Welcome back, Christy. God has really been
moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?
I’m excited to be writing romantic suspense for Love
Inspired, as well as continuing on to write my mystery novels. If I can
continue to do both of those things, I’ll be as happy as a clam.
Tell us a little
about your family.
I have two precious sons. I homeschool my oldest, and my
youngest is only three. My husband is a special education teacher full-time and
a church children’s director part-time. We love spending time together as a
family, whether that’s at church or by taking walks together or working on
projects. I’m blessed!
Has your writing
changed your reading habits? If so, how?
I’m definitely pickier as a reader, and I hate that! But I
also know when a book really captures my attention and when I can move past
that pickiness, that I’ve found a really good book! I primarily read mystery
and romantic suspense. Being a mom has changed my reading habits because I
don’t have as much free time! LOL
What are you working
on right now?
I’m working on the fourth book in my Squeaky Clean Mystery
series. It’s called Dirty Deeds. I’m
also writing my new proposal for Love Inspired Suspense. I have a couple of
other books I’m toying with as well.
What outside
interests do you have?
I love singing and playing the guitar. I love decorating and
having coffee with friends. I wished I loved exercising, but I don’t. J
I’m with you there,
but I have to do physical therapy exercises and walk. How do you choose your
settings for each book?
I love to travel, and I like to find things that interest
me. I also set a lot of books in places that are within a day’s drive of my
home. I find it easier to write about places I’m familiar with.
If you could spend an
evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?
Agatha Christie would be kind of fun! I’d love to pick her
brain, find out what her writing methods were and how she produced so many
books.
What is the one thing
you wish you had known before you started writing novels?
For me, I think it’s that you never really feel like you’ve
arrived. You always want your next novel to be well-received, and to get good
reviews, and to have good sales. To keep readers happy, you need to keep
releasing books. You’ve got to continue to grow at your craft. Before I was
published, I thought I’d simply find a publisher and settle in for publishing
happily-ever-after. It hasn’t quite worked out that way, but I’m not
complaining. I’m doing what I love and making a living at it.
What new lessons is
the Lord teaching you right now?
He’s teaching me to find my confidence and self worth in Him
and in Him alone. I found myself riding this emotional rollercoaster,
especially when it came to writing. When I had good sales and good reviews and
lots of positive buzz, I felt great. But then I might get a not-so-nice review
or sales might slump for a week or two, and I’d feel down. I realized I was
letting my emotions be too easