR FREE BOOKS at Heartsong Mysteries http://www.heartsongmysteries.com/

Promises, Promises by Amber Miller: Blog Tour and review

Today, I'm sharing reviews, blurbs, a guest blog, and interview with author Amber Miller. Feel free to join us, and learn a bit...

GUEST BLOG

Hello! My name is Tiffany Stockton, but I publish under Amber Miller (a combination of my middle and maiden names). Margaret invited me here as a guest to be part of my 3-week blog tour promoting my first 2 books. I have to admit that coming up with topics to discuss without any leads or ideas isn't easy. But with this blog, the title sparks ideas all their own.

Creative madness.

There are definite times when my creativity can make me mad, and not in the "angry" sense of the word. Rather, it can take over my life and my focus until the ideas swimming in my head refuse to go away until they're given a voice. And speaking of voices, as an author, I've always got them speaking to me. I hear them everywhere I go, and at times, they are difficult to ignore. It's because of this that I've been considered a little 'odd' to those who are not writers or who aren't creative and don't understand.

But that's all right. I don't mind. As long as what I do brings joy to others through the creative process and the end result of books or stories that readers can treasure long after they read the last page, it's all worth it to me.

For those of you who fall into the creative category, don't let those non-creative folks steer you down a different path. You've been given a special gift, and that gift needs to be put to good use. Whether it's writing, playing music, singing, drawing, designing, imagining or so many other options, don't lose sight of your goals. Trust me. It's more than worthwhile in the end.

Thanks, Margaret, for having me here. And thank you for spotlighting my books and me on this tour. Be blessed in your own "creative madness." :)




Promises, Promises by Amber Miller

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Amber Miller has a great work in this book. The story is just what it needs to be. Starting out with a tragedy that allows one to get their back up and spout all their reasons for not trusting in the Lord and to go through a process of healing and really seeing what the Lord is trying to do for them is so hard to put into words, and she did it. Reading this story of Raelene makes you take the time to look at what is going on in your own life. For me it makes me think about the comparison to English life of Jane Austen-types and the farmers in the early colonies. So many times I gripe about what strife I have, but in the end really none of it does compare to what God provides. Like Gustaf, God sits by silently waiting for us to open our eyes while we continually break his heart over and over again. This story had everything that it needed, and I'm so glad that I crossed over it in my life.


View all my reviews.



* * * * *

Tour Book title: Promises, Promises
Publisher: Barbour/Heartsong Presents
Release date: February 2008 through Heartsong Presents;
July 2008 to bookstores and online retailers
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: Delaware Brides, book 1
ISBN: 9781597899390

Has God forsaken Raelene?

What kind of God would take a girl's family and leave her alone in a wild land where women have no voice? When Gustaf Hanssen promises Raelene's dying father that he will take care of her, he finds himself bound to her happiness, her success, and her well-being in ways he never imagined. To keep his word, must Gustaf really oversee all of Raelene's affairs, find her a husband, and maintain her farm, while she does nothing but scorn him? Can God reach through Raelene's pain and self-centeredness and give her the love that awaits, if only she will accept His will?

Second Title: Quills & Promises
Publisher: Barbour/Heartsong Presents
Release date: July 2008
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: Delaware Brides, book 2
ISBN: 9781602600492

Innocence paired with wisdom beyond her years--

With these traits, Elanna Hanssen unwittingly captures the attentions of Major Madison Scott. Her honest desire to understand the war fascinates him, and he resolves to get to know this perspicacious young lady better. When he is called away to fight the French and the Indians, they begin a correspondence, cautiously baring their hearts to one another. Elanna has never known emotions like these before, but she is drawn to the integrity she sees in her major. When a writer for the first newspaper in the colony questions the major's credentials and activities, however, will she allow her heart or her head to rule? Can true love grow over such distance and around such obstacles?

