Interview with a Romantic Suspense Author Deborah M. Piccurelli

Deborah M. Piccurelli is the author of two romantic suspense novels and a romantic novella, all clean romances. After years of reading books and watching movies with an element of romance, Deborah’s desire to write romance novels came naturally. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and the New Jersey Society of Christian Writers. Deborah lives in New Jersey with her husband and their two sons.

“This is one of the most unique and compelling storylines I've read in years. There was suspense, intrigue and a lot of mystery to the story. I also enjoyed the romance and the undercover aspects of the story.” –Michelle Sutton

Welcome back to my blog, Deborah. This new book is on the suspenseful side. Please tell us about Hush Little Baby.

Well, Linda, with the Planned Parenthood debacle in the news, it may seem like this book is new, but I wrote it long before. Here’s the back-cover blurb:

Investigative journalist, Amber Blake, is a little person bent on payback for the death of her average-sized twin sister. Enlisted by her former partner and estranged husband, Evan, she poses as a counselor in an abortion clinic to expose the doctor responsible for fetal harvesting. As a Christian, she struggles with concealing her beliefs to maintain her cover, while the doctor’s romantic overtures tumble her stomach. Amber agrees to date him for the sake of the story . . . but nothing prepares her for what’s behind a mysterious door in his office.

Where did you get your inspiration for this story?

In two different ways. For the characters, I had seen TV shows that seemed to exploit little people. That tugged on my heart, so I vowed that I would someday write a book where dwarves were shown to be much like anyone else, albeit a few small differences.

Around the same time, in 1999, Planned Parenthood was being investigated for baby body parts trafficking, much like they are right now. I saw a clip of a 20/20 segment on Good Morning America and it really angered me. I scribbled a short note about it on a piece of paper and filed it in my story idea folder. When the time came, many years later, for me to write about the dwarf characters, the baby body parts trafficking angle seemed to fit with them so well.

What kind of research did you do for this book?

I did a lot of online research, I watched TV shows on both subjects and read books. But, most importantly, I spoke to people who were living out the issues and challenges portrayed in the story.

For the fetal harvesting aspect, after reading an article about it, I contacted the author who referred me to Mark Crutcher of Life Dynamics. He is the man who headed up the investigation into Planned Parenthood back in the late nineties and took the results to Congress.

For the characters, I found a website for the organization, Little People of America, got the president’s name and phone number and called. I didn’t expect him to actually answer. I thought I’d get a secretary who would try to divert my call. But he answered the phone himself and his name was Matt Roloff. Many of you may not know him, but he was one of the stars of the popular TLC reality show, Little People, Big World, although that show had not been on the air at the time. He spoke with me briefly, then told me there would be answers to a lot of my questions in his book, so I ordered it. When it didn’t arrive after several weeks, I called his number again. This time, his wife, Amy, answered. After addressing the problem of the undelivered book, I asked her if I could interview her to get a woman’s perspective on dwarfism. She agreed, and we had a long chat. Shortly after, I was very surprised to see them appearing on talk shows promoting their upcoming TV show.

Just as an aside, I want to say that I received another pleasant surprise to learn from reading Mr. Roloff’s book that he and his family are Christians.

Please tell us about one of the main characters in this story and what you like about him or her.

I like Amber a lot, but Evan, her estranged husband, is the one I’m really drawn to. He is so heroic, he wears his love for Amber on his sleeve, and he has integrity. He’s also funny, and being a hot-head doesn’t make him any less loveable.

Where can my readers find you online?

My website: www.deborahmpiccurelli.com

Twitter: @DebPiccurelli

Facebook: www.facebook.com/deborah.piccurelli

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/DebPiccurelli

Thank you for this interview, Deborah. I hope my readers will check out your book.

Interview with Non-Fiction Writer: Author Steve Miller

J. Steve Miller is an award-winning author and president of Legacy Educational Resources. He's written eight books, some of which have been translated into multiple languages. He lives in metro Atlanta with his wife Cherie and enjoys caring for his 109-year-old grandmother and teaching at Kennesaw State University.

Welcome back to my blog, Steve. Please tell us one reason why “Brilliant People Believe Nonsense.”

