Happy Memorial Day everyone!
I’m taking a blogging break today and will resume blogging this Wednesday. See you then!!
Official Site of Preslaysa Edwards - Preslaysa Williams
Author. Actress. Blasian Gal.
Happy Memorial Day everyone!
I’m taking a blogging break today and will resume blogging this Wednesday. See you then!!
I’m excited about our interview today with novelist Lorna Seilstad. Lorna writes historical romance and her latest novel, A Great Catch, the second in the Lake Manawa Summers series, releases this month.
Welcome to The Literary Mama, Lorna. Tell us a little about yourself.
I’ve called Iowa home her whole life. I received her B.S. in education from Lubbock Christian University. After my first child was born, I quit teaching and became a professional wiper. I wiped noses, tears, skinned knees, baby’s bottoms, and countertops every day. But at naptime, I wrote. Today, I write historical fiction with a generous dash of humor, and lives in Iowa with her husband and three children–ages 19, 17, and 12.
I grew up attending antique auctions with her parents, and from that, grew a love for history. The love of Oreos is all my own.
When I’m not writing or chauffeuring her kids around, I teach Bible classes, working with my 4-H club, or bake cookies.
*Tell us about your writing journey.
In 4th, 5th, and 6th grade, I had the same teacher for English. Every Friday, we had a creative writing assignment. For example, we might come to school and find footprints taped to the walls and ceiling and we were supposed to write about how they got there. I loved it.
After my first child was born, I decided I wanted to stop teaching and stay home. I did daycare for teachers, but I needed something. I went back to my first writing love of fiction
In 2000, I started writing fan fiction online. I wrote at a site called romancefanfiction.net. There were a lot of wonderful writers there, and it was a wonderful place to learn and find my voice. I started working toward publication in 2007.
I went to my first ACFW conference in 2008. There, I met Andrea Doering from Revell in one of editor interviews. My first contract, for the three books in the Lake Manawa Summers Series, came from that interview.
*What is A Great Catch about?
She wants to change the world.
He wants to change her mind.
It’s the beginning of a new century at Lake Manawa resort in Iowa, but some things never change. When Emily Graham’s meddlesome aunts and grandmother take it upon themselves to find her a husband among the resort guests, the spunky suffragist is determined to politely decline each and every suitor. She has neither the time nor the need for a man in her busy life.
Carter Stockton, a recent college graduate and a pitcher for the Manawa Owls baseball team, intends to enjoy every minute of the summer before he is forced into the straitlaced business world of his father.
When their worlds collide, neither Emily nor Carter could have guessed what would come next. Will Carter strike out? Or will Emily cast her vote for a love that might cost her dreams?
*How did you come up with the concept for A Great Catch and the Lake Manawa Summers series?
When the resort park at Lake Manawa closed, my grandfather purchased one of the bath houses there for $300. He moved it to a lot on what had once been the Midway and made it into a house. That is the home where my dad lived as a boy. He told me stories about the area, and after I did a some research, I knew I had to write a story there.
*How much research do you undertake while writing historical fiction?
It takes a lot of research. I don’t just want to get the facts right, I want to get the feel of the times right. I read a lot of newspapers of that day besides doing the other research. I love research, though. It’s like a treasure hunt.
*Where do you see yourself in five years?
Hmmm. I see myself still writing, but I hope I have my office fixed up by then. My office is in the basement and it’s really cold in the winter. I have to wear gloves without fingertips.
*What other new projects do you have in the future?
Right now, I’m finishing up the third book in the series. It’s about Lilly and a roller coaster designer. I have another book series in the proposal stage.
*What is one thing people may be surprised to know about you?
I can tell time without wearing a watch. It’s a strange ability, but I never wear a watch and I almost always know the time within about five minutes. I didn’t tell my kids that I could do this for a long time, but they know now, so they like to test me at random times.
*How can readers get in touch with you?
I love to hear from readers. I can be contacted through my website www.lornaseilstad.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter.
Thanks for stopping by today!
The winner of Christine Lindsay’s Shadowed in Silk is: Christa Allan!! Congratulations, Christa.
And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king. Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched (I Samuel 10:24-26, KJV)
God’s plan for how we should live is written in His book. I often forget that during the hustle and bustle of life. Things like: love your enemies, give them two coats when they take one or whoever wants to be the greatest must be the least. These timeless principles are the norm for those in the Kingdom, but they have to be imprinted on our minds and hearts to make them a reality in our lives.
The prophet Samuel told the Israelites the manner of the kingdom, wrote it in a book and laid it up before the Lord. In this way, the people knew the standard. They didn’t have to go through life, shuffling around, wondering. It was there. It was read. It was written.
Happy Monday All!!
Hre are some quotes on motherhood I thought were funny, profound and/or interesting. Do you have quips about motherhood which you’d like to share? Leave a comment in this post and let’s chat about it!
“A suburban mother’s role is to deliver children obstetrically once, and by car forever.” (Peter de Vries)
“A Freudian slip is when you mean one thing but mean your mother.” (Author Unknown)
“I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.” (Abraham Lincoln)
“Sweater, n.: a garment worn by a child when its mother is feeling chilly.” (Ambrose Bierce)
“An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy.” (Spanish Proverb)
Contest Alert!! Jill is giving away a copy of From Darkness Won! To enter, leave a comment here with your email in this format: yourname(at)youremail(dot)com Winner announced on June 11th!
And now, the interview…
I’m excited about our interview today with novelist Jill Williamson. Jill is a 2010 Christy award winning writer for visionary fiction. Her latest book From Darkness Won, the third book in the Blood of Kings trilogy, released last month with Marcher Lord Press.
*Welcome to The Literary Mama, Jill. Tell us a little about yourself.
I grew up in Alaska with no electricity. Thankfully it was the land of the midnight sun. In the summer I could stay up late and read by the daylight that wouldn’t go away. But in the winter there was nothing better to do than daydream I was somewhere—or someone—else. I think both these hobbies set me up to be a writer.
*What is From Darkness Won about?
Achan steps into his role as Crown Prince and prepares for war. But war against whom? Could Esek still be alive? Has Lord Nathak taken Esek’s place? Or is the mysterious Hadad the true enemy Achan must confront?
Vrell has her own agenda of serving Prince Oren as a healer, but when she is stormed and lost to the Veil, Achan does all he can to bring her back. His conversations with her are strange, though, as if she has no memory of who he is.
In a land consumed by Darkness, the fate of Er’Rets hangs in the balance as Achan endeavors to take the throne and end the reign of Darkness.
*How did you come up with the concept for From Darkness Won and the Blood of Kings trilogy?
I was walking with my son one day in Burbank, California, and we came upon a burned-down house. I stopped to look at it and noticed a tree in the front yard. The part of the tree that hung over the fence and above the street was leafy green, rocking and rustling in the wind. But the branches of the tree near the house were charred and stiff.
I stared at that tree for a long time, then took off for home, pushing that stroller at top speed. I went straight to the computer, opened Adobe Photoshop, and made the image of the tree that is the header on my author website. I couldn’t wait to write a story about this tree—about a land that was half-cursed in darkness.
(Preslaysa here: Intruiging!! What a powerful imagination!)
* What are your favorite books? Who are your favorite authors?
I have too many favorites to single one out. Author-wise, in no particular order, I love Jane Austen, Ted Dekker, Lisa Samson, Robert Liparulo, Caroline Keene, C.S. Lewis, Frank Peretti, Jenny B. Jones, Rick Riordan, Brandilyn Collins, J.R.R. Tolkien, Suzanne Collins, Michael Crichton, Cathy Gohlke, Anthony Horowitz, Caroline Cooney, John Grisham, Megan Whalen Turner, Melody Carlson, Nicolas Sparks, J.K. Rowling, Francine Rivers, Randy Ingermanson. The list goes on and on. I enjoy stories that make me laugh, cry, or stay up all night because I can’t put the thing down.
*What led you to become a writer?
I wanted to speak to teens. I discovered that sometimes, people hire speakers based on articles written by the speaker. So I looked into writing articles. Then the new Harry Potter book came out, and a new barrage of debates within the church community flared up as to whether or not the books were bad for Christians to read. The debate inspired me to write my own teen novel that all Christians would love. Yes, I was a bit naive. I have since learned that no one likes every book. But that’s how I got started. I was inspired to try and write blockbuster-style stories for teens that glorified God.
When a writer’s conference came to town, I signed up right away. I couldn’t believe how much I had to learn. When I got home, I did everything that the conference speakers had recommended. Being teachable has really helped me, I think.
*What is your favorite bible verse and why?
I can’t pick just one! But here is one that is really important to me. Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
*What other new projects do you have in the future?
My next novel, called Replication, will release from Zonderkidz in January of 2012. It’s a young adult story about a girl who discovers her biologist father is covering up multiple secrets—all of which are named Jason.
I’m also working on a new weekly podcast through my blog in which I’ll be reading By Darkness Hid, the first book in the Blood of Kings trilogy to listeners. People will be able to subscribe in iTunes until they download the entire novel—free. Check my website for more information. This is coming in June 2011.
*What is one thing people may be surprised to know about you?
I once started my own wedding gown business called Lugano. My first dream in life was to be a fashion designer. Once I became fed up working in the industry, and before I started writing, I designed a line of nine better wedding gowns and went to the Chicago Bridal Market as a vendor. It was a tremendous amount of work, especially considering I hate to sew.
*How can readers get in touch with you?
Readers can email me through my website: www.jillwilliamson.com
Thanks for stopping by today!
Thanks for having me!
You can order From Darkness Won at Marcher Lord Press or on Amazon. And if you prefer the Kindle version, click here. For the Nook version, click here.
Note to Readers: Since today’s scripture in Joshua reflects a key principle which we had discovered earlier this year. I’m re-posting the March 2nd post concerning this topic.
So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem. And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD. And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God. (Joshua 24:25-27, KJV)
I didn’t know the value of hand writing words of the Bible until I tried it for myself. When I found this verse in the Bible which commands the kings of Israel to do the same, I figured it was very important.
Hand writing bible verses shows you nuances in the words which you may have overlooked by just reading or hearing them. It slows you down and causes you to notice and ponder word choice, meaning and sentence structure. I know this sounds very “school-ish” but by taking the time to slow down, you’ll remember concepts and principles in the Word better. As a result of remembering them, you’ll keep them just as verse 19 states “that he may learn to fear the Lord, to keep all the words..to do them.”
Now, I write verses which stand out to me during my during my prayer journaling time using a One Year Bible. Over a period of months and years, I’ll be transcribing His thoughts over my natural thoughts, much like reprogramming a computer. Try it for yourself and reap the rewards of inscribing His word on your heart.
Motherhood has a very humanizing effect. Everything gets reduced to its essentials. (Meryl Streep)
This quote is my mantra right now: reduce to the essentials, reduce to the essentials, reduce to the essentials! There are many things I can do but there are only a few important things to do. So, I’m committing to gaining a laser like focus to the essentials:
1) God
2) Marriage
3) Children
4) Writing
For me that means going underground: cutting back on Facebook, checking emails, idle chatter, idle thoughts. You know, the clamor of life. In order to excel at the important, I’m cutting back on the unimportant.
What effect has motherhood had on you?
Contest Alert!! Penny is giving away a copy of her novel: Kaydie. Leave a comment on this blog post with your email address to enter. Winner announced on May 30th.
I’m excited about our interview today with novelist Penny Zeller. Penny writes inspirational historical romance and her latest book Kaydie, the second in the Montana Skies series, releases this month.
*Welcome to The Literary Mama Penny. Tell us a little about yourself. It is an honor to be here, Preslaysa! Here is a bit about me in third person (to borrow your words)
Penny Zeller is the author of several books and numerous magazine articles in national and regional publications. She is also the author of the humor blog “A Day in the Life of a Wife, Mom, and Author” (www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com). She is an active volunteer in her community, serving as a women’s Bible study small-group leader and co-organizing a women’s prayer group. Penny devotes her time to assisting and nurturing women and children into a closer relationship with Christ. Her passion is to use the gift of the written word that God has given her to glorify Him and to benefit His kingdom. Kaydie follows McKenzie in Montana Skies, her first series with Whitaker House. When she’s not writing, Penny enjoys spending time with her family and camping, hiking, canoeing, and playing volleyball. She and her husband, Lon, reside in Wyoming with their two children. Penny loves to hear from her readers at her Website, www.pennyzeller.com.
*As a wife, mom and author, how do you balance it all?
Actually, Preslaysa, I’m still working on figuring that out *grins* But really, I think prioritizing is one of the biggest challenges of being a writer, especially since I work from home and have a family. I have posted my writing hours on my office door, not so much for visitors, but for myself. It reminds me that if I don’t set time aside for my writing, it will be spent doing a host of other “necessary” things.
I have to be deliberate about putting aside time for my writing. I work while my children are in school and then quit for the day when they come home. My husband and my children are my main ministry, so they are the most important. I also do a lot of volunteer work. In order to keep my priorities in perspective, which is critical, I spend a lot of time in prayer seeking God’s guidance in using my time wisely.