* * * * *
Amber Miller is a talented and imaginative author who lives with her husband in beautiful Colorado Springs. They don’t have any children yet, but they do have a vivacious puppy named Roxie, who is half Border Collie and half Flat-Haired Retriever. Already nearing 65 pounds, she keeps them on their toes. And with her penchant for rising at 6am on the dot, Roxie is giving Amber and her husband a good taste of what it's like to be parents. Amber has sold four books to the Heartsong Presents line of Barbour Publishing with the promise of two more before the end of the year. She is currently pursuing an expansion into trade-length historical fiction as well. Other writing credits include several writing articles for various publications, five short stories with Romancing the Christian Heart, and nine contributions to the book, 101 Ways to Romance Your Marriage. A born-again Christian since the age of seven, her faith in Christ has often sustained her through difficult experiences. She seeks to share that with others through her writing.
Read more about her at her web site: www.ambermiller.com.

* * * * *
MJAC: Why did you choose the locale of Delaware for your story?

I spent about 25 years of my life living there. Throughout that time, I learned a lot about the significance of that little state. Too often, Delaware gets skipped in history books. Everyone knows about Philadelphia, Williamsburg, Valley Forge. But, not many know how critical Delaware was during the early start of the United States. I wanted to bring that out in a series of books. Plus, when I pitched the idea to Jim Peterson, he said in all 12 years (at the time) of the Heartsong Presents book club, no one had submitted a proposal with a Delaware setting. I knew I had a unique location, and I capitalized on that.

MJAC: My husband has Swedish ancestry, and it is difficult for me to know much about them. What made you choose that lineage for your characters and how did you know the right words to use?

The choice for ancestry was decided for me by the heritage of the people who settled Delaware. It was founded by the Dutch, then conquered by the Swedish, taken by the British, followed by the Swedish and back to the British again around the turn of the 18th century. Even though the British were in control at the time of my book, there were still families and communities of Swedes scattered throughout the area that's now called Delaware.

There is a lot of rich Swedish history still evident in small areas of Delaware today, along with the town names that have remained. Making my hero Swedish and my heroine's mother Swedish seemed a natural choice. As for the words, I researched the speech patterns through diaries and journals as well as direct translation of common phrases when I used specific complete sentences. Before long, I was so engrossed in Gustaf's speech that it flowed seamlessly. It was a lot of fun to write.

I'm flattered that folks are loving the "real" sense of Gustaf's speech and the genuine portrayal of the characters in Promises, Promises. That's one of the highest compliments readers can give to a historical fiction author, or any author who portrays characters from a specific ancestry. Thank you! :)

MJAC: Losing one's parents is an incredibly difficult circumstance. Why did you choose that to be the opening from the story? And what do you think you learned about yourself in writing it?

Having the immediate loss set the stage for Raelene blaming God and turning her back on Him. Wondering where God is when we hurt is a common question almost everyone has at some point in their lives. Had Raelene not been left alone, I don't believe her pain would have been felt quite so strongly.

As for what I learned about myself? It was realizing that I have also asked the same questions Raelene has. Although I've never fully turned my back on God, I have had moments of doubt and frustration and even anger. Platitudes from other believers didn't do anything for me. I needed evidence and I needed it shown to me. Having Gustaf demonstrate God's presence and love and steadfastness, pushing through Raelene's pain helped bring that out in the story,

MJAC: At times in this story, your main characters were so frustrated with each other. How well do you believe the non-spoken frustrations work toward our good in marital relationships versus the spoken to the heart?

At times, it's best to remain quiet about frustrations, especially if they are miniscule and a direct result of a personal issue that can be solved by changing ourselves. But when an issue is something bigger than that, it needs to be spoken and brought to light so it can heal. Marriage is all about communication as well as give and take. It's about learning to live together and accepting each other for who we are and where we are while gently encouraging each other to grow. There is no room for bitterness, resentment or long-term anger. If you allow any of those to fester, you'll have a much bigger problem on your hands.

Tiff

Amber Miller (writing as) - Author; Barbour Publishing
Web Designer - Eagle Designs (www.eagle-designs.com)

Promises, Promises, February 2008
Quills & Promises, July 2008
Deceptive Promises, December 2008
BLOG/web site
ShoutLife
Shelfari


BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE

Shirley Connolly (July month-long feature)

July 7 - Margaret Daley (bio)
July 7 - Dawn Kinzer at From Dawn til Dusk, Musings of a Night Owl
July 8 - Donna Moore at Write by Faith
July 8 - Kim Woodhouse at God's Grace, Love & Forgiveness
July 9 - Margaret Daley (interview)
July 9 - Amy Riley at The Friendly Book Nook
July 10 - Jenny Blake at Come Meet AusJenny
July 11 - Rose McCauley
July 11 - Shauna Sturge at The Coffee Stop ; Long and Short Reviews
July 12 - Carolyn Strawder at Quiet Time with Carolyn
July 14-19 - CAN! blog spotlight
July 14 - Martha Rogers at Martha Writes
July 15 - Leslie Sowell at A Little Bit of Sunlight
July 16 - Novel Journey / Novel Reviews
July 16 - CFBA blog tour date (various blogs)
July 17 - Eileen Astels at A Christian Romance Writer's Journey
July 17 - Cheryl Wyatt at Squirrel's Treehouse
July 17 - CFBA blog tour date (various blogs)
July 18 - Cara Putman at Cara's Musings
July 18 - Tyora Moody at CB Reviews
July 18 - CFBA blog tour date (various blogs)
July 19 - Stacy Johnson at Vader's Mom
July 21 - Camy Tang at Camy's Loft
July 21 - Jennifer AlLee at Musings on This, That & The Other Thing -
July 21 - Trish Perry (interview)
July 22 - Cindy Woodsmall at the Plain Talk Blog
July 23 - Delia Latham at The Melody Within (review/interview)
July 24 - Margaret Chind at Creative Madness
July 25 - Delia Latham at The Melody Within (guest blogger)
July 25 - Christa Allan at Fictionary
July 26 - Paula Moldenhauer at Grace Reign

Q&A with Marlo Schalesky, author of Beyond the Night

Q&A with Marlo Schalesky, author of Beyond the Night
Q. Marlo, you’re a woman full of surprises! What made you decide to work in the construction industry? Isn’t that a field normally dominated by males?

A. Well, something has to pay for my Starbucks venti white mochas! But seriously, when I met my husband at Stanford years ago (Note: A number of incidents in Paul and Maddie’s love story in Beyond the Night grow out of my story with Bryan . . . I’ll let the reader guess which), he was majoring in Engineering, and I majored in Chemistry. After graduating, he got a job in sales in the construction industry (roofing); I did chemical research. We discovered that there was a lot of chemistry involved in roofing. So, about ten years ago, we decided to open our own engineering firm that specialized in roofing and waterproofing. From the contacts and experience I gained there, in January of 2007 I opened my own construction consulting firm where I can use my left-brained skills (writing novels uses up all the rightbrained energy) to earn a few bucks and pay for those fancy coffees. And I have to admit, I enjoy doing something that’s so different from my writing.

It’s refreshing to deal with numbers and forms, caulking and chemicals, instead of only words and ideas. It makes for a nice balance in my life.

As for construction being male-dominated – it certainly is as far as actual construction workers and facilities managers. But there are plenty of women working in the administrative aspects of the business, which again makes for a nice balance. It’s fun to meet different kinds of people, and a number of them have also become my readers. Others just think I’m crazy – trying to run a business, writing novels, and take care of my four little daughters. But, hey, with God all things are possible . . .

Q. How did you decide to write a series of novels with surprise endings?

A. It was all God’s fault. And it started with a dream. Not one of those “I have a dream” kind of dreams, but a real, honest-to-goodness, it’s-3am-and-I’m-asleep kind of dreams. I dreamt Paul and Maddie’s love story. And when I woke up, I couldn’t get the two of them out of my head. I thought about them in the shower, on the way to seminary classes, in the grocery store. Everywhere! For weeks, I found myself replaying tidbits of their story in my mind, until I finally figured out that maybe God wanted me to write their story.

“But,” said I to God, “there’s not enough here. It’s not compelling enough.”