Successful people are typically humble enough to get candid input from those around them. Solomon put it this way, "In a multitude of counselors there is safety." So the brilliant director Steven Spielberg, when he was filming E.T., was humble enough to ask seven-year-old actress Drew Barrymore how she'd put a certain line. The Mayo Clinic makes a big deal of gathering and respecting input from all levels of their organization, especially the desk ladies who have a lot of contact with patients.

So why do many brilliant people believe nonsense? Sometimes, they feel that their life experiences and degrees put them above getting input from others, especially those that they consider "beneath" them. That's one reason Enron failed. Some of the leaders felt they were so smart that they couldn't fail, and insulated themselves from much of the advice that they needed.  

This new book is about critical and creative thinking. I love the title: Why Brilliant People Believe Nonsense. Please tell us about your new book.

During college and graduate school, I concentrated on acquiring the tools of learning, like how to do research and how to think critically, so that when I entered "the real world," I was able to sift through nonsense to get at the truth of vital issues. Those skills have come in handy as I've had to vocationally reinvent myself several times and continually learn new skills. 

Now that I'm teaching incoming college freshmen, I'm struck with the impression that they can memorize lectures and take tests, but have never learned to question their teachers or texts. As one educator put it, much of modern education has become "transferring a set of notes from teachers to students, without going through the minds of either."

So in my classes I teach students how to think, and find that they love it! I wanted to write a unique text to help other teachers do the same thing, or to help general readers get what they may have missed in school.

Where did you get your inspiration for this subject?

Besides seeing the value of pursuing wisdom in my personal life, and seeing the need among my students, I'd say that raising my seven boys in a blended family (my first wife died in her 30s) motivated me greatly. The world pulls young people in so many different directions, and helping them to think through their lives forces me to seek wisdom in very practical terms. In raising a family, theory had better translate into something intensely practical, or it's useless. 

What kind of research did you do?

Ever since my sophomore in high school, I've been an avid seeker of wisdom. I've always been drawn to the practical living sections of the Bible, such as Proverbs and James. From that foundation I branched out into reading endless biographies, from great business leaders to musicians to scientists to authors and intellectuals. Having read a couple of biographies of Warren Buffet, I can ask myself, "If Buffett were to be in my financial situation, what would he do?" Or "If Jack Welch were running my educational resources company, what might he do differently?"  

So as I look around my office at the aftermath of my research for this book, I see about 200 books, many of them biographies, but also books on creativity, critical thinking, intellectual history, etc. From this research, I can use real life stories to demonstrate how brilliant people have often made dumb choices, and how we can avoid them.

Where can my readers find you online?

My author site, jstevemiller.info, can guide readers to my other online presences, including linkedin. Search J. Steve Miller on Amazon.com to find all my books. Thanks so much, Linda, for the interview! You do so much for your fellow authors!

Thank you for this interview, Steve. I hope my readers will check this book out.

Interview with Award-winning Mystery Writer Virgil Alexander

Virgil Alexander lives in Arizona with his wife Lois, near their four children, fourteen grandchildren, and one great-grandchild (Actually they are all great!). He has written three mysteries in his contemporary Rural Cops Series: The Wham Curse (2012), Saints & Sinners (2014), and The Baleful Owl (2015). The stories all feature Graham County Deputies Bren Allred and Manny Sanchez, and San Carlos Apache Policeman Al Victor, as they solve murders related to: The 1889 robbery of US Army Paymaster Wham, smuggling in and protecting a Mexican girl from a drug boss (Saints), and theft of Salado Indian artifacts (Baleful). Alexander is also working on a non-fiction history of ranching in Gila County, and contributes items to on-line history pages, and historical museums. Saints & Sinners won the Public Safety Writers Association Award.

Welcome to my blog, Virgil. I understand this is a romantic mystery. That’s my favorite genre. Please tell us about your novel, The Baleful Owl.

The murder of an archeologist and attempted murder of another over Salado Culture artifacts, including the namesake Baleful Owl effigy, draw our three officers into the hunt for a sophisticated artifact theft ring as they strive to find the killer. The Baleful Owl, like all my books, is heavy on rural lifestyles, natural history, contemporary Southwestern culture, Indian, Hispanic, and Mormon culture and traditions. The romance comes from the married relationships of the two senior officers, the engagement and marriage of Deputy Sanchez, and the development of a tentative but tender romance between a male and female deputy who seem to suffer some gender confusion.

I love the premise of this story. I have a series that is all about artifact theft, also. Where did you get your inspiration for this book?

