by Crystal Caudill | Nov 22, 2022 | Author Interviews
I had the pleasure of meeting Katie Powner and Moolene at the Fiction Readers Summit in May, and now it is my pleasure to introduce Katie to you. She is a woman with a big heart and impactful stories about redemption, relationships, and finding the dirt road home.
Katie Powner lives in rural Montana, where cows still outnumber people. She is a mom to the third power (biological, adoptive, and foster) and writes contemporary fiction about redemption, relationships, and finding the dirt road home.
You can connect with her through:
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | BookBub
Now for the fun stuff! I have to admit I am partial to my Fast Five. 🙂 So settle in as I hit Katie with rapid-fire.
CC: Milk or Dark Chocolate?
KP: Dark
CC: Print or E-book?
KP: Print
CC: Cat or Dog Person?
KP: Cat
Morning Person or Night Owl?
KP: Night Owl
CC: Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter?
KP: This question isn’t fair, because in Montana winter lasts from October to May. And July and August are really hot and dry and filled with forest fires. So my favorite season in Montana is June.
CC: That is too funny! Well, not the forest fires, but the lack of seasons. Now for a couple of fun personal questions:
What do you like to do when you aren’t reading or writing?
KP: When I’m not reading or writing, I love taking walks, fostering babies, going to high school sporting events, and hanging out with my husband and kids.
CC: I love your fostering heart, and I’m so thankful for the handful of posts that have shared the struggles of that journey. (Reader, you can find those on her blog through her website.)
When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer?
KP: I’ve known I wanted to be a writer from the beginning…from when I first learned how to write. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to be.
CC: It is so neat to see God use the desires of our hearts for His glory. It’s not an easy road, but I love that you have always wanted to do it.
What has been the biggest challenge for you on your writing journey?
KP: The biggest challenge on my writing journey has been trying to find that all-important balance between writing life and family life, as well as the balance between being committed to what I feel is my calling (and working hard to succeed) and still trusting that God is the one in control and will bring about the results He wants to bring about. It takes a lot of recurring prayer and meditation!
CC: I’m beginning to wonder if that balance between family and writing exists! And success in this writing world and struggling to not have control is a hard one for sure. I love that you actively pray and meditate on what He wants to bring about.
Let’s talk about your newest release, Where the Blue Sky Begins.
Sometimes the hardest road of all is the road home.
When confident and handsome Eric Larson is sent to a rural Montana town to work in the local branch of his uncle’s financial company, he’s determined to exceed everyone’s expectations, earn a promotion, and be back in Seattle by the end of summer. Yet nothing could prepare him for the lessons this small town has in store.
At forty-six years old, eccentric and outspoken Eunice Parker has come to accept her terminal illness and has given herself one final goal: seek forgiveness from everyone on her bucket list before her time runs out. But it will take more courage than she can muster on her own.
After an accident pushes Eric and Eunice together, the unlikely pair is forced to spend more time with each other than either would like, which challenges their deepest prejudices and beliefs. As summer draws to a close, neither Eric nor Eunice is where they thought they would be, but they both wrestle with the same important question: What matters most when the end is near?
Purchase your copy at Amazon | Baker Book House | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million | Christianbook | Indiebound
CC: What was some of your favorite research for Where the Blue Sky Begins?
KP: While preparing for Where the Blue Sky Begins, I did a lot of research about stomas, particularly urostomies, because Eunice in the story has a urostomy. I already knew what they were, but it was so fascinating to learn more about this absolute marvel of modern medicine. I mean, to think that doctors can re-route a bladder or a colon to a newly formed opening to save a person’s life…it’s amazing. Not many years ago, a person with a diseased colon would’ve died a slow and painful death. But now, thanks to advancements in stomas and stoma supplies, they can live a long, basically normal life. I loved learning more about that.
CC: We recently had the son of an acquaintance whose life was saved through a stoma. I never really thought about the fact that before they existed, people had such a miserable death. I am definitely glad for that bit of modern medicine.
How do you select the name of your characters?
KP: Names are so interesting. They tell us a lot about a person, even if we don’t realize it on a conscious level. So I take character name-choosing very seriously. I consider their age, their location, their family heritage. I consider their temperament and their character arc. I also consider how their name sounds out loud and how it sounds paired with other prominent names in the story. For example, if you have a William, you wouldn’t want to name his wife Wilma because that would be a tongue twister!
CC: I love how much thought you put into names. They really are such an important part of the story, and once it’s in print, you can’t change it.
What do you hope readers will take away from your story?
KP: I hope readers will think about their own mortality and consider not only what will happen after they die but what they should be doing now with the life they still have. I also hope they will be encouraged to not judge others so quickly but to give people a chance to show who they really are.
