DESTINY'S DREAM - Delia Latham - Free Book

Welcome, Delia. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I write inspirational romance and women’s fiction because that’s what God has laid upon my heart to do. I consider my writing a ministry. In every novel, I genuinely attempt to uplift and encourage, to slip in some element of trust and faith in addition to entertaining my reader.

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

Well, there are four of them…the days each of my children were born. I can’t imagine a happier moment than holding those newborn babies in my arms and knowing they were healthy and whole.

How has being published changed your life?

I still truck along pretty much as I did before being published. :-) I think what I notice more than anything is that I am no longer capable of reading a book solely for pleasure, because my inner editor never sleeps. Even when I try to just read, I can’t help noticing errors—typos, head hopping, grammatical quirks, etc. (((Sigh))) Sometimes it’s very annoying! LOL

What are you reading right now?

I’m very much enjoying A Man of His Word by Kathleen Fuller. It’s an Amish tale, and a really good one, I might add.

What is your current work in progress?

I’m working on Book 3 in my Solomon’s Gate Series. Gypsy’s Game is about a somewhat jaded young woman who gets married only to fulfill the dictates of her father’s will and claim her inheritance. Falling in love with her husband is not in the plan, but then, God’s ways are most often not ours, are they? :-)

What would be your dream vacation?

I would love to visit Ireland and see the land of my ancestors.

That's the same reason I'd like to go to Norway and Sweden. How do you choose your settings for each book?

I grew up in California and lived there all my life, until two years ago, when my husband and I moved to Oklahoma. So far, all of my books have been set somewhere in the Golden State…because I know it, and it’s easier to describe areas I’m at least somewhat familiar with. Gypsy’s Game actually has a couple off chapters set in Romania, so I’ve had to do some extensive research for that, since I’ve never been there. I chose Romania for their honeymoon trip because they are both of Romanian heritage.

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

I’d love to talk to Max Lucado about writing. I’ve never read any other Christian author with the ability to speak so directly to my heart. He paints such vivid pictures with words, it simply amazes me! I’d love to sit in on a Lucado class on writing and benefit from his knowledge.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I love to sing and play piano. Although I don’t have the breath to do quite as much of it as I used to, it still satisfies something within my heart, even if no one hears it but me and the Lord. I also enjoy designing marketing materials for other authors—bookmarks, flyers, posters, business cards, etc.

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

Procrastination. If I allow myself, I can while away hours doing writing related things, when I should be writing. I’ve discovered that writing is so much easier when I know the book I’m working on already has a home. LOL White Rose Publishing contracted the entire Solomon’s Gate Series when they accepted Destiny’s Dream (Book One). Writing those two additional books has been a breeze in comparison to the first one, simply because I knew it was already set for publication.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Write, write, write. It’s what writers do. Find a place you can call your own, even if it’s nothing more than a closet you’ve confiscated for writing purposes, or a corner of the dining room table. Make it yours, and go there every day, preferably at the same time every day—and write. You’ll be surprised how quickly it becomes a routine you’ll be uncomfortable breaking. Also, get involved with a writer’s group, if possible. Find a mentor. Having a more experienced author to offer advice and encouragement is an unbelievable asset.

Tell us about the featured book.

Destiny’s Dream is Book One in the Solomon’s Gate Series, which is based around a Christian dating agency of the same name. Here’s a blurb:

Is a little respect too much to ask at a parent’s funeral?

Apparently it is for Destiny May. Clay Gallagher is built like a small mountain and far more vocal than is fitting when he shows up late to her mother’s “going away party.” When it turns out he’s not even at the right funeral, Destiny demands retribution in the form of an escape from the day’s dreary proceedings. Spending time with a handsome stranger who makes her laugh is more therapeutic than fighting with her overbearing family.

Clay finds Destiny beautiful, charming...and intelligent. So why is she stubbornly determined to open a Christian dating service? Clay has little respect for such a frivolous profession, and doesn’t think the small, conservative town of Castle Creek will welcome such a progressive business. But when Destiny is threatened by an anonymous caller who deeply resents her and what she does for a living, Clay makes it his business to keep the saucy redhead out of harm’s way.

Trouble is, spending time in her company weakens his defenses, and Destiny may be the one thing Clay can’t escape...if he even wants to.

I like it. Please give us the first page of the book.

The first page of the book is a prologue. I’ll give you the first page of Chapter One. Here ya go…

“If she plays that song one more time, I swear I’ll scream!”

Destiny had nothing against “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” but Miss Willard had played it through at least half a dozen times. Destiny was fairly certain the old lady had been born on that organ bench and would most likely die there. For pity’s sake, surely by now she knew a few other songs that would be appropriate for a funeral! She cast a weary glance toward the prim organist with her customary, tight white bun and the face of a thousand wrinkles. How old is she anyway? I’m pretty sure she was at least ninety when I was kid—and that was twenty years ago.

A grin danced at the corners of her lips, and she bit down hard on the offending body part even as she raised a hand to cover it. What on earth would people think if she burst out laughing at her mother’s funeral?

Her nerves felt like a rubber band at the crucial breaking point. With her emotions stretched to the limit, it would be so easy to lose control. Get it together, Destiny May.

Her gaze drifted from the rail-thin organist and bounced off the beautiful, flower-draped coffin. Thank God Mama had requested a closed casket. The private family viewing the night before had been hard. She couldn’t imagine trying to get through this service with her sweet mother displayed up front like a mortician’s trophy.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I invite readers to visit my website: http://www.delialatham.net/, or my blog: http://my-book-bag.blogspot.com/. I’m also on Facebook and Twitter under the screen name DeliaLatham. I love to hear from my readers, so I truly hope you’ll stop by and say hello.

Thank you, Delia, for the fun interview.
 
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