A great deal of what I write is from actual experiences I, or others close to me, have had. I grew up in a small mining community with ranchers, miners, Apache, Hispanic, and may other immigrant classmates and friends. My wife is descended from Mormon pioneers in Arizona.  Almost all my uncles were law officers of one kind or another, as are many of my cousins, my dad was a reserve deputy, a member of search and rescue, and a member of the sheriff’s posse; so I grew up in the middle of lots of cop talk.

I taught college classes on the Apache reservation, worked in the San Carlos Branch, and as the district Boy Scout commissioner help organize a police explore post there. A good friend and coworker of about twenty years was an Apache and many of the reservation episodes in my books are stories from him. He passed away last year and The Baleful Owl is dedicated to him.

As for archeology, my mother was a collector and amateur archeologist as were many of her closes friends. Because of this, I developed an interest in prehistoric native cultures, and have studied it as an avocation. When mom passed away in 1994 I suggested donating her collection to a local cultural museum, but we decided to split it between the four siblings, so I now have one quarter of her collection of mostly Hohokam and Salado artifacts. Mom knew the provenance of each item, but unfortunately she did not write it down so it is lost. One of the minor events in The Baleful Owl relates the breaking of a beautiful stone hoe by careless digging of an archeology student; in real life it was something I did when I was about ten years old. That hoe, glued together is in my collection.

I now have a markedly dim view of this type of collecting, which is now mostly illegal, but those experiences created in me an awe of the historic, scientific, and esthetic value of these ancient works. And finally, as noted in the acknowledgement, my wife worked for the Southwestern Monuments Association/Southwest Archeological Center and knew some of the most prominent scientists in the field.

What kind of research did you do?

I did a lot of research on Salado pottery, Salado lifestyle (as currently extrapolated by anthropologists), and what is currently known about the Sobaipuri Culture, which some archeologists, and I, believe were the descendants of the displaced Salado. I researched some in the Uto-Aztecan language and history of the O’odham people, into whom the Sobaipuri were absorbed in early Spanish historic times. I researched the history of animosity between the O’odham and Apache tribes. For every one of my books I do a bit more research related to the Apache.

Please tell us about the main character in this story and what you love about him or her.

Bren Allred is a well-trained, widely experienced officer who resigned as a detective in Metropolitan Phoenix to return home to the peace of the Gila Valley for the better lifestyle. He and his wife Monica have two children, and possibly another on the way. Bren is governed by his strong sense of right and wrong, and his concern and respect for others. He is a brilliant people manager, mostly leading by example, and has won the trust and respect of his fellow officers and the sheriff, as well as that of pretty much everyone who knows him.

Bren is the main character in that he glues the pieces of the story together, but he shares just about equal time in the book with the other two main officers, Victor and Sanchez. What I like about Bren is his life is almost always congruent with his values, and his gentle leadership brings out the best in the people who work for him. He is a gentle man, and a gentleman, in a sometimes mean and violent occupation.

But I love my other two main characters, too. Al is a wisecracking, happy guy who successfully walks to line between Indian and non-Indian society; but he is also a guy that you always want on your side in a fight. Manny is a very young man who is a lover of knowledge in general so is constantly learning. He is green enough that he sometimes makes mistakes, but is brilliant at making sense of seemingly unconnected information.

Now it’s time to tell us something about the real you that we’ll never forget.

I’m a slow study. It took me 25 years to earn my bachelor degree, mostly night school and mostly having to drive 80 miles to class; finally earning my degree in Management.

During that same period, I completed a four your apprenticeship in instrumentation (on the job, with night school), a control engineering certificate from Foxboro College, Boy Scout Wood Badge training, served as a counselor in two bishoprics, and as bishop for seven years. (The reason my four kids turned out so well is due to one thing - my extraordinary wife raised them.)

Thank you, Virgil, for this interview. I hope my readers check this story out. Virgil’s books are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Oak Tree Press. You may find Virgil at the following websites:

My Webpage: http://virgilalexander.weebly.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VirgilAlexanderAuthor?fref=ts

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6041516.Virgil_Alexander

Interview with Medieval Fantasy Author Andean White

Andean enjoys family gatherings, playing with his dog (Sage), biking, fly-fishing, and projects in the wood shop. Sage will be two years old in September and makes a couple of cameo appearances in Spring’s Saboteurs as a strange old lady. Blessed with strong support from his wife Nancy, his parents, sister, and many friends. Their feedback helps maintain the high quality of the books.