CC: That is so beautiful and so needed. Thank you so much for joining me today and providing such thought-provoking answers. As my final question, I have my usual “Fun Question”.
As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot?
KP: Actually, I already have a writerly mascot! It’s my stuffed Holstein cow named Moolene. She and I wear matching red Converse shoes and matching retro red bead necklaces. If you follow me online at all, you will see Moolene make appearances fairly often.
CC: Thank you again for joining us. For fun, I’ve included a picture of Moolene. 🙂
Reader, what would be YOUR mascot?
by Crystal Caudill | Oct 25, 2022 | Author Interviews, Writing Craft
Carrie Schmidt is one of my favorite people. Her heart for books, authors, and the reading community is like no one else I know. She seems to do nothing but eat, sleep, and breathe bookish EVERYTHING. The woman wears more hats than shoes on a millipede. I don’t know HOW she juggles it all. But I’m getting ahead of myself. FIRST, let’s get you introduced properly.
Schmidt is an avid reader, book reviewer, story addict, KissingBooks fan, book boyfriend collector, and cool aunt. She also loves Jesus and THE Story a whole lot. Carrie started the popular blog ReadingIsMySuperPower.org in 2015 and since then has had the honor of co-founding the Christian Fiction Readers’ Retreat and JustRead Publicity Tours. In addition to these endeavors, she is a regular contributor to Seekerville and has written for magazines such as RT Book Reviews and Christian Market. Carrie now lives in Georgia with her husband, though her roots range from East Tennessee to Central Kentucky and northern Illinois.
You can connect with Carrie on ReadingIsMySuperPower.org, Facebook @meezcarriereads or @meezcarriewrites, and everywhere else social at @meezcarrie.
DEAL ALERT: *Subscribe to the Publishing Gatekeepers newsletter (https://publishinggatekeepers.com/newsletter-signup/) and receive a tip sheet on 12 ways for getting past the gatekeepers.
Now for the fun stuff! I have to admit I am partial to my Fast Five. 🙂 So settle in as I hit Carrie with rapid-fire.
CC: Milk or Dark Chocolate?
CS: Milk. Always milk.
CC: Print or E-book?
CS: Yes. LOL. I love having print copies around me, so I can hug them occasionally. But with the amount of reading I do, I pretty much read exclusively on Kindle these days because I can enlarge the font to an obnoxious size to reduce eye strain 🙂
CC: Cat or Dog Person?
CS: Dogs. There’s nothing quite like the unconditional love of a dog.
Morning Person or Night Owl?
CS: The last time I was a morning person was as a little girl when I would wake my parents very sweetly pre-dawn with “I waaaaaked uhhhhh-uhhhhp” lol. I’m definitely a night owl!
CC: Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter?
CS: WINTER. But, I should clarify – I mean the northern Illinois kind of winter that I grew up with. The winters we had in Kentucky and now in Georgia really don’t count lol.
CC: How did I not know you grew up in Illinois. I guess since first met you when you were in Kentucky, I just assumed you were a Kentucky girl. Well, let’s see what else I don’t know.
What is your favorite Bible verse?
CS: One of my favorite Bible verses is Micah 7:8 – “Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.” (NIV). This became one of ‘my’ verses after a season of deep depression and panic attacks in my 20’s and early 30’s. It’s a sweet reminder to me that, even though we may go through times of darkness and/or brokenness, the enemy doesn’t get a vote in our worth or the power of the Savior who is our Advocate. That promise that the Lord will be my light is so tender to me.
CC: Amen. That is such an encouragement and one I need to highlight in my Bible.
What do you like to do when you AREN’T reading or writing?
CS: I love puzzles (word or jigsaw) and I occasionally get the urge to pick up cross-stitching again.
CC: I love puzzles too, but the cross-stitching impresses me. It looks so neat, but I’m not sure I”ve got the patience for it.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? (And I’m laughing as I ask this because I know the answer even before you give it.)
CS: Confession: I don’t want to be a writer. I love reading too much lol. But I DO want to help writers. Everything I do – from my blog to CFRR to JustRead Tours to the Art of Writing Conference and this book – has come from a heart of wanting to give back to the authors who have so many times “stood between my heart & Satan’s knife” (to quote Andrew Peterson’s All the Poets I Have Known song). I love fiction in nearly all its forms, and I love being able to connect authors and readers, in many ways as the go-between for the two groups. That’s why I accepted the invitation to write my section of Getting Past the Publishing Gatekeepers. It also gave me another way to honor my sweet Dad who went home to Jesus almost a year ago. He always told me I would write a book someday, and now I have.
