An Interview with Lena Nelson Dooley

I always feel a little awkward when I do an interview of myself, but this interview is the first one in a series of books that are releasing in October, November, and December. The one in November was written by Lisa Harris, and the one in December was by Beth Goddard. I'll feature interviews with these two author friends in their months of release.

Why do you write the kind of books you do?

Because God is the author of romance. The Enemy of our Souls has stolen so much from us, and in society today, he has taken this God-given gift and perverted it so much. In my books, I want to show that a couple can have a real romance and the Lord will bless it.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

There are several days that hold probably equal footing. The birth of my two daughters followed by the birth of each of my four grandchildren. To add to that, this year my first great grandson was born. These days show that God has a plan for tomorrow in our lives and families.

How has being published changed your life?

I could say that it has made me famous, but only in some circles. It has allowed me to enjoy doing what God created me to do—write and tell stories that touch people’s lives. Of course, it has also helped me get to know some of the most awesome people in the publishing world—other authors, agents, and editors. Some of my best friends now are in the writing world. The best thing is that they understand this need to express things in words, and they understand having people take up residence in my thoughts.

What are you reading right now?

I just finished Cindy Woodsmall’s second book When the Morning Comes—a wonderful book. Then yesterday I started Mary DeMuth’s Wishing on Dandelions. Since I loved her first book, I am glad to read the sequel. The last three before that were The Measure of a Lady by Deeanne Gist, Violette Between by Alison Strobel, and Frasier Island by Susan Page Davis. If you haven’t read any of these books, I highly recommend them. As I finish each book, I do a review on my Shoutlife page: www.shoutlife.com/lenanelsondooley

What is your current work in progress?

I’m working on a proposal for The Gift of a Son, a historical book set in Colorado in the early 1890s. I’m also trying to finish the manuscript for Beyond Redemption, a contemporary set in Texas. The first of November, I must start writing my contracted novella for Snowbound Colorado Christmas, a historical set in 1913.

What would be your dream vacation?

I love to go on cruises--all that getting waited on hand and foot. My husband and I have been on two in the Caribbean. My book Never Say Never came from those voyages. My husband and I want to go on the Alaska cruise some time. We’d also like to go to Hawaii. It’s very hard for me to choose just one.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Usually, the stories determine the setting. I love to learn about places. Whenever I travel, I take pictures and notes and buy books about the area. That gives me lots of things to use in a book.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

George W. Bush. I know a lot about him and his walk with the Lord. I’d love to have dinner with him, and I would hope that both my husband and Laura Bush would join us. I’d like to tell him how much I’ve prayed for him during his presidency and how much I admire him for the way he’s handled the difficult things the media has done to him. Being president of the United States opens a person up to all kind of critics. I'm thankful that he's continued to stand for his convictions no matter what critics say.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

Can eating chocolate be a hobby? Spending time with family is high on my list. James and I like to go to movies, when we can find one worth viewing. I also knit things for the homeless ministry. And of course, there's the travel.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

Probably distraction. Many creative people are easily distracted, and I’m one of them. The only way I can overcome this is to spend time with the Lord and let Him help me keep on task.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Don’t be a lone ranger. Connect with other people who write the kind of thing that you do, especially authors who have been published as well as other aspiring authors. If you’re into fiction, I highly recommend American Christian Fiction Writers as a good place to connect with other authors of all kinds of genres. www.acfw.com Then don’t give up. Write. Write. Write. Learn. Learn. Learn. Submit. Submit. Submit.

Tell us about the featured book.

Who Am I? is the first book in a contemporary series set in Massachusetts. The other two books were written by Lisa Harris and Beth Goddard. Lisa’s book comes out in November and Beth’s in December. I’ll feature each of them on this blog. All of the books have mystery/suspense elements in them.

In Who Am I?, Leiann Hambrick finds out after her mother’s death that there are many things that have to do with her life that she didn’t know. There were lies that she believed to be truth. She goes to Massachusetts to meet a grandfather she never knew she had. After she gets there, dangerous things start happening to her. She wonders if someone is trying to kill her, and she doesn’t know who she can trust.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I’m glad you’ve found me here. Check back octen. I also have a web site where you can read about all my books:

www.lenanelsondooley.com

The website contains a monthly newsletter with a lot of interesting information about books, as well as reviews of books I’ve read that month.

I also have a site on Shoutlife, which I mentioned earlier. This is a Christian Internet Communtiy. Come over and meet lots of wonderful people.

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