“Yes,” said God to me, “but Maddie’s going blind.” (Well, maybe it wasn’t so much in those words, but just in the revelation of what was going on with Maddie.)

“Oh,” said I, “That’s very interesting. But it’s still not enough. Not quite.”

Two more days went by, and Paul and Maddie’s story still kept teasing my mind. “It’s not enough,” I kept saying to God. “There’s got to be more.”

And then I saw it – the big twist. The incredible truth that I had no idea about before. It took my breath away. So, after I finished picking my jaw up off the floor, I sat down and starting working on the proposal for Beyond the Night.

As I fleshed out the story, I realized that this is exactly the type of book I’d like to keep writing – something with the poignancy of a Nicolas Sparks love story (without the sap!) matched with the knock-your-socks-off twist of a M. Night Shymalan movie (without the horror!). That kind of story excited me, spiritually, emotionally, mentally. And I figured that there had to be more people like me out there – people who want to be both moved emotionally and surprised and delighted intellectually. People who want to be changed, challenged, and caught with wonder by a story. People who just want something more in their stories, because the typical story is just not quite enough.

Happily, Multnomah agreed. When my agent sent them the proposal for Beyond the Night, they asked for two more ideas in one week. But how could I come up with two more stories like that in such a short time? It usually took months, even years, for me to find the right story. But God was faithful again. Onthe first day of that week, the storyline for Book 2, Faces in the Sand, came to me. And on the last day of the week, I got the idea for Book 3 (with five very nervous days in between). Multnomah contracted all three, and now I’m pressing forward, writing these books that God has given me to write, and prayingevery day that I’ll see the story as He has dreamed it. And I’m hanging on to the belief that He who gave me this mission will be faithful not only at its inception, but in the execution and beyond.
Q. You’ve been in the publishing industry for a while now with four previous novels and a nonfiction book to your credit. How has your publishing experience lined up with expectations? How has it not?

A. You’ll find that most of my books include a theme about life not turning out the way you plan or expect. That’s because God has given me the equivalent of a PhD in “My plans are not your plans, saith the Lord . . .” And my publishing experience has been a significant course in that learning process.

Nothing in my experience with publishing has gone according to expectation. At first, that was just because I was naïve. I thought I just had to write some good stuff, and I’d get a contract for my first books, which, at the time, was an end times series (this was before the Left Behind craze). So, I went to conferences with my proposal and heard from all the editors, “We aren’t interested in this type of futuristic fiction.” What they meant, of course, was they weren’t interested in that type of story from a newbie like me.

So, I tried historical fiction. And got a contract just as expected. Except the contract was canceled . . .that was unexpected. And it hurt.

Eventually, another publisher contracted that book and it became my first published novel. I received a few other contracts, had those books published, and then came another rude awakening in the form of sales figures. I expected to write a good book and have it do well. But that’s not how it worked for my third novel. Because of internal publishing house changes, sales went badly. And there wasn’t anything I could do about it. That was hard because I’d written the story as an act of faithfulness to God’s call, I felt He was pleased with it, I’d done everything I could in promotion and marketing, and still it “failed.” Ouch!

At that time, I was told to expect the numbers for that book to prevent other publishers from wanting to publish future books of mine. “It would have been better for you if that book hadn’t even been published,” they said. But God was about to crush that expectation as well.

A publisher contracted my next historical novel, I wrote it, and then just before it was scheduled for release, the company went through a large restructuring – they cut fiction, most of the members of the PR department left, the fiction editor left, and my book was stranded. I hadn’t expected that either.

But God was up to something in the meantime – a new story idea that I simply had to write. A story that so moved the Multnomah team, even in its synopsis form, that they wanted to publish it despite my previous sales numbers. They wanted that story, plus two more. The story was Beyond the Night. It came as an unexpected gift from God.

And just like everything else in my publishing experience, it has taken me by surprise. Pre-readers are calling me and emailing saying how the story has moved them, impacted them. But it’s not because of my great planning. It’s because God has again done something that I didn’t foresee, didn’t expect. And I thank Him for it.

Received from GlassRoadPR.