CC: We appreciate you so much, Carrie! Both on the reader and author side of things. AND I ADORE that your Dad told you that you’d write a book someday. He must be getting a real kick out of watching you from Heaven.
Let’s talk about Getting Past the Publishing Gatekeepers.![Getting Past the Publishing Gatekeepers: Winning the Hearts of Agents, Publishers, Editors, and Readers by [Linda Fulkerson, Hope Bolinger, Rowena Kuo, Carrie Schmidt]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51UfYkNmYUL.jpg)
Remember when Dorothy finally reached the Emerald City only to be halted by the Gatekeeper, blocking her hopes of seeing the Great and Powerful Wizard?
The path to publication is like that. Agents, and Editors, and Publishers, oh, my! Each one is a barrier between you and a publishing contract.
But what if you understood what agents, editors, publishers, and readers really want?
If you’re struggling to get past the publishing gatekeepers, this book will give you a behind-the-scenes peek at how to win the heart of each type of publishing professional. In fact, Getting Past the Publishing Gatekeepers won’t just give you a peek—it will give you a guided tour. In this book, four publishing professionals—an agent, a publisher, an editor, and an influencer—share what it takes to unlock each “gate” within the publishing industry.
Getting Past the Publishing Gatekeepers is a must-have resource for all aspiring authors, and it offers insights to help multi-published authors as well.
Purchase your copy at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books Depository | Bookbub | Goodreads
CC: You have a real heart for the publishing industry, authors, and books, and I know that is why you agreed to be a part of this great writing resource. Tell our readers what perspective you brought to this collection. How is it different from other writing resources out there?
CS: My perspective is a bit different than the other authors of this book, because I’m talking about what happens after you’ve made it past all the other industry gatekeepers. You have a published (or soon-to-be) book and now you need to get it read. How do you find readers? How do you keep them once you’ve found them? I think the book overall is different from other writing resources because it is written from four separate professional perspectives, each of us bringing our own years of expertise to our distinct sections. It’s like going to a writing conference and taking four different classes without having to change rooms.
CC: I love that and so much cheaper than a writing conference!
What is the most important thing that you hope writers walk away with after reading your section of the book?
CS: My ‘most important thing’ is really three things lol. First, I pray that they are encouraged that their story matters – the one they’re writing & the one they’re living. Second, I hope they walk away with a new perspective and appreciation for readers & influencers and the voluntary-but-vital role each plays in promoting an author’s books. And finally I want them to close the book feeling less overwhelmed about how to find & keep readers.
CC: I love all those things, especially the last one, and I think this book really has given writers a way to feel lest overwhelmed.
There were a couple of places where you talked about surveying readers. Was there anything that you found surprising when conducting your surveys? Or were your thoughts confirmed?
CS: Mostly my thoughts were confirmed … BUT I was surprised when I surveyed readers about what most influences them to try a new-to-them author. However, the surprise wasn’t what does influence them. It was what doesn’t. Two things that I honestly thought would show up, didn’t. You’ll have to read the book to find out what they were 😉
CC: Ha! Ha! I see what you did there, but it is absolutely worth picking up the book to find out!
Thank you so much for joining me today and sharing your wisdom and experiences. As my final question, I have my usual “Fun Question”.
If you could travel anywhere without worry about cost, where would you travel?
CS: I would love to travel to Scotland some day…. but it would need to be in a private jet or something because flying terrifies me. So I’d want a big plane with just me & my travel companions (and the pilots, of course lol) and a big recliner or bed where I could just take some kind of pill and not wake up until I got there. Hence the need to not worry about cost 🙂
CC: Ha ha! It sounds like you’ll need a good dose of bravery should the opportunity arise!
Reader, what would be YOUR mascot?
by Crystal Caudill | Oct 18, 2022 | Author Interviews
After several years of “knowing” Darlene L. Turner online, I FINALLY got to meet her at this years’s ACFW. She is a wonderful woman and one of the founders of the Facebook Group Blue Ridge Readers Connection. If you’re on Facebook you should check that group out. Readers and authors love to mingle there. Now allow me to introduce you to the woman herself.
Darlene L. Turner is an award-winning and best-selling author and lives with her husband, Jeff in Ontario, Canada. Her love of suspense began when she read her first Nancy Drew book. She’s turned that passion into her writing and believes readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message. You can connect with Darlene at www.darlenelturner.com where there’s suspense beyond borders.
You can connect with her through:
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | BookBub | Goodreads | Amazon
Now for the fun stuff! I have to admit I am partial to my Fast Five. 🙂 So settle in as I hit Darlene with rapid-fire.
CC: Milk or Dark Chocolate?
DT: Milk
CC: Print or E-book?
DT: Print
CC: Cat or Dog Person?
DT: Cat
Morning Person or Night Owl?
