Friday, May 18, 2012

WISH YOU WERE HERE - Beth K Vogt - Free Book


Welcome, Beth. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
I tend to weave some of my life experiences throughout my novels. It might be a specific struggle that I faced, such as overcoming fear, which is something Allison, the heroine of Wish You Were Here, deals with. Or it might be an actual event I lived through. In Wish You Were Here, the hero, Daniel, has an accident while he’s hiking and is injured – the same thing happened to my husband.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?
My husband and I once attended a murder-mystery dinner. My character was a “Goth” editor—yes, still couldn’t get away from my editor title. I went all out: black wig with red highlights, long black skirt paired with a black lace top, boots with 4-inch heels, lace gloves, red nails (I like red nail polish), black lipstick, pale foundation on my face. My youngest daughter asked me, “Please do not come in and kiss me good night when you come home later tonight.”

When did you first discover that you were a writer?
I knew by 8th grade I loved to write. I never groaned when the teacher said, “I want you to write about …” I was one of those kids who went to the library and came out with a stack of books taller than herself. I plowed through all those books and then would write my own stories to keep from being bored until it was time to go back to the library.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
Other than horror novels, I’ll read just about anything—and I did try a Stephen King short story one time. Just thinking about it now scares me. Some of my favorite novelists are: L. M. Montgomery and Georgette Heyer to Susan May Warren, Rachel Hauck, Donita K. Paul, and Siri Mitchell. My bookshelves also have a wide range of nonfiction—everything from favorite authors like Max Lucado, Kevin Leman, Howard Hendricks, Kay Arthur, and Gary Smalley to writing books and parenting books. I love loaning books out.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?
My husband, Rob, keeps me sane. He reminds me that I have to say “no.” My family and friends keep me sane because they are the ones I laugh and cry with. My faith keeps me sane—particular verses like “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you.” (Isaiah 26:3)  Deadlines have been crazy the past few months. One friend told me, “God is bigger than all this stuff.” She’s right.

How do you choose your characters’ names?
Oh, I have fun with characters’ names. I like to use my friends’ names—but never for a villain. I also like to look up the meaning of names and choose a name that way.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
I have always said that if people look at me and say, “She loves her husband and her children,” I am content. I am most proud of my family. I am amazed and thankful that they are my “home.”
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why? Oh, this is easy!
An otter. I love otters. They seem so happy and carefree and … fun! Do otters ever have a deadline? If they do, I don’t think it fazes them. How stressed can you be if you fall asleep floating in the water?

We visited my aunt who lives on the Monterrey Peninsula. I loved watching the otters. What is your favorite food?
Crème brulee—that’s my all-time favorite dessert.

I love that, too. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
Storyworld. I crossed over to fiction from writing nonfiction. I was a journalist and I knew how to write tight. So for me, storyworld was something like “four walls, a floor, and a ceiling.” Done. I learned quickly that is not adequate storyworld. (Thank you, Susie May Warren.) How am I overcoming this? I’m trying to “up my game” with each novel I write, focusing on one or two particular aspects of the writing craft. (This is yet something else I learned from Susie May Warren.) For my second novel, one thing I’m slowing down and zeroing in on is storyworld.

Tell us about the featured book.
Wish You Were Here is a contemporary romance that asks the question: Can the wrong kiss lead to Mr. Right? It tells the story of a woman who kisses her fiancé’s brother five days before her wedding. The question is, which is the mistake? The wedding? Or the kiss? On a deeper level, Wish You Were Here explores the question: Can God redeem our mistakes and bring something good out of them?

Please give us the first page of the book.
She never should have said yes.

Allison smoothed the bodice of the wedding gown, the fitted lace sleeves clinging to her arms. Waves of material billowed out from her waist, threatening to overwhelm her like a silken tsunami.

The style was all wrong.

She’d known it months ago—the moment the saleswoman released the dress from its protective plastic covering. Allison doubted all those layers of ivory lace and silk, bows and beads would ever fit back into such a small bag.

Securing the myriad of tiny pearl buttons marching down the back took precedence over her request for something simpler. She’d been instructed to stand on a round carpeted platform in front of a wall of angled mirrors. Encouraged to turn this way and that for the assembled critics—her best friend, Meghan; her mom; her younger sister, Hadleigh; and Seth’s mom. Her future mother-in-law’s breathless “Perfect” sealed Allison’s fate.

While her mother paid a price as outlandish as the dress, the bridal shop attendant stressed the “no returns/no refunds” policy. And now . . . well, Allison couldn’t do anything about her decision five days before the wedding.

I loved the runaway bride movie, so I’ve been looking forward to your book. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is www.bethvogt.com .
You’ll find my blog, In Others’ Words, on the front page of my website. I’m a quote aficionado and my posts highlight different quotes and the fun and insightful conversations spurred by them.  For me, blogging is all about getting a conversation started.


Win an iPad2 from @BethVogt! Celebrate with Beth by entering her Wish You Were Here Giveaway!

