Welcome back, Allison. Why do you write the kind of books you do?
I love the act of creating a sort of alternate
reality—creating characters who are allowed to live outside of the normal, kind
of hum-drum lives most of us live. I like exploding the ordinary bits of a
life, taking just a short section of time—a week, a few months, a few years—and
exploring the impact.
Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest
day in your life?
This is going to sound so cheesy, but it was one perfect day
at DisneyWorld with my family. Everybody was
getting along, it wasn’t too hot, the lines weren’t too long—it was a trip we’d
been planning for a couple of years, and it was absolutely perfect.
How has being published changed your life?
For one thing, I quit my full-time teaching job, which has
made me so much more available as a wife and mother. That’s the best! Another
change is simple the number of people in my life—at all levels. I’ve actually
always been not exactly shy, but reserved—perfectly happy with either my own
company, or a carefully chosen small circle of friends. Now, I’ve met so many
people—some actually in person! It’s an odd thing to me that strangers would
want to know me, know about me. I’ve learned to be a lot more open.
What are you reading right now?
On my e-reader, I’m reading The Invisible Wall by Harry Bernstein. In the car (I’m in a season
of road-trips) I’m listening to The
Murderer’s Daughters by Randy Susan Meyers. My next book-book is Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes Waters.
Next up is World War Z, a
zombie-apocalypse novel, and Five Women,
a 1960’s Rona Jaffe classic. I have a wide range of interests…
What is your current work in progress?
I’m working on the first in a three-book series set in the
1920’s—all three about young women who, in the course of their life, in some
way encounter the first mega-church-building female evangelist Aimee Semple
McPhereson.
Can't wait to read those stories. We must have them on the blog. What would be your dream vacation?
Seriously…I’m such a simple girl. It would be a full week at
Disney World, three days alone with hubby, then fly the kids in. I know there’s
an entire actual world out there, so I guess my second choice would be Ireland .
How do you choose your settings for each book?
I usually start with a character…then that character’s
story…then I have to figure out what would be the most logical place for it to
happen. Sometimes, though, the setting is, well, set. Like, I couldn’t write
about the early Mormon church without going to Salt Lake City , Utah .
And, in my novel The Bridegrooms, I
was entranced with the Cleveland Spiders baseball team that simply fell out of
history, so I had to go to Cleveland .
So, really, sometimes I don’t feel like I have a huge range of options for setting…And
when I can’t make something work, I’ll just create a little village on my own!
If you could spend an evening with one person who is
currently alive, who would it be and why?
That’s hard, because too often people are nothing like what
you think they would be. But, assuming it’s with my husband’s blessing, I would
love to have dinner with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. I just think he’s
hilarious, and brilliant.
What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?
This is where I have to confess to watching a lot of TV.
Like, a lot. But, quality stuff, with the occasional foray into “America ’s Next
Top Model.” I lack even the tiniest chromosome for crafts, and so far time and
money have been total travel restrictions. But, I am a roller-coaster junkie,
so we do that a lot as a family.
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you
overcome it?
Procrastination, insane optimism, the lure of the new idea,
the overestimation of my abilities, the hours in a day—wait, just one? It’s always
poor planning, meaning, poor scheduling of my time, and poorly sticking to the
schedule I set for myself. I’ve yet to overcome it, but I’m quick to recognize
God’s grace as He throws me a rope every time a deadline comes around the
corner!
What advice would you give to a beginning author?
Get a degree in marketing. J Seriously, writing a
book is such a small percentage of living the career of a writer. On the
writing side, though, I’d say to study, really study, the craft, with the
attitude that you have a lot to learn, because we ALL do!
Tell us about the featured book.
Forsaking All Others is the highly-anticipated (and I have the
emails to prove it) sequel to For Time
and Eternity. Camilla Fox, the heroine in both books, is a woman caught up
in the early Mormon church through her whirl-wind marriage to the handsome
Nathan Fox. In the first book, we see Nathan bring a second wife into their
home, and Camilla’s determination to free herself from that church’s grip. She
only begins her journey in the final chapters of For Time and Eternity. In Forsaking All Others, we see her
bring it to completion, though not exactly in the way that she envisioned.
How can readers find you on the Internet?
My website is www.allisonpittman.com,
and I also have an author page on facebook.Thank you, Allison, for sharing with us today.
Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog. Forsaking All Others (Sister Wife)
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. 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
27 comments:
Looking forward to reading this book, I haven't read very many based on the Mormon faith but I am interested in reading stories using that faith.
Thank you for doing the interview and hosting the giveaway.
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
wrensthought.blogspot.com
I would be blessed to win a copy of this book.
angela from KY
I've read several of Allison's previous books, but not the first in this series... would have to find a copy if I won this book!
Patty in SC
I would love to win this. It looks like an amazing book. Thanks for the chance to win.
I am from Oklahoma.
Been looking forward to this sequel. Can't wait to read it. And--laughed so hard at your comment to get a degree in marketing. Humor is good medicine!
coolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com
NE
I loved your book "For Time and Eternity", Allison. I can't wait to read "Forsaking All Others"...please put my name in the hat for a chance to win!
Lorna from Alberta
lornafaith at gmail dot com
I would love to read this book.
California
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I love the cover of Forsaking All Others. Would love to win a copy.
Cindy W.
from Indiana
countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com
please add me to this giveaway thanks
I live in ND
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
thanks for the chance to read this wonderful novel :)
karenk (from PA)
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
I'm an Iowa farm gal and would love to win this!
This sounds like a great book. Please enter me into the giveaway.
It was nice getting to know Allison a little more. I haven't read any of her books yet...she is new to me.
Thanks for this giveaway.
Blessings!
Judy B from Indiana
Yet another great read. I'd love to win.
pbmorrell@shaw.ca
sounds interesting.would love to read. enter me in the drawing God Bless Joanna Richmond,
Blanch, NC.
I have been waiting for this one ever since I finished For Time and Eternity! What a great book! Thanks for the opportunity to win Forsaking All Others!
Diana from SC
dianalflowers{at}aol{dot}com
It looks and sounds interesting.
Please enter me in the drawing!
Thanks and God Bless!
Sarah Richmond
Blanch,N.C.
Looks interesting, Please enter me in the giveaway. Thaks and God Bless!
Abigail Richmond
Blanch, N.C.
Please enter me in this giveaway! I would enjoy receiving this book. The topic that Allison chose for this series is so intriguing.
I live in New York
I've been waiting for this one, I love Allison Pittman's books! They're always keepers (and I'm picky, lol). Thanks for the giveaway!
Lindsey
Oregon
Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the chance.
Nancye in Kentucky
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
Sounds interesting! Please enter me.
Blessings,
Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com
i love learning about other cultures...have a few friends that are Mormon, and would love to win this book. Thanks Lena for the chance.
mitzi_wanham [at] yahoo [dot] com
from Peace River Country, Alberta
Thanks for the chance to win Allison's book!
Ann Lee Miller
Gilbert AZ
Sounds like a great story! I love reading and would love to win this book. Thanks and God bless!
Sharon Richmond
Blanch, NC.
I would love to read this book! Thanks for the giveaway. I have had this book on my wishlist list for some time now. Hope my wish come true and I win a copy.
I live just north of Houston, Texas and I am a country gal.
Have a Blessed Weekend,
Patricia aka Mamaw
I have read a couple of books recently with Mormon characters and families and really enjoyed them. I learned more about their religious beliefs and understand the Morman faith better now.
Thanks for the opportunity to enter this giveaway.
I am from Georgia
misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com
I love novels about early Mormon history. It's fascinating. Mormonism truly is an American religion. I'm from Ohio. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.
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