DT: Morning
CC: Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter?
DT: Fall
CC: Since fall is your favorite, you must be in heaven right now. Let’s dive right in.
How can we pray for you?
DT: That God would use my books for HIS glory to touch lives.
CC: AMEN. That is a powerful prayer and you can be certain I’m at least praying it for you.
What is your favorite Bible Verse? Why?
DT: Psalm 91:4 “He will cover you with His feathers; you will take refuge under His wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield.” – I love that God protects us and keep us under His wings.
CC: That is definitely a beautiful image, especially in these difficult times.
What do you like to do when you aren’t reading or writing?
DT: Tole painting (painting on wood pieces), Lego-building, watching TV/movies
CC: Oh! I saw one of your recent projects! I BEAUTIFUL log cabin mailbox. Your skill is amazing.
When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer?
DT: When I picked up my first Nancy Drew book. 🙂
CC: Oh, I LOVED Nany Drew as a kid!
What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?
DT: I tend to write from around 9-3ish. Then work on social media in the evenings.
CC: There are definitely a lot of different hats that authors have to wear. It’s great that you have a set schedule.
Let’s talk about your newest release, Explosive Christmas Showdown.
A bomber brings terror to Christmas as the presents go tick…tick…boom. With criminal investigative analyst Olive Wells at the center of a bomber’s dangerous game, she’ll do anything to catch the culprit—even work with her ex-fiancé and his K-9 detector dog. But with the Christmas rampage drawing ever closer, Zac Turner’s convinced the attacks are personal. Can they piece together their ties to the bomber…before another gift explodes?
Purchase your copy at Amazon | Amazon.ca | Barnes & Noble | Chapters | Christianbook
CC: Which character was the most fun to create?
DT: Is it terrible to say I had the most fun creating the villain – the Jingle Bell Bomber? haha! It was fun to think up his game.
CC: I don’t think so! There is just something about creating a villain and figuring out how they tick . . . and then how to bring them down.
How do you select the name of your characters?
DT: Whenever I heard an interesting name, I add it to my “names database.” I also use baby name sites. I love naming my characters!
CC: Oh I love that you collect interesting names in a database. That is so organized of you.
What do you hope readers will take away from your story?
DT: That no matter what, God DOES work out everything for our good. His plan for us is perfect.
CC: Amen! It can be hard to see in the moment, but it is a truth we can stand on. Thank you so much for joining me today and providing an explosive distraction. As my final question, I have my usual “Fun Question”.
If you could have a super power, which would it be?
DT: FLY! I dream a lot that I can fly, so that would be amazing. haha!
CC: Flying would definitely make getting to different places a lot easier and faster!
Reader, what would YOUR superpower be?
by Crystal Caudill | Aug 30, 2022 | Author Interviews
Today it is my pleasure to introduce to you, Janet Ferguson. I’ve “known” Janet online for several years now, and she is a joy to keep up with. But let me introduce you to her properly.
Janet W. Ferguson is a Christy Award finalist and the FHL Readers Choice Award-winning author of realistic inspirational fiction. An avid reader, she loved books so much she found a job as a librarian so she could be around them all day. Then she turned that love of story into writing faith-filled novels with characters who feel like best friends. You’ll laugh and cry as the quirky heroes and heroines chase their happily ever after. Janet and her husband live in Mississippi where they say y’all a lot, and she forces him to visit the beach as often as possible. They have two grown children, one really smart dog, and a cat that allows them to share the space.
You can connect with her through:
Website | Facebook | GoodReads | BookBub
*If you sign up for her newsletter, you will get her Christy Award finalist novella, Falling for Grace for free. Click here!
Now for the fun stuff! I have to admit I am partial to my Fast Five. 🙂 So settle in as I hit Janet with rapid-fire.
CC: Milk or Dark Chocolate?
JF: Both!
CC: Print or E-book?
JF: Love print but since my eyes are aging, eBooks are easier to read now.
CC: Cat or Dog Person?
JF: Both again. 🙂
Morning Person or Night Owl?
JF: Night for sure. Mornings hurt!
CC: Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter?
JF: Summer and beaches.
Now for a couple of fun personal questions:
How can we pray for you?
JF: That the stories I write glorify God and spread the Good News of His love and grace.
CC: Amen! Amen!
What is your favorite Bible verse?
JF: So many! But I love Isaiah 55’s invitation,
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.”
We think we need so much, but really God supplies our true needs.
CC: It is so easy to get wrapped up in the “things” of life instead of what we truly need.
What are you reading right now?
JF: I am finishing a novel by Tosca Lee called A Single Light. It’s a thriller for sure.