*What is Kaydie about?
I am thrilled about the release of Kaydie. Here is a short blurb –
Kaydie is haunted by memories of her abusive husband. As she awaits her baby’s birth, she builds a protective wall around herself.
Deserted by his mother at a young age and despised by his father, Jonah has few close relationships. But there’s something about Kaydie that draws him to her and makes him question his decision to remain a bachelor.
Will Kaydie and Jonah trust God to guard their hearts in the arms of each other?
*How did you come up with the concept for Kaydie?
When Whitaker House contracted me for a three-book series, I was thrilled to be able to tell Kaydie’s story, as it is such a touching story of hope, love, and dependence on God.
It always amazes me how God inspires and uses us to write about things that can touch the life of another. I once worked as a caseworker in a branch of social services. While I didn’t deal directly with victims of violence, I did see the end result of it in many of my cases.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, “one in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime.” I am thankful that more awareness has been brought to this atrocity and I wanted to give hope to any woman in an abusive marriage. God does care and He is there to be a refuge – an ever-present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1).
In the 1800s, there was nowhere for a woman to go if she found herself in an abusive marriage. Her choices were limited. The story of Kaydie takes place in 1882. While Kaydie felt so alone and helpless at times while being married to an abusive man, she sought the Lord through prayer. Though she didn’t yet have a personal relationship with Him, she did know that God would hear those prayers and that He would help her. God is not unaware of what goes on in the world He created and His heart breaks at the painful experiences His children go through at the hands of another. In Psalm 139 we are told “before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.” God knew Kaydie’s choice in a husband had led her to a life of manipulation and abuse, and He loved her, cared for her, and protected her and her unborn child.
I also wanted to show throughout the pages of Kaydie that wounds from an abusive marriage do not heal overnight and there is no “quick fix.” Such painful scars from the physical, emotional, and mental turmoil take time to overcome. But with God’s unconditional love and help, revealed through the people He placed in Kaydie’s path, she would ultimately find peace and healing.
I would also like to mention, that while the subject of domestic violence is a difficult one, the story of Kaydie does not include any graphic descriptions and can be enjoyed by adults and teens alike.
*How much research do you undertake while writing historical fiction?
I love the mid-to-late-1800s, so I actually enjoy research. I spend a lot of time researching books and also online. As a visual person, it really helps me to have a picture of the setting, the house, and other items, such as the tin cookie cutters Kaydie used to make gingerbread cookies in the book.
*How did you know you were called to write?
I have had a love for writing since I was in second grade and rewrote Bible stories in my own little second grade commentary.J Throughout my school years, I would write stories and “publish” numerous stories in homemade cardboard books. In high school, I wrote stories where my friends were the main characters.
Fast forward several years to November of 2000 when I surrendered my writing to the Lord. I quit my fulltime job with a social services governmental agency so I could stay home with my infant daughter. That was the start of my career, beginning with writing magazine articles. Writing is my ministry and my passion and I pray I will glorify Him with each word I write.
*What is your favorite bible verse?
I have so many favorite Bible verses, but if I had to narrow it down, I would say it’s a tie between Psalm 19:14 and Psalm 91.
*What other new projects do you have in the future?
I just finished the third and final book in the series, Hailee, which is scheduled for release in September. I’m also working on a second historical romance series that takes place in the Post-Civil War Era. I recently finished book one in the series and have started writing book two.
*What is one thing people may be surprised to know about you?
Hmmm, let’s see…when I was 10, I made up this romantic suspense series in my mind where the main character was the handsome and fictional police officer, Josh McClain. Everyday, my younger sister and cousin would excitedly ask me what was going on in Josh’s life (and in the life of the main female character) and what crimes Josh had solved.
I loved telling them my sister and cousin stories about Josh McClain that I had made up in my mind from the night before (usually when I should have been sleeping!) and leaving them at a cliffhanger until I could make up some more details the following night.
*How can readers get in touch with you?
I love to connect with my readers at my website www.pennyzeller.com,
my blog www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com,
on Twitter at http://twitter.com/pennyzeller, and
on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Penny-A-Zeller/96391560959?ref=ts
Thanks for stopping by today! Thank you again, Preslaysa, for graciously allowing me to be your guest!
You can order Kaydie at (links to be inserted) everywhere books are sold, including Amazon and CBD.