Welcome back to my blog, Andean. This book is the second in the series. Where did you get your inspiration for this story?

I wanted to write a story where brains and creative solutions were more powerful than brute force. On one side of the battle the youthful, gifted, and deceptive antagonist has meticulous planning skills. The protagonist is a battle tested, aging Captain of the Guard.

Please tell us about your new YA Fantasy, Spring's Saboteurs.

Spring’s Saboteurs is the second book of the four part Andean White Seasons series. The books have received many five star reviews.

Synopsis: Prince Argo has arranged the deaths of his older sister and two brothers—and declared himself next to wear the crown. Now the king, his deceptive and clever planning skills set in motion a multifaceted revenge scheme to overthrow Manshire Province. Kidnapping Queen Althea’s younger sisters initiates a whirlwind sequence of events threatening the lives of the Manshire Queen, the Captain of the Long Bows, the Queen’s husband, and the province.

Lieutenant Charles Cromwell, Argo’s Field Commander, has trained a militia four times larger than the Manshire Long Bow Knights. His vast battle experience makes him the perfect leader for Argo’s scheme.

The scheme is so well planned; the first elusive clues evade Captain Oscar until the ransom letter arrives. Oscar must marshal all of his skills and separate reality from ruse provided by mysterious characters with ties to Argo.

Will Queen Althea, Captain Oscar, and his son, Kendrick, save Manshire from a crushing defeat? On short notice, can they out-think Argo with his well developed plans, and ultimately prevent Argo's blatant assassination threats?

What kind of research did you do for this book?

The Internet provided most of the research needs on the subjects of horse speed, medieval disease names, medieval boat structure, and medieval clothing. A friend provided information on archery terminology and construction.

Please tell us about one of the main characters in this story and what you like about him or her.

Bernard, a secondary character is my favorite. He is the older brother of the enemy’s King. For a brief time he was the heir apparent, until his brother “fed him to the wolves”. He survived the dangers of living in the forest and raising a wolf pup. Bernard always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Does he have mystical powers?

Where can my readers find you online?

Email:              Andean.White @ gmail.com

Website:          www.AndeanWhite.com

Twitter:           @AndeanWhite

FaceBook:       www.facebook.com/AndeanWhite

Amazon:         Winter's Thief - purchase link, Spring's Saboteurs - purchase link

Interview with Inspirational Author Kathryn E. Jones

Kathryn has been a published writer since 1987. Her first piece, a short article for a national magazine, got her on the publishing road. She published many short pieces after that, and worked as a journalist for many years. In 2002, her first book was published, but it wasn't until 2012, some 10 years later, that Kathryn decided to make book writing her profession.

Welcome back to my blog, Kathryn. Please tell us about your new book: The Gift: A Parable of the Key.

The gift is the third and last book in the Parable series. Virginia and Richard have lost their only daughter to crib death, and now must go on without her. But the going isn't easy, and when Joy, a young homeless girl (now teen) comes back into their life, they wonder if she's the answer to their emptiness.

What are the “five stones” mentioned in this book?

The five stones represent Listening, Trust, Optimism, Tenacity and Constancy, and were given to Virginia by God in book one (Conquering Your Goliaths: A Parable of the Five Stones) to see her through her difficulty of getting a new job. Virginia uses the five stones through each of the 3 books as she journeys through pain and ultimate discovery.

Where did you get your inspiration for this series?

I was only going to write the first book. It was to be a stand-alone book, but one day, the idea came for book 2 (The Feast: A Parable of the Ring) and I had to write the story of Virginia's marriage to Richard. As book 3 began, I realized that, for Virginia, her journey wasn't over, she yet dreamed of having a child - no matter how difficult having a child was. You could say the books are three different levels of learning. God shows Virginia how to tackle the smaller things in book 1 before the larger challenges come in book 3. And they do - come.

Please tell us about one of the main characters in this story and what you like about him or her.

I like Richard. He is the best husband for Virginia - oh, she's all over the place 'emotion' wise, and he's the rock star. Sure, Richard gets discouraged, but he is also there for Virginia. He loves her no matter what. And he doesn't give up, at least not for long, because he sees that things will always get better.

Your story sounds wonderful. Where can my readers find you online?

