Friends of Aniah Press welcomes everyone to the Spring Fling. Authors will take turns hosting a day of fun.If you haven’t already done so, follow this link and join the Friends of Anaiah Press Facebook group to follow the event. https://www.facebook.com/groups/AnaiahPressNews/
We all could use a break from boredom, loneliness and possibly despair that our isolation is causing. During Spring Fling, you can spend time each day with Christian authors, find new books to add to your reading list, and enjoy fun and chances to win prizes.
Today, April 7, your host is Melony Teague, author of A Promise to Keep.
Today I’m interviewing author Laura Nelson Selinsky. Laura, thank you for joining me today. Let’s start by telling us a little bit about yourself.
I’m a book, tea, and garden lover with a background in education and pastoral ministry. I’m also a wife of thirty-eight years; we’ve been together through thick, thin, and the first three weeks of an open-ended Stay-at-Home-Order. My husband, my kids and their partners are all PhDs or MDs, so our family is a bunch of scary-smart scientists versus one little English teacher. I’ve taught high school English for twenty-four years, first teaching adjudicated students, then those with significant learning differences. On my fiftieth birthday, I decided to take the writing skills with which I had coached my students to win writing competitions and write fiction myself. Ten years later, almost to the day, Anaiah offered me a contract for Season of Hope—quite a sixtieth birthday gift!
What is your book about?
Claudia, a shopkeeper with two little sisters, is trapped in a tough neighborhood. She reluctantly falls for Nick, a naïve young pastor; he thought he’d come to save the neighborhood, but he’s watching his mission fail. When a terrible crime threatens Claudia and her sisters, she and Nick work together to protect each other and her family. They rediscover hope and embrace the future together. Season of Hope is a Christmas-in Quarantine gift to romance readers.
What is the inspiration behind your story?
Philadelphia is a city of distinctive neighborhoods. For Season of Hope, the neighborhood, downtrodden, but feisty and well-loved, inspired the book before I knew a word of Claudia and Nick’s story. The book cover is a simplified vision of Philly, the perfect choice for this story.
What was the catalyst for your interest in writing?
My small hometown had two libraries: a tiny one in the elementary school (I read every book) and a branch of the regional library over our fire station (peaceful, except when the siren went off!). The little girl for whom reading was central made her way to writing—inevitable, I think.
How do you find time in your day to write?
During the school year, I do “small picture writing” (a few hundred words of drafting or a few thousand words of revision). When school’s in, I’m best motivated by deadlines and my beloved critique group. Summer breaks let me do “big picture writing” (revise a whole novel or reconcile the books in a series).
Do you reward yourself when a book is finished?
I don’t usually celebrate finishing a draft. Since Season of Hope was my first published novel, I gave a tea for family, friends, and my critique group to celebrate the book release. I love “tea” as a practice and as an excuse for eating buttery treats. Seriously, I love tea—last summer, I had tea in Edinburgh Castle.
What book do you wish you would have written?
If I were younger, I might wish I had written my favorite book Jane Eyre, which I’ve read an embarrassing number of times. But, I wouldn’t want the constrained and difficult lives of the Bronte girls; I know I am better off with my own life and my own small stories.
Were there any surprises that came up as you wrote your story?
To avoid offending existing businesses, my editor had me devise an original name for the little urban Chinese restaurant, mentioned in passing in Season of Hope. Two hours of googling name after name was required to find an unused, but believable, thing to call the restaurant.
Who was your favorite character to create?
My favorite character to write was Nick because of the humility and courage he needs to learn. He’s a great guy and he means well, but he came from affluence to lead a poor urban ministry with few of the skills or attitudes required. Writing Nick’s growth without patronizing or rushing his character was wonderful…and very, very hard.
Share your favorite excerpt from your book:
Picking a “favorite” is so hard. Here’s the first meeting between Claudia and Nick, and it’s definitely not “meet cute.” In this scene, Claudia thinks her abusive stepfather Tomas has returned, and with water in her eyes, she can’t quite make out who is bending over the children…
“Take your hands off those kids.” Claudia gripped the broom handle, swung, and connected with the figure’s shoulder. The crouched figure straightened, much too tall and thin for Tomas. She swept her sleeve across her face, clearing her vision.
Nick spun to face her as she dropped the broom.
“Oh, no, Pastor, I thought you were…”
Thank you for being my guest today, Laura. I enjoyed reading Season of Hope. The neighborhood and its characters are very realistic. I was inspired by the growth that your character, Nick, went through.
I’m excited to bring you the cover reveal for Violet, the second book in the “I am Girl” series by Renee Lichtenhan.
About the Book
Thirteen-year-old Violet Windsor is obsessed with the rush and thrill of skateboarding through a dangerous, gang-ridden part of New York City. Certain that her high-society parents wouldn’t approve of the rough-and-tumble sport or the sketchy neighborhood, she and her best friend, Sloane, hide her secret adventures in a thick veil of lies.