One "happy" winner will receive:
  • A brand new iPad with Wi-Fi (The must-have, do-everything gadget!)
  • Wish You Were Here by Beth Vogt (Swoon worthy.)
  • $15 iTunes Gift Card (Music, books, apps, & more.)
Hurry, the giveaway ends on 6/4/12. The winner will be announced 6/6/12 on Beth's website!

Just click one of the icons below to enter! Tell your friends about Beth's giveaway on FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

Enter via E-mail Enter via FacebookEnter via Twitter

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Wish You Were Here: A Novel - paperback
Wish You Were Here - Kindle


Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book on this blog, separate from Beth's giveaway. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

33 comments:

Jo said...

I enjoyed the interview. Wish You Were Here sounds like a great book and one that I would love to read. Thanks for the opportunity!

Blessings,
Jo from Southern Arizona
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

apple blossom said...

Love this cover. thanks for chance to win this book
live in ND

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Beth K. Vogt said...

Thanks for stopping by today and for entering the Wish You Were Here giveaway.
I love the cover for Wish You Were Here. The are department at Howard Books used a live model, complete with a wedding dress and fresh bouquet of flowers, to get the photo shoot just right.

Paula Boire writing as Sara Jameson said...

An otter! Love it, Beth. I thought maybe you'd say a llama. :-)

Patricia Bradley said...

Absolutely great book. Can't wait for Beth's next one to come out.

Rachel Hauck said...

Woo hoo! Glad to see you here, Beth. Wish You Were Here is a must read, y'all!!

Rachel

Unknown said...

Thanks for a great interview and the opportunity to win this awesome novel. i often wonder how authors are able to write a novel without putting anything of themselves or their friends into it, if nothing else than happenings or personalities. Thanks again, Lena and Beth.

Marianne from northern Alberta

mitzi_wanham at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

Yay, Beth! So fun to see you around the blogosphere. Wish You Were Here is on my list of favorite books. Love it!!

Beth K. Vogt said...

Thanks for joining the conversation today, everyone!

Liz R said...

Great interview and I've heard good reviews for this book! Can't wait to read it!

Liz R in AL

Patty said...

Thanks for the great interview ladies! It's fun to get to know a little more about the authors of the books I read.

Patty in SC

Jillian Kent said...

I'd like to know if the wrong kiss can lead to Mr. Right? :)

Jill in Ohio!

Beth K. Vogt said...

Liz R: Glad to hear that you're hearing good things about WYWH. I had a lot of fun writing the book and unraveling Allison's travails.
And Jillian ... what do you think: Can the wrong kiss lead to Mr. Right?
Allison finds out by the end of the book.
;o)

Diana Gardner said...

Would love to win a copy. Please enter me in the drawing. Portsmouth, VA

Nancee said...

I'd love to win this contest. The book sounds like it has a bit of humor thrown into a romantic story.
Thank you for this giveaway!
Nancee, Michigan
quiltcat26@sbcglobal.net

Beth K. Vogt said...

I've enjoyed mine time here today, Lena.
And yes, Nancee, there's humor in WYWH. How can there not be, with llamas?
;o)

Janet Kerr said...

Hi Beth,
It is so very nice to see you here!
Congratultions on your wonderful book!!
And, yes, please enter me in the draw.
Jan (from MBT)

janet_kerr(at)msn.com

Lane Hill House said...

Otters are my favorite too! How they glide through the water with an audience and not a care beyond the next push off from the edge. I would love to have this book; enter me please in the drawing.
Missouri
lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net

Mary Preston said...

Some heady questions for WISH YOU WERE HERE. Which is the mistake? I'm eager to find out.

Mary P

QLD, AUSTRALIA

karenk said...

thanks for the chance to read this beautiful story.

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
...from pa...

Diana Flowers said...

I would love a chance to win this! Thank you for the opportunity!

Diana from SC

dianalflowers@aol.com

scottsgal said...

I love your perspective on otters LOL - they are fun to watch
thanks for the chance
cheryl in IL
msboatgal at aol.com

Michelle said...

Sounds like such a great book. Please enter me.

Kentucky

Sarah Rebekah Richmond said...

Please enter me!
God Bless!
Sarah Richmond
Blanch,N.C.

Sharon Richmond said...

Enter me!!
Sharon Richmond
Blanch,NC.

Linda Kish said...

I would love to win a copy of this book.

California

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Abigail Mitchell said...

Sounds very Interesting! Please enter me in the drawing. Thanks and God Bless!


Blanch, N.C.

Ginger Solomon said...

What an intriguing sounding book.

Please enter me in the drawing.

ginger dot solomon at gmail dot com

rubynreba said...

Great interview. Wish You Were Here is a great title for this book.
Beth from Iowa

Jackie Tessnair said...

I would love win this book....it sounds great.Thanks...Jackie Tessnair from N.C.

Joanna Richmond said...

It Looks like a interesting Book.would Love to read it. Thanks for the Chance to win.
Thanks
Joanna Richmond
Blanch NC

Krista said...

This sounds fabulous. Please enter me!

Krista in Oregon

Merry said...

How fun to do a murder mystery dinner! I'd love to be entered for Wish You Were Here, it sounds delightful.
Merry in TX