Please visit me at: http://www.ariverofstones.com. From there you'll be able to connect to all of my other fun haunts.

Thanks for this awesome interview, Kathryn. I hope my readers will check out this series.

Romantic Cozy Mystery Series On Audio Now

Audiobooks brings everything to life as you listen to the dynamics of the narrator. You hear the anxiety, suspense, comedy, and romance in the person’s voice as you sit and relax in an easy chair or driving down the road to work. It’s entertainment at its best.

After listening to this audiobook, Janine B. Taysom wrote: “In the past, listening to another audio book by another author, I felt that one narrator failed at delivering intriguing personalities for several characters, but Diane Lehman was ingenious and succeeded in never losing my attention. Amelia's partner, Rick, is quite the hunk and I keep wondering how long it will take before their relationship takes an enticing turn. The audio is great, but I want to have this book in my library, so I've ordered a printed copy.”

With narrator, Diane T. Lehman, she draws the listener in and helps you feel part of the adventure as she narrates the character’s feelings and conversations. She is a professional musician. A piano teacher and vocal coach, she entertains us as she captivates the listener with each character she portrays. Her inflections, intonations, and accents are amazing.

“The narrator, Diane Lehman, does an impressive job including different voices for the different characters. This gave the book a lot of interest for the reader as well as helping to identify who was speaking at the time.” --Sonja Nishimoto, Sunnie Reviews

Missing persons, bucket lists, romance, and mystery! Amelia Moore, the founder of the Moore Detective Agency, specializes in missing persons. When Mrs. Brody hires Amelia and Rick to find her missing brother, they find themselves in Bali, Indonesia. They are mystified why her brother quit his job, put his home up for sale, and ran off to this mysterious and exotic island without telling a soul.

 

“As a fan of audio books, and particularly cozy mysteries, I was looking for a new series and I found it! This first book in the Amelia Moore series hooked me right from the start. Rick and Amelia are wonderful characters that drew me into their mystery quickly. The location was beautifully described... so much so that now I need to put it on my bucket list to visit there. I am quite picky about the readers of audio books, but Diane Lehman did not disappoint! She was easy to listen to with wonderful expression, attitudes, and voices for the different characters. It only took me a chapter or two to know the voices of the main characters (which makes the book so much easier to listen to). I was actually disappointed when the book was over. Now I am anxiously awaiting Book 2 on audio. Thanks to Linda Weaver Clarke for a great book and Diane Lehman for the well-done audio!” – Nadine Hancey

Will this cozy have enough action to keep your interest? Library of Clean Reads wrote: “This is a cozy mystery, but there is also suspense, danger, and romance. Throw in two mysterious men in black – complete with black suits and sunglasses and you have all the makings of an exciting novel.”

Listen to a sample below!

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“I loved the pacing. I never lost interest in the story. I also loved the descriptions of the places they visited. The plot kept me on the edge of my seat. I wanted to know how the mystery would wrap up and I wanted more of Rick and Amelia's relationship. It flowed so well that I wanted to keep listening. This was an enjoyable performance to listen to and I highly recommend this book and series!!” --Melanie Valderrama, Mel’s Shelves

By the way, to listen to an audiobook, you must have an Audible.com account or log in with your Amazon account so you can download an audiobook to your e-reader.

For those interested in listening to audiobooks, check this cozy mystery out at Amazon.

LEARN HOW TO GET A FREE AUDIO BOOK BELOW FROM AUDIBLE.COM!

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Check it out at Audible, too.

Interview with a Romantic Comedy Author Brooke Williams

Brooke Williams is a former radio announcer turned stay at home mom/freelance writer/author. She has two daughters and has been married since 2002. Brooke has written numerous novels including “Someone Always Loved You,” “Beyond the Bars,” and the recent romantic comedies “Accept this Dandelion,” and “Wrong Place, Right Time.” She looks forward to releasing her first children’s book “Baby Sheep Gets a Haircut” in June 2016.

Welcome back to my blog, Brooke. Please tell us about your new romantic comedy, Mamarazzi.

Mamarazzi asks the question: is the grass REALLY greener on the other side? In the novel, a female paparazzo is thrown onto a TV show and quickly sees what life is like on the other side of the camera. Since no one knows what she did before appearing on the show, her secrets are plentiful.

This is an interesting plot. Where did you get your inspiration for this story?

