This week I’m hosting Eleanor Gustafson with The Stones: A Novel of the Life of King David, Elizabeth Goddard with Exposing Amber and Janice Hanna with Love Me Tender. 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 (September 5th) evening.
Interview with Elizabeth Goddard:
1. What made you start writing? I think in every writer you’ll find a deep love of reading—so I’d have to say that I loved reading from an early age and that kindled in me a desire to write. But it wasn’t until the Lord continued to pursue me on this front and I met DiAnne mills who connected me with ACFW, that I had direction. I joined an ACFW critique group and started submitting a chapter a week—it made all the difference.
2. How long have you been writing? When did you sell your first book? I’ve been writing on an off for decades. Ha! I joined ACRW in 2001 and began deliberately pursuing publication through devotions and articles, as well as fiction.
3. How do you handle rejections? I have a sales background so I understand that it’s mostly all about the numbers—a rejection just means that you are that closer to a contract. That’s my way of thinking and it helps. Yes, it hurts for a while, but I keep looking forward to the next project.
4. Why do you write? Currently I write Christian romance for Heartsong Presents but I’d also love to write romantic suspense and I’m working on several projects along those lines.
5. What would you be doing with your free time if you weren’t writing? What a question. I can think of a kajillion things I’d love to do if I weren’t writing. First, I’d get my house spotless. (Am I revealing too much there?) and I’d spend a lot more time with my kiddoes—go places and have fun. I’d pursue one of my many other interests, perhaps even go for another college degree.
6. What are you working on right now? I’m working on a romantic suspense as I mentioned earlier, but more of an action/adventure romance—or at least that’s the feel I hope to give the story. But I haven’t sold it yet so don’t want to reveal anything about the story.
7. Do you put yourself into your books/characters? I think good fiction in most cases comes with age and life experience, so how can we not help but put a little of ourselves into our stories.
8. Tell us about the book you have out right now. Exposing Amber recently released with Heartsong Presents. I think the book blurb says it best.
This historian loves the past…unless it’s his own. Brandon Selman is struggling to reestablish his position and reputation as a competent museum director. Hampered by scandal from his last post, he is determined to stay on the straight and narrow. He especially will not allow himself to be taken in by any innocent-looking college student interns.
Amber McKinsey is excited to learn she’s been accepted as a summer intern for the Harrington museum. Working under Dr. Selman is just the opportunity she needs to determine the direction her future studies should take. But the reality is not the dream, and her own secrets threaten to undo her.
Then, a valuable artifact disappears and Amber is the likely suspect. How can Amber leave the shadows of the past behind when they follow her so closely? And could Brandon have misjudged a woman so badly again? Will either of them learn to trust or forgive before it’s too late?
9. Do you have any advice for other writers? Yes. Don’t become so involved in writing that you don’t spend enough time with those you love. That advice includes marketing your books through social networking, etc.,
10. How important is faith in your books? Since my faith in Jesus is the biggest part of who I am, faith is an essential part of my books. I don’t try to force the faith issue but rather allow it to evolve as I write the story.
The characters come alive, if you will, and begin to live it out. The faith comes out during the writing and not before.
11. What themes do you like to write about? Forgiveness and trust are big of course, but I also like to explore people who know there is a God or who believe there is a God but don’t understand it’s about believing and trusting In Him, about following Christ. Knowing there is a God is not enough.
12. What is your favorite book you’ve written and why? There’s a tough question. I enjoyed writing Exposing Amber because I was able to explore a topic I enjoy—creation science. I home school and my children love this topic as well so we spend a lot of time discussing it at home.
13. What is your writing schedule like? I try to write on most days. If I’m not on a deadline, then I’m working on a proposal. Even when I’m not writing—say I’m doing dishes or laundry, I’m still brewing storylines in my head.
