This week I’m hosting Kathy Herman with Dangerous Mercy, Rose McCauley with Christmas Belles of Georgia, Eddie Snipes with I Called Him Dancer, and Rebecca Jacoby with Beating Cancer. If you want to enter the drawings for the books, 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 (December 11th) evening.
Heroine Interview from Dangerous Mercy by Kathy Herman:
1.Adele Woodmore, tell me the most interesting thing about you.
“Honestly, hon. I don’t consider myself all that interesting at eighty-six. But back when I was young, my Alfred, God rest his soul, used to take me on the most fascinating adventures. I wasn’t wealthy until I married Alfred, and having money opened up a whole new world. We were privileged to travel to places other people only dreamed about. Even then, we loved doing things our friends didn’t. Oh, we made the rounds when it came to parties and social events. But Alfred was an insatiable wanderlust, and I picked it right up. We were always off to some amazing new place. Backpacking. Skydiving. Scuba diving. Deep-sea fishing. Oh my, we had a glorious time at the barrier reef in Australia. We even backpacked in the Outback. And the jungles of Costa Rica and Brazil. We took a houseboat trip on the Amazon River. We rode donkeys down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Goodness, I wouldn’t even know how to compare our adventures. They were all so different. I think our African safaris were the most memorable because we saw such interesting animals in the wild. The tigers were my favorite. Nowadays, everyone is privy to these magnificent sights because of the fine nature documentaries. But in our day, only those wealthy enough to pay for a guide and a crew got to see such things. We never grew weary of traveling to new and exciting places. We even took a year-long cruise around the world. When I lost Alfred suddenly to a heart attack, my desire to travel died with him. But we did have a grand time, the two of us.”
2. What do you do for fun?
“My idea of fun at this stage of life is to spend time with my godchild, Grace. And enjoy Zoe’s company—she’s like the daughter I never had. She and her husband Pierce own Zoe B’s Cajun Eatery, which, if I do say so, is one of the finest authentic Cajun restaurants here in Les Barbes. Pierce is the head chef and he’s won all kinds of awards. They’ve adopted me as part of the family. I still enjoy outings to the ice cream parlor and the sweets shop. And going to the park for concerts or just to enjoy the beauty of nature. I love Easter egg hunts and decorating the Christmas tree and watching fireworks—mostly because I get to see the wonder in Grace’s eyes. Since I’m childless, I never expected to have a godchild, who’s more like a grandchild. I love Grace as if she were my own flesh and blood.
3. What do you put off doing because you dread it?
“I’m not at all fond of going to the doctor. At my age, they always find something else to deal with. Always more pills. But I go. And I do what they tell me. But at this stage of life, I don’t put things off if they’re important—especially regarding relationships. I never know when the Lord might call me home, and I don’t want any undone business, if you know what I mean.”
4. What are you afraid of most in life?
“I’m not afraid of anything, hon. The Lord has His eye on me. There’s no cause for fear. When I was younger, I greatly feared being childless. I had trouble conceiving. In those days, adoption was the only other option, and Alfred wasn’t open to it. Unfortunately, my fear came true after our child was stillborn, and the bitterness that resulted almost ruined my life. Today I have a different perspective. My life is in the Lord’s hands, and there’s no reason to fear anything that He allows to happen. For a believer, this life is simply a journey that leads to eternity. I wish I had come to understand that sooner.”
5. What do you want out of life?
“I want to live each day in such a way that it puts a smile on my Heavenly father’s face. I know that sounds simplistic, but I have everything my heart desires, living right here in Les Barbes close to Zoe, Pierce, and little Grace. I’ve traveled to faraway places and enjoyed many exciting adventures. I’ve loved a man with all my heart and been loved in return. I’ve enjoyed being a good steward of my wealth and the many opportunities I’ve had to share it. I’m in relatively good health for an octogenarian. My life has been fuller than I deserve. But I want to leave it with people saying of me, ‘She was about her Father’s business.’ That’s what really matters.”
6. What is the most important thing to you?
“My legacy of faith. The people I love. Also time, since I probably have little of it left.”
7. Do you read? If so, what is your favorite type of book to read?
“I read the Bible every day, and the Word has given me strength through some sad, and sometimes dangerous and difficult times. For sheer pleasure, I love reading James Michener’s novels, especially Alaska. I’ve read several of his novels over and over again. Each time they come alive in a different way and remind me of my own travels. I guess I’m old fashioned because I also like to read the Bronte sisters’ stories. Is there anything more moving than Wuthering Heights or Jane Eyre? Recently, a friend of Zoe’s introduced me to a series by Kathy Herman, Secrets of Roux River Bayou. These novels are contemporary and quite suspenseful and are set right here in south Louisiana. I get so caught up with her characters that I feel as if I’m part of the story. I like that.”
8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
“I’m pretty comfortable in my own skin at the moment, though I strive like the dickens to be more like Jesus. I’m decisive by nature and tend to forge ahead and make decisions before I ask if it’s His will. But God and I are close, and I wouldn’t change who I am today. That’s not true of the past. When Alfred and I lost our baby, especially after I’d carried her for eight months, we were devastated. But that was no excuse for my taking it out on the people who worked for us. For a long time, I was so bitter and mean that Alfred had to pay ridiculous salaries just to keep household staff from quitting. My attitude was shameful and my words sharp and destructive. I know the Lord has forgiven me, but some recipients of my harsh behavior still haven’t. Of course, my coming to know Jesus changed all that. But not before there were casualties.”
9. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?
“I don’t have a pet these days. But my choice would most certainly be a koala bear. Or better yet, two. Of course, I would have to be living on my estate at Woodmore, where I could create a suitable environment for them. When Alfred and I visited Australia, we fell in love with the koalas. I can still remember what a thrill it was holding them.
10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?
“I’d go back to that first year after Alfred and I were married. It was glorious. We were so in love. He was building the house at Woodmore as a wedding present for me. For the first time in my life, I had money for anything I wanted. Yet my real treasure was Alfred. I enjoyed every minute of every day I had with that man, but we were so full of ourselves. How I wish I could go back and share with him what I now understand about Jesus. Alfred was a good man. Yet, as far as I know, he never chose to trust Christ for his salvation. Only God knows his heart. I wish I had the assurance that I’ll see him again. I can hope. I just can’t know. However, I do know for sure that I’ll see my sweet April. We named our baby April because that’s the month she was due. I hardly ever say her name aloud. But every time I do, it’s almost as if I can feel her warm breath in my ear, telling me that she’s fine. Goodness, hon. I get goose bumps, thinking about finally seeing that child in heaven. I wonder if she’ll meet me the gate. I’ve waited more than six decades to find out. I suppose I can wait a while longer. Right now, little Grace has filled that void with enough love and laughter to tide me over. I’m so blessed I could burst. And that’s saying something.