CC: I’ve not read anything from her, but I have heard her writing still keeps you on the edge of your seat.
What do you like to do when you aren’t reading or writing?
JF: Walking outside, trying new restaurants, traveling, Bible study, and taking pictures of nature keep me happy.
CC: Those are all great hobbies. My family especially loves trying new restaurants.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
JF: In 2012, both my parents passed away, along with my mother-in-law within 2 months. I’d had a story idea for about 7 years. After those losses, I realized life was short, and I began writing my first novel which became Leaving Oxford.
CC: Realizing the brevity of life can be a kick in the pants for so many things. I am sorry for your losses, but so glad good came out of them in the form of your writing.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
JF: A lot of times, I write sitting on my bed, LOL! My room is quiet and I have a stack of pillows piled up and research books spread out all over.
CC: That would be far too tempting for me to take a nap instead of write. LOL
What is your writing Kryptonite?
JF: I hate editing. It’s just so hard to rethink something once it’s finished, especially part of the plot or story.
CC: I’m the opposite, but I can see where that could be difficult.
What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?
JF: I’m not the best at having a schedule anymore. I’ve decided to write one book a year, giving it my best work. If I get behind on my deadline though, I’ll go to a library or coffee shop to finish those last chapters. Sometimes I have to get away from distractions at home.
CC: Distractions at home are the hardest. You literally have to leave in order to escape them. One book a year sounds like the perfect pace to me!
What has been the biggest challenge for you on your writing journey?
JF: Writing the stories of heroines who’ve gone through abuse was incredibly hard, because I had to dig into how that must have felt and how it affected them. The emotion of that is tough.
CC: That is definitely a huge challenge and one that also becomes a spiritual battle in and of itself.
Let’s talk about your newest release, Healing Skye.![Healing Skye: A Coastal Hearts Novel by [Janet W. Ferguson]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41AZIyFFjTL.jpg)
People can’t be trusted.
Animals always made more sense than humans did to marine biologist Skye Youngblood. After her mother’s tragic death, she left Alabama and never looked back. These days, she pours her heart into protecting nature’s sea creatures. When she returns to Dauphin Island, Alabama, for a temporary manatee migration study, her dark past is much too close. She can’t let her guard down. But how can she keep her heart hidden when a kind man with a genuine smile makes her want a fresh start?
Charter fishing pays the bills for widower Pete Thompson and his little girl, but like his father, a pastor, Pete can’t help but fish for men. Only, after growing up under constant scrutiny as a preacher’s kid, Pete’s ways are a bit more unconventional. And the bulk of his life revolves around raising his precious daughter.
When he witnesses the car wreck of a new marine biologist on the island, it doesn’t take a genius to see that more than just her physical pain needs tending. Pete feels called to help Skye find true healing, but he’s navigating dangerous waters. And he’s not at all sure he’ll walk away unscathed.
Purchase your copy here.
CC: Who was the most challenging character to create?
JF: Probably this last character Skye. She’s had such a hard childhood with a terrible stepfather and a mother who suffered from depression.
CC: Those traumatic backgrounds can really make for reluctant characters–even for us the author. I’m so glad you stuck with it.
Which character was the most fun to create?
JF: My hero of For the Love of Joy, Davis, showed up in The Art of Rivers as a side character and he was just hilarious. He was also in Star Rising. At some point I knew he had to have his own story. I think God gave me Davis as a gift and a joy to write.
CC: That is so sweet. I love how those recurring side characters eventually get their own stories.
What was some of your favorite research for Healing Skye?
JF: For Healing Skye. I loved researching manatees. I even went to swim with them in Florida! They are truly gentle giants.
CC: My family saw the first time in the wild this summer. They really are fascinating and so gentle.
How did this story affect you as you wrote it? Did God teach you anything through the writing?
JF: A couple of things came to me through this story. Sometimes we don’t think God is with us because of the bad things in life, but if we really look, we can see that He was there walking with us, sometimes carrying us, all along. Another thing I processed is that the church is made up of broken people, but it is still Christ’s bride.
CC: Amen to all those hard lessons!
If you could be any of your characters, which one would it be?
JF: I love Rivers from The Art of Rivers. She’s artistic and kind and though she might come off as weak, she’s truly strong in her core because of her faith.
CC: I love that. The core of our faith is really our strength.
How do you select the name of your characters?
JF: Oh goodness, I spent hours looking at websites with names and baby names and historical names and name meanings. It’s a rabbit hole for sure. I keep a long list of names. If I meet someone or hear of an interesting one, I make a note.
CC: I love capturing names as I meet new people. Writing historical, it’s rare that I get to use them, but there are some fascinating names out there.
What do you hope readers will take away from your story?