When Violet’s autistic, non-verbal brother, Oliver, begins drawing pictures that reveal a mysterious knowledge of her secrets, Violet is rattled to the core. Intrigued by Oliver’s drawings of angels, demons, and a peculiar old lady, she follows clues that lead her down a reckless path toward redemption and truth.
About the Author
Renée Lichtenhan’s “I Am Girl” novels grew out of years of working with children. Renée loves their open minds, hearts, and souls. She wanted to write engaging books that might encourage faith and virtue to take shape within that openness. She lives with her husband in Mississippi, where they raised their three grown children. Follow the author at: http://www.reneelichtenhan.com
Today on Meet the Author, I’m interviewing Jamie Adams, author of Cold Creek Mountain, a new release from Anaiah Press.
Welcome, Jamie. Thank you for joining me today. Let’s get started by telling us a little bit about yourself.
Hi, I’m Jamie Adams and I love to write Christian western romance. I live in the Ozarks with my husband and twin daughters. We enjoy the quite slower pace here in the woods. An avid reader since childhood, I have a head full of stories waiting to be written.
What can you tell us about your book, Cold Creek Mountain?
Lilly Fletcher is a governess with three young children who need to be delivered to their uncle on Cold Creek Mountain. She hires ex-scout Hayden Dawson to guide them up the rugged mountain. When the ride up Cold Creek Mountain doesn’t go as planned, they must find a way to work together to protect the children. Lilly struggles with how to find the strength to leave her wards behind and her growing feelings for the complex man chosen as their guide.
Sounds like you have some great characters. Who was your favorite character to create?
In Cold Creek Mountain, Hayden was my favorite character to create. He’s very wounded and yet has integrity and strength that allows him to grow throughout the story. By the end of the book he sheds the burden he’s born for way too long and embraces the love and happiness he has been running from.
When it comes to writing styles, are you a plotter or a panster?
I’m a panster but try to plot as much as possible because it does make a difference. Plotting allows me to see where the story is going, which motivates me to continue writing.
Besides being an author, do you have a “day job”?
I have a ‘day job’ but it takes place during the wee hours of the morning and/or late at night. I’m an ESL teacher to children in Asia. I love the job but because of the time difference the hours are odd.
That is very interesting work. With that kind of work schedule, where do you find time in your day to write?
I take a midmorning nap most days and write in the afternoon.
Most of us have a “dream job” we would do if we weren’t already working and writing. What would be yours?
I would be a librarian. I love books. Walking into a book story or library for me is like a kid walking into a candy story. I worked in a library while in college and loved it.
Your book, Cold Creek Mountain, was just released by Anaiah Press. Can you share an excerpt from your book with us?
No one said a word as they rolled past the buildings on East Main Street. The rhythm of the wagon wheels combined with the clatter of horse hooves was the only sound. A rooster atop the livery barn broke the silence as the sun peeked over the top of Cold Creek Mountain. Frank Brown stepped from the stables and waved. The surprise on his face promised everyone in Timberline would soon learn Hayden drove out of town with a pack of kids and a well-dressed woman.
Tongues would be wagging by the time Mayor Orbison signaled the beginning of a new business day with his bugle. Hayden winced. He hated being the center of attention. Mrs. May would have a good time letting everyone within a ten-mile radius know she’d orchestrated the whole thing. He’d have to stay out of town for a while and avoid the gossip until something more interesting happened. Still, he wouldn’t trade his community for anything even if sometimes their excessive attention made him squirm.
“I’m Prudence Mason.” The little girl sitting between him and Miss Fletcher squeaked out an introduction. Her high-pitched voice shook him from his musings.
“I’m proud to meet you, Miss Prudence.” He pulled his attention away from the trail long enough to give her a nod. Features similar to the boy’s, this one had dark brown eyes and a light sprinkling of freckles across the bridge of her nose.
“Oh, forgive me.” Miss Fletcher shifted until she was facing all four of them. “Mr. Dawson, I forgot the children weren’t with me when we met yesterday. As she’s already told you, this is Prudence, the oldest of the Mason children. Next in age is her sister Violet, and then there’s young Timothy.”
“Everyone calls me Timmy.” The boy spoke with the fervor of a ringmaster at the circus.
“Howdy.” Hayden took a quick glance behind him.
Timmy knelt with his hands on the back of the seat. He didn’t appear to be the least bit interested in taking a nap. The boy’s sister, Violet, was right beside him. She gave Hayden a shy smile and then lowered her gaze.
It was an interesting group he had in his care, Miss Prim-and-Proper, her young double, a lion tamer in the making and a shrinking violet. Hayden’s shoulders stiffened and the thumb on his right hand twitched. He took slow, deep breaths to calm his racing pulse. He couldn’t let this family down. He wouldn’t. Not this time.
What’s next for you as an author?
I’m working on a western time travel story. The idea may sound a bit out there, but the story has been so much fun to write. I am also working on a western romance that I hope to have ready for the publisher to preview before summer.
Thank you for spending time with me today. I look forward to hearing more from you in the future.
Inspirational Author 