This is an idea I’ve had since before college. When I was in a screenwriting class, I had to write a small portion of a screenplay and I based it on this idea, which had been in the back of my mind for a long time. At that time, I called it Paparazzi and formed a male lead character. Once I began writing romantic comedy, the idea started bugging me again. I thought, what if I changed it to a female? Called it Mamarazzi? I realized how much better that idea was and ran with it!

What a fantastic idea! What kind of research did you do for this book?

Took pictures of celebrities. Ha! Not really. I live in the Midwest. The news anchors are about as close as we get to fame around here. I can’t say that I’m one to research all that much. My fiction is very much just that…fiction! Made up from the deep creases in my mind. Scary as that is!

Ha. So funny! Please tell us about one of the main characters in this story and what you like about him or her.

I really liked the male lead, Eliot Lane. He’s a huge star, just coming into his own in the acting world. And yet he’s still humble and knows what’s important in the world. He can have anything he wants at the snap of a finger, but he doesn’t take advantage of that.

Where can my readers find you online?

I have a website, www.authorbrookewilliams.com, where I have all of my books listed and more information about anything and everything you’ve ever wanted to know. I also run a blog at that site, www.authorbrookewilliams.com/blog. I post my own stuff weekly and things for other authors as well. You can sign up to receive email notifications. I don’t send emails out more than once a week, if that. I am also very active on my author facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/authorbrookewilliams. Love hearing from all of you!!!

Thank you, Brooke, for this great interview. I love the humor you put in your books.

Interview with Historical Fiction Author Bruce Judisch

Bruce Judisch was born in Canton, Ohio. After serving over 21 years in the US Air Force, he settled with his family in San Antonio, Texas. He and his wife, Jeannie, are parents of three, and grandparents of fourteen. Bruce loves writing historical fiction, teaching, camping, and playing the 12-string guitar.

Welcome to my blog, Bruce. Please tell us about your two novels, Katia and For Maria.

First of all, thanks so much, Linda, for hosting me. I hope I’ll have something of value—and fun—to leave with your readers. Both books are hybrid contemporary/historical works, in that they have a modern-day storyline and a parallel mid-20^th-century storyline.

Katia centers on post-WWII and the Cold War in East Berlin, Germany, and the sequel For Maria deals with the “Kindertransport,” 1934-1945, during which thousands of children were saved from concentration camps and fostered overseas to await reunion with their families. The contemporary storylines in both novels feature Madeline “Maddy” McAllister, an exchange student in Katia and young journalist in For Maria. She is the prime driver of the crux events in both stories.

I love historical fiction because I learn so much about history. Where did you get your inspiration for these books?

Katia was inspired by a scene I witnessed in Berlin, Germany, in 1989 at the fall of the Berlin Wall. For Maria follows the story of twin infant girls, briefly introduced in Katia, as they transit Europe in the Kindertransport.

What kind of research did you do?

Both the contemporary and historical settings for Katia were driven by the circumstances surrounding the Berlin Wall, which, of course, dictated their placement in Berlin. There was some academic research involved; however, I was eyewitness to many of the events in the story—which made it easier and a lot of fun to write.

The historical setting of For Maria is wide ranging, covering Poland, Austria, France, Spain, Portugal, and the United States. The contemporary setting takes place in Madeline’s hometown:  Saginaw, Michigan, and my hometown, San Antonio, Texas. I have no idea why I chose Saginaw, other than it stuck with me after hearing it many years ago in the Paul Simon song, America. Deep, huh?

Research on For Maria was both time intensive and emotionally exhausting. The greatest joy was befriending some of the alumni of the Kindertransport I interviewed, now in their 80s. It’s largely their story I tell.

How long did it take to write the book, including preliminary work?

Amazingly, I wrote the first draft of Katia in 30 days (76.5K words). The story just flowed from the pen...er, the keyboard. Of course, editing it into something readable took a year, but that’s not too bad for a part-time author. The story was a joy to write and is still Jeannie’s favorite.

For Maria was a different story, literally. It took about a year and a half to complete a satisfactory first draft. The research time and emotional investment from the historical subject matter contributed to that sometimes heartbreaking journey. A few times I had to step away from the manuscript for a couple of weeks just to clear my mind.

It sounds like it was emotionally exhausting. Please tell us about the main character in this story and what you love about her.

