SURRENDER BAY - Denise Hunter - Free Book

Welcome back, Denise. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?

I feel totally blessed to be writing for a living. My goal when I started writing was to complete one novel. I had no idea what God had in store! His dreams are truly bigger than mine. On the horizon . . . I have the Big Sky Series coming up—three cowboy stories set in the fictional town of Moose Creek, Montana. The first, A Cowboy’s Touch, will release April 2. I’m also working on a novella collection called Smitten with 3 close friends: Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, and Diann Hunt. Smitten will release Dec., 2011. Beyond that, only God knows!

I'd love to feature the Montana books on my blog. Tell us a little about your family.

I’m happily married to a business owner and have 3 boys ages 12, 15, and 18. My evenings are filled with practices, games, and ESPN. I’m also suffering from testosterone poisoning.

We only had daughters. My husband was drowning in estrogen. Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?

Oh boy, has it ever! I long for the day when I could just pick up any old novel and be lost for hours! Writing has made me so picky. I can only turn off the internal editor if the writing is very well done, and my patience with shoddy storytelling is short. I finish fewer than half the books I start, but when I find one that holds my attention, I am one happy camper.

What are you working on right now?

Currently I’m working on my Smitten novella and writing the synopsis for my 3rd Big Sky story.

What outside interests do you have?

Let’s see, I love to travel with my family. We’ve covered most of the United States over the past several years, including Alaska. I also love to play drums and eat chocolate, preferable dark (the antioxidants, you know). And it probably goes without saying that I love to curl up with a great novel.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

You can see how my love of travel might tie into my writing. :-) Basically I try to set stories where I think my readers might like to visit (and where I might like to spend the next 9 months!) After all, reading a book is like taking a little vacation.

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

I’m sure this isn’t original, but who’d pass up the chance to spend an evening with Jesus? I don’t think you could come away from that unchanged.

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?

When I wrote my first novel, I thought writing ability was something you either had or didn’t have. While that’s true to a small degree, writing is also a craft and, like any craft, improves with study and practice. That was wonderful news to me!

What new lesson is the Lord teaching you right now?

Lately I’ve been struggling with chronic fatigue so He’s mainly been teaching me to take care of my health (we only get one body) and let the unimportant stuff go. Eat right, get enough sleep, all that. And you know what? The roof isn’t going to cave in if the house doesn’t get vacuumed this week or if the whites don’t get washed today.

What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?

1. Study the craft.
2. Practice the craft.
3. Don’t give up.

Tell us about the featured book.

Surrender Bay is the first book of my Nantucket Series. After the 4-book series was complete, my publisher (Thomas Nelson) decided to give the series a fresh new look. I also added an overt faith thread. So while Surrender Bay is actually a RE-release, there is new content in the story.

And I can hardly wait to read it. I read and loved the original. Please give us the first page of the book.

“You can just drop me off, you know. I’m not a baby.” Eleven-year-old Caden flipped her mom a look, then stared out the passenger window.

“I like watching you.” Sam pulled the Ciera into the parking lot of the Boston Academy of Gymnastics and was about to expound on the thought, but Caden interrupted.

“The other moms don’t stay.”

It wasn’t true, but Sam had a feeling this objection had less to do with Caden’s assertion of independence and more to do with her.

“Did Bridget tell everyone about me?” Sam asked.

Caden crossed her arms, her warm-up suit rustling.

“If I didn’t clean the gym, we wouldn’t be able to afford lessons, Caden.”

Though her daughter frowned, her jaw and shoulders rigid, Sam knew the stubborn front concealed a wounded little girl. Knew it because Caden was so much like her.

“They all know now. Bridget has such a big mouth. She thinks she’s so hot just because her mom owns the gym.”

Sam turned off the ignition and withdrew the keys, then glanced at Caden, who made no move to leave. The clock on the dashboard read 7:02. “Honey, let’s finish this later. You’re late for class.”

“So you’re staying?”

Sam’s parental pride shrank two more sizes. “By the time I got home, I’d just have to turn around and come back. I promise to sit in the back and keep my hood up to conceal my identity.” Sam regretted the sarcasm instantly.

Caden discharged her seat belt, and it sprang upward, clanging against the doorframe. “Whatever,” she said, then exited the car, not quite slamming the door.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is http://www.denisehunterbooks.com/ I’m also active on Facebook (who isn’t?) http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1367563269

Thank you, Denise, for the fun time today.
 
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