JF: We have a God who cares about your pain. We have a God who loves purely—a Savior who heals.
Thank you so much for joining me today and providing all of us with a wonderful distraction. As my final question, I have my usual “Fun Question”.
What are the top three things on your bucket list?
JF: They all involve travel, I think! I’d like to see Scotland, the rest of the United States that I haven’t gone to, and New Zealand.
CC: Travel never gets old. Or at least the dream of it, and your location selections are excellent!
Thanks for getting to know Deb Kastner with me. Don’t forget to check out her book, Healing Skye, and answer the question below to let us know what your bucket list items are.
by Crystal Caudill | Aug 23, 2022 | Author Interviews
The book world is full of interesting people, and authors tend to be their own breed. That’s why I enjoy author interviews. It gives me a chance to meet other authors who have characters and stories living in their heads and then introduce them to the readers who like to read about those stories and characters. This week I get the honor of introducing to you Love Inspired author, Deb Kastner.
Publishers Weekly Bestselling, award-winning author of over 50 novels and two million books in print, Deb Kastner enjoys writing contemporary inspirational and sweet western stories set in small communities, often including animals as major secondary characters. Deb lives in beautiful Colorado with her husband, her puppers Gabby and Sadie, and two mischievous bonded brothers, black tuxedo cats Hype and Dab. She recently went through what she terms her midlife crisis and adopted her very first ever real live horse whose name is sweet Moscato. She is blessed with three adult daughters and two grandchildren with #3 on the way. Her favorite hobby is spoiling her grandchildren, but she also enjoys reading, watching movies, listening to music (The Texas Tenors and The High Kings are her favs), singing in the church choir and exploring the Rocky Mountains on horseback.
You can connect with her through:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | BookBub
Now for the fun stuff! I have to admit I am partial to my Fast Five. 🙂 So settle in as I hit Deb with rapid-fire.
CC: Milk or Dark Chocolate?
DK: Dark Chocolate for sure. The darker, the better.
CC: Print or E-book?
DK: Yes. I love books. All books. The smell of print books, the convenience of eBooks and being able to clean, declutter or play a computer game while I’m listening to an audiobook.
CC: Cat or Dog Person?
DK: Yes. I’ve been a dog person all my life and currently live with my elderly pit bull/shepherd mix Sadie, my beloved miniature schnauzer Gabriella Peaches (Gabby) and my granddaughter’s emotional support dog Oreo, who literally has the body of a Boston terrier and the small apple head of a chihuahua. Two years ago added a pair of bonded tuxedo cat brothers who keep the house lively. I also had a midlife crisis and adopted a wonderful horse named Moscato.
CC: Morning Person or Night Owl?
DK: Night owl for sure. I’m trying to back it up, but the truth is I go to bed at 2 AM and wake up at 10 in the morning.
CC: Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter?
DK: I live in Colorado, so I have to say Fall, when the colors change and it gets cooler.
Now for a couple of fun personal questions:
How can we pray for you?
DK: My husband had a double stroke six years ago and continues to fight its effects, which appear to be getting worse. My granddaughter has emotional needs which need to be met and I pray she feels God’s presence in her life. Right now she is really floundering. And for me, that I can be a caregiver for everyone and also the sole breadwinner.
CC: Oh, Deb! So many hugs. I’m a caregiver myself, and just caring for one person is a challenge, but you have SOOOO MUCH to handle. You can be guaranteed those prayers. May you feel God’s strength, peace, encouragement, and provision as you move through each day.
What is your favorite Bible verse?
DK: I cling to John 6:53-58. Jesus is the true bread Who feeds us and gives us drink. Without that I wouldn’t be able to continue fighting through life when the bad times come and rejoice through it all.
“Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats[s] my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” (NABRE)
CC: It is so comforting to have the reassurance from Him. Life as a caregiver is never dull or easy.
What are you reading right now?
DK: Psychological thrillers, as I can’t read contemporary Christian romances when I’m writing them.
CC: You sure dive right into the other spectrum! LOL But I completely understand not being able to read in the genre you write while writing your story.
What do you like to do when you aren’t reading or writing?
DK: I don’t get out to see my beautiful Arabian Moscato nearly as often as I’d like because he’s an hour and a half away at my sister’s farm. But whenever I can find an afternoon, I’m out there loving on him..
CC: There is just something peaceful and comforting about spending time with horses especially. I’m glad you get your time with him when you can.
What has been the biggest challenge for you on your writing journey?
DK: Working through various family issues that always seem to pop up. I’d like to say I just shut my office door and write through them, but that doesn’t happen. I’m too much of a wife/Mom/Granny to ignore my family’s needs.
CC: Hugs. I so understand that. It really slows the writing process, but family is always the greater calling.
Let’s talk about your newest release, A Reason to Stay (Rocky Mountain Family #5) (K9 Companions #9).
Caring for a little boy… Brings him more than he ever imagined Tied down with family and work responsibilities, Sharpe Winslow has always wondered about the world outside his small Colorado town. When newcomer Emma Fitzpatrick finds herself unsure about caring for the brother she never knew about, Sharpe and his rescue pup, Baloo, step in and take the boy under their wing. Sharpe knows he shouldn’t get close to Emma or Aidan. But maybe they’ll give him a reason to stay…
Find all the available purchase links by visiting https://www.debkastnerbooks.com/book/a-reason-to-stay/.
CC: Who was the most challenging character to create?
DK: Sharpe was difficult because, like his name, he’s very edgy. It’s difficult to write a character who lives right on the edge without having him fall too far and be downright mean. I want readers to empathize with him and his inability to have the life he wants.
CC: That can definitely be a difficult balance to maintain, but those characters need to exist. We live with Sharpes in our lives, and it’s always good to see another side of them.
Which character was the most fun to create?
DK: As always, the service dogs in the stories win out. I enjoyed writing the boy Aidan and how therapy dog and Border collie, Baloo, changes his life.
CC: Dogs make such a difference in everyone’s lives, and therapy dogs provide such a needed service that cannot be fulfilled any other way.
How did this story affect you as you wrote it? Did God teach you anything through the writing?
DK: I have to admit I sometimes feel tied down by my responsibilities and feel as if God has given me too much, even though I cling to the verse that states God will never give me more than I can handle. I learned with Sharpe that maybe this is exactly where I’m supposed to be and I don’t have to “get away” in order to find joy and peace in my life.
CC: I have been recently working through a similar season in my caregiving life, so boy does that hit home for me. Again, lots of hugs!
Thank you so much for joining me today and providing all of us with a wonderful distraction. As my final question, I have my usual “Fun Question”.
As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot?
DK: I’ve actually made a logo with my miniature schnauzer Gabby front and center and my tag line “Dare to Dream.”
CC: That is so cute and appropriate for all the dog characters you have in your stories.
Thanks for getting to know Deb Kastner with me. Don’t forget to check out her book, A Reason to Stay, and answer the question below to let us know what would be YOUR mascot.
by Crystal Caudill | Aug 16, 2022 | Author Interviews
Today I get the pleasure of introducing you to my friend and fellow author, Grace Hitchcock. We met at the American Christian Fiction Writers conference a number of years ago, and it has been a huge blessing to watch her career blossom and grow. She is a fun and witty author with dashes of suspense depending on which book you read. She’s super talented and I’m so excited to have her on the blog this week.
Grace Hitchcock is the award-winning author of multiple historical novels and novellas. She holds a Masters in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in History. Grace lives in the New Orleans area with her husband, Dakota, sons, and daughter. Connect with her online at GraceHitchcock.com.
You can connect with her through:
Website | Newsletter | BookBub | GoodReads
Now for the fun stuff! I have to admit I am partial to my Fast Five. 🙂 So settle in as I hit Grace with rapid-fire.
CC: Milk or Dark Chocolate?
GH: Dark chocolate!
CC: Print or E-book?
GH: Love the feel of a print copy in my hands and seeing it on my shelf! I recently got a paperwhite kindle and I have to admit, I love that I can read at night again!!
CC: Cat or Dog Person?
GH: I’m allergic to both sadly, so I’m more of a Holland Lop bunny person!
CC: Morning Person or Night Owl?
GH: Totally morning, which is great because my kiddos wake up before six most mornings haha!
CC: Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter?
GH: Spring! Not only are the flowers bursting all around, but it’s King Cake season in Louisiana 🙂 And if you haven’t had a King Cake before, you should definitely order one! Heavenly.
Now for a couple of fun personal questions:
What are you reading right now?
GH: Currently, I am listening to Regina Jenning’s A Most Inconvenient Marriage and reading Gabrielle Meyer’s When the Day Comes. I recently finished Erica Vetsch’s The Gentleman Spy and LOVED it!!
CC: Oh girl. I can’t rave enough about The Gentleman Spy and The Debutante’s Code by Erica Vetsch! AMAZING. And Gabrielle Meyer’s is on my TBR. I haven’t read Regina’s but I know it is on my shelf. 🙂
What do you like to do when you aren’t reading or writing?
GH: I love to bake! I will take any excuse to make a pie or cake from scratch, or create new cookie recipes. I have been branching out into the pastry world and enjoy the challenge. In my current work-in-progress for Kregel Publication’s, the heroine is a baker, so I have the perfect excuse to try out her Regency recipes as well 🙂
CC: I am a baker as well, except my family rarely eats the types I like to make. LOL I cannot wait to read your book and maybe find a way to sneak to your house and try some of those Regency recipes.
