This week I’m hosting Gail Martin with Bride in Training, Ronie Kendig with Nightshade and Myra Johnson with Where the Dogwoods Bloom. If you want to enter the drawings, please leave a comment on one of the post during the week with your email address. I will not enter you without an email address (my way to contact you if you win). If you don’t want to leave an email address, another way you can enter is to email me at margaretdaley@gmail.com. The drawings end Sunday (July 25th) evening.
Interview with Martin Davis, hero of the novel, Bride In Training:
1. Martin, tell me the most interesting thing about you.
That’s a hard one. I don’t think I have much that’s interesting about me. I suppose the most interesting thing is that what I appear to be on the outside is far different from the real man inside. I come across as gruff and uncaring. I suppose I use that to hide my real feelings.
2. What do you do for fun?
I’ve never had much time for fun. I grew up in a family where career meant everything, and I carried that mind set with me into adulthood. I’ve learned some things though about myself, and I enjoy friendships now, and—now that I think about—one thing I really enjoy is surprising people. I have fun planning surprise parties and doing the unexpected. Maybe, that’s because I never did that until lately.
3. What do you put off doing because you dread it?
Yard work is one thing, but I think, if I look more deeply, talking about myself, especially my feelings, is something I avoid like the plague.
4. What are you afraid of most in life?
Easy. Relationships. They’ve always been difficult for me. I tend to be a user, and when I start using people, I lose them—a wife, almost my brother. I couldn’t even handle a relationship with a pet.
5. What do you want out of life?
Now? Companionship. I’m trying to change and that’s another thing I want. Everyone loves my brother Nick. I want to be more like him.
6. What is the most important thing to you?
I’ve always thought my business, but recently, I realize my faith and friendship is much more important.
7. Do you read books? If so, what is your favorite type of book?
I never had time to read. Workaholics don’t, but I make more time for pleasures now. I read the Bible but not faithfully. I suppose I read non-fiction books most. If I read fiction, I enjoy corporate thrillers.
8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
That should be obvious by now. I wish I had been more patient and understanding during my life. I didn’t give people a chance. I tended to manipulate situations because I could, and that’s very lonely. When I face the void of my life, I had to climb upward. It was a long haul, but I made it. It’s paid off in wonderful ways.
9. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it, and why that pet?
Certainly do. Her name is Nessie and she’s a Cairn terrier. I think she got her name from the Loch Ness Monster, and she was one when I first brought her home from the dog shelter, but Emily came to my rescue, and Nessie and I learned a lot. Before Nessie, I owned a Bouvier des Flanders for all the wrong reasons. I wanted her for prestige and to mate. The puppies could be sold for a high price. Suzette—that was her name—needed far more than I could provide. I didn’t give her my time or any training, yet I expected her to behave. My brother Nick took care of her far more than I did. I ended up giving her to Nick and his wife Steph. Now she’s a great pet, because they show her love. Love changes everything.
10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?
Funny you ask that. The other day I was wondering what would have happened if I could go back in time and relive my life so I could correct the major character flaws that caused me so many problems for too long. As I mentioned, my wife left me. I blamed her for a long time until I turned around and realized I was as much at fault as she was. It’s easy to blame others. It’s hard to take a deep look and face our faults and learn from them. That’s a lesson, we can learn from dogs. Dog’s don’t put on false fronts. The are who they are. If they like you, they wag their tails and if they don’t, they growl and bear their teeth. Human’s are dishonest. They hide under layers of distrust and protective shields until they don’t know what is real. A dog loves unconditionally. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all do that?