I suppose Madeline would be the main-main character, as she is central in both books. She’s a spunky redhead who tends to stick her foot in her mouth more often than chocolate—which is saying something. I absolutely love her for both her foibles and her strengths; in short, her humanity. If Katia were to be made into a movie—a suggestion more than one reader has made to me—think of Amy Adams. I can think of no other.

The other main character in Katia is the title character. She’s a 60-year-old matron; stoic, formal, and very set in her ways. I love her for her heart, her faith, and her grit in the face of what life has dealt her. The change both she and Maddy undergo during their association is heartwarming and humorous, but not without its missteps. I’m less sure who would play Katia on the big screen (Meryl Streep, perhaps, or Vanessa Redgrave?).

I would be remiss to leave out the other main character in Katia, Oskar. A more lovable character you’ll never meet, if I may say so. Quiet, unassuming, and harboring a painful secret that threatens his whole existence—a secret the impetuous Maddy wrestles from him, and then has no idea what to do with. For Oskar’s part, think of Ernest Borgnine 30 years ago.

Awesome! You have definitely helped us imagine what your characters are like with your examples. Now it’s time to tell us something about the real you that we’ll never forget.

Oh my. Compared to my characters, I’m quite forgettable. I do have fun with my writing though, being mostly a seat-of-the-pants writer. If the characters don’t chime in, the story doesn’t get written. I love the first (and last) lines from the movie Miss Potter, in which Rene Zellweger, as the title character Beatrix Potter utters, “There's something delicious about writing those first few words of a story. You can never quite tell where they will take you.”  How true!

You can see more about me and my writing at www.brucejudisch.com and on my FaceBook author page. Thanks again, Linda, for the opportunity to reach out to your readers. It’s been fun!

Thank you, Bruce, for this wonderful interview. I have enjoyed getting to know about your books and you. I hope my readers will check out your books.

Interview with Humorous Christian Author Gay N. Lewis

Gay N. Lewis has a background in video production and interior design. She is a pastor’s wife and has three daughters and four grandchildren. Gay lives in Fulshear, TX and is the author of seven books in the Sarah Series, with more to come. All of the Sarah books are filled with humor and are on Amazon’s Best Seller’s List.

Sarah, a dyslexic angel, arrives from The Heavenlies to unite couples into lasting relationships.  Problem? Well, Sarah is always lost, loves red stilettos and falls down often.  When she must appear as a mortal, she can’t find a proper human disguise. Havoc and Mayhem should be her middle name. Sarah is a combination of I Love Lucy, I Dream of Jeanie, and Touched by an Angel rolled into one. The Sarah books are filled with humor and Christian inspiration.  Sarah’s shortcomings make it easy for the reader to identify with her.

Welcome to my blog, Gay. We are going to discuss your last four books in the Sarah Series. Sarah is an angel who helps humans in time of need. These books are available as ebooks, hard copies, and as an audiobook. Where did you get your inspiration for this series?

I love this question and thanks Linda for having me! I’ve written nonfiction for years, but when I ventured into novels, I wrote a book which I’m still waiting for it to see daylight. Choices is a historical story and the genre is Women’s Fiction. At the time, I didn’t understand the difference between women’s fiction and romance and sent my book to the wrong agents.

Getting nowhere fast, a friend told me about the local RWA chapter. I joined and discovered the difference between the two genres. While at the meeting, I learned romance with vampires and werewolves sold as hot commodities. Such stories were impossible for me, but as I listened, the thought of a goofy, dyslexic angel came to mind.

I wrote the first book, Little Angel Screw Up and sent it to Prism Book Group. Two days later, I received a contract. The publisher changed the name to Sarah: A Mission of Love. After the success of the first book, Prism Book Group now signs me to three contracts at a time. I recently finished one—it is currently in the editing stage. I have one to start and another book after that. I hope Sarah ideas keep coming my way.

Please give us a description of Sarah and the Internet Dating Service.

Thanks for asking. This book came to mind from my personal lack of savvy in computer skills. Two of my daughters and one nephew met through an Internet service, so I decided Sarah should try her hand, and of course, she knows nothing of computers.

The Superiors give Sarah a challenging assignment and send her to earth. She is to spur a romantic relationship between Karen Newton and Jeremy Spencer. The dyslexic angel has managed to unite couples previously, but never through the Internet! Since the couple knows each other and work in a Houston oil company, Sarah wonders why she must use that irksome computer gadget to trigger romance. The Superiors should have dispatched one of the angel techy geeks instead of her.  After all, she is known in The Heavenlies as “Little Miss Goof Up.”

When Karen faces danger, Sarah realizes she must get a correct email message to Jeremy. But how?  She’s already created multiple cyber fiascoes with her Internet attempts. Perhaps she should ignore orders and find other means to alert Jeremy. Poopty doopty—it would mean a reprimand on Cloud Five. Should she risk it? Uh-oh. Do angels get headaches?  It looks as though Sarah is headed for one.

Please tell us about Sarah and the Scary Ferris Wheel.

The publisher gave me this theme. Perhaps it came from a personal fear of Ferris wheels. I refuse to ride rollercoasters. Sarah isn’t afraid of heights, but she is terrified of the ocean.

Sarah is given a new mission—to link Robert Johnson and Brittany Lee—two people she encountered while trying to bring a couple together on that irksome computer Internet dating service. Oh sure, she’d done it. Not without trial and a lot of error, but with this fresh assignment, trouble would come again, she was positive.

If she hadn’t grumbled about the computer, maybe the Lieutenant wouldn’t have ordered her to ride the Galveston Ferris wheel. She’d seen the huge rotation device built over the Gulf of Mexico, and the very thought of a ride on that monster made her nauseous.  What if she threw up on the humans? Oh merciful heavens!  Why did the Superiors give such tasks to bumbling angels anyway?

The next book in this series is called Sarah and a Dad for Mandy. Please tell us about it.

I love writing about children. Little Mandy captured my heart in Sarah and the Internet Dating Service. She appears in Sarah and the Scary Ferris Wheel too.

Sarah receives instructions to find a mate for Galena Maddox and a dad for six year old Mandy. Sarah is one angel headed for trouble—again.  Pesky human disguises cause distress, and at one point, the earthlings think she’s a fugitive from a mental hospital. With Galena’s shady past, will Matt Austin, a minister, consider Galena for marriage?  Will Matt’s hoity-toity church accept Galena?  Angels shouldn’t worry, but this task is daunting.

Tell us about the newest book: Sarah and the Midnight Cruise to Catalina Island.

In this latest book, Sarah and the Midnight Cruise to Catalina Island, Carolyn travels by herself. The notion came from my own familiarity. I actually sailed alone to Catalina. Many of Carolyn’s adventures on the cruise were ones I experienced. Carolyn’s father had recently died, and so had mine. The airline lost my luggage, so of course that happened to Carolyn too.  

Carolyn can fly but can she swim? Dyslexic and bumbling angel, Sarah, comes to earth to unite Carolyn with a mate. Poopty doopty! She must do it on a ship while Carolyn cruises to Catalina Island. Sarah fears falling into the ocean, and she’s horrified soggy wings will drown her.  On this mission, Talen, an evil spirit is assigned to thwart Heaven’s Little Love Angel’s efforts. Tomas, the Warrior Angel, must protect Sarah. Can Tomas succeed without Sarah goofing up the war between the holy and unholy spirits? Will Talen succeed in spoiling Carolyn’s romance?

How do you come up with the humor in each story? Does it come naturally or do you use real-life situations?

God gifted me with humor before my birth, and I find hilarity in everyday situations. I can be writing when a thought comes to me, and I laugh. My hubby shares our office and will say, “What’s Sarah done now?”  Crazy things happen to me too, and they find their way into my books. Would you believe the first year we lived in Houston I had nine car wrecks? Sarah can’t drive, and in the second book, Sarah: Laney’s Angel, she creates a disaster when she tries her hand at it.

Haha. Your books sound so fun. Everyone loves to laugh.

Thanks Linda. I enjoy reading Janet Evanovich and Ann B. Ross for their humor.  I adore books that take stress away, and I hope mine does the same for readers.

I hope my readers will check out your books. I know they will enjoy them because of the humor you add. Here is my review of Sarah and A Midnight Cruise:

This is an adorable story about a young angel, Sarah, who makes one mistake after another. Even though she is assigned to guide and protect her “charge” and find her a husband, being a guardian angel is a new experience and she makes many mistakes along the way. This story is perfect for teenagers and adults who enjoy a cute story. Teens would love this series because Sarah reminds me of a sweet young teenager who sometimes forgets to think before she acts. –Review by Author Linda Weaver Clarke