What has been the biggest challenge on your writing journey?
GH: I’d say the biggest challenge is the ever-changing schedule of my writing days. With a Pre-K son, toddler, and almost-here infant, writing time happens in the little moments throughout the day and at night. Being flexible with writing time is difficult, but I’ve learned to focus during those spurts of time and have studied how to become more efficient with my writing speed while leaning heavily on the knowledge that the Lord will give me time and inspiration. I’m ever thankful to have a supportive husband who entertains the kiddos at the end of his work day and makes sure I have time to write each day if I wasn’t able to get to it.
CC: Having a supportive family is so huge, and I could definitely use some of your tips and tricks for focus during those snippets of time.
Let’s talk about your first indie release, The Finding of Miss Fairfield.![The Finding of Miss Fairfield: A Victorian Harvey Girls Romance (Aprons & Veils, Book 1) by [Grace Hitchcock]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51vvKAD2PdL.jpg)
When an engagement of convenience becomes anything but convenient . . .
Forced into a betrothal with a widower twice her age, Charleston socialite, Sophia Fairfield is desperate for an escape. But, while her fiancé is away on business, he assigns his handsome stepson, Carver, the task of looking after his bride-to-be. Much to her dismay, Sophia finds herself falling in love with the wrong gentleman—a man society would never allow her to marry, given Sophia was supposed to be his new stepmother. The only way to save Carver from scandal and financial ruin is to run away, leaving him and all else behind to become a Harvey Girl waitress at the Castañeda Hotel in New Mexico.
Carver Ashton has had his life planned out for him since birth, but when he encounters Sophia Fairfield, he glimpses a new life—apart from his overbearing stepfather’s business. But, when the woman he loves disappears before he can express his devotion, Carver abandons all to find her. However, his stepfather has other intentions for Sophia and will stop at nothing until she is his bride . . . even if it is against her will.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
CC: What was some of your favorite research in preparing for The Finding of Miss Fairfield?
GH: As an avid Harvey Girl fan, I read just about every Christian Historical Fiction work I could find as well as several non-fiction works on the subject. One of the craziest things I discovered while researching was that Fred Harvey originally had waiters serving in his houses, but one of his managers thought that if the houses were run by waitresses, the male guests eating at the Harvey House would be better behaved. Fred Harvey agreed and thus, the Harvey Girls were created!
CC: That is so cool. It is generally true that men behave better around women. Or at least that used to be true and is still true of my boys. But that may be that they just better behave FOR Mom so they don’t get in trouble.
How did this story affect you as you wrote it? Did God teach you anything through the writing?
GH: It is always funny to me that the themes written about in my novels are reflected in some form in my life. For The Finding of Miss Fairfield, the heroine deals with fear and I found as the release date for this novel approached, I was allowing myself to fall prey to fear as well. There is a healthy fear in writing in wanting to do your best and pushing yourself, but if that fear keeps you from taking a step that you know God has called you to take, there’s a problem. I had to laugh when it came time to send out my ARCs to my street team and NetGalley because I literally put it off for a few hours because I was so nervous about sending out my official first Indie published novel. Closing my eyes in prayer, I hit send. I’m praying the readers will find it entertaining!
CC: That fear can be a killer! You have not idea how proud I am of you for following God’s call and taking that step of hitting send.
How do you select the names of your characters?
GH: Usually I pick the names first and when I find the right name, I at once begin to see the person I am writing about. For this novel, I changed the heroine’s name several times to fit the woman she had become throughout my drafts. The hero’s name has stayed the same though 🙂 I use Names Through the Ages to pick accurate names for the region and the era. It’s an AMAZING resource!
CC: Oh girl, I am so excited about that resource! THANK YOU!!! I cannot wait to use it.
Thank you so much for joining me today and providing all of us with a wonderful distraction. As my final question, I have my usual “Fun Question”.
If you could travel anywhere without worry about cost, where would you travel?
GH: This is a hard one! I have several places on my travel list, but I’d have to say that I want to go back to Paris and from there, I’d take the train and visit all the palaces and castles I could reach, filling a journal of writing research as I went!
CC: Sigh. Paris! One day, and YES to all the castles. How much story fodder there must be in those places!
Thanks for getting to know Grace Hitchcock with me. Don’t forget to check out her book, Miss Fairfield, and answer the question below to let us know where you would travel. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for an autographed print copy! (Sorry, open to US mailing addresses only.)
The giveaway runs until August 23rd at 11:59 EST. Open to US mailing addresses only due to the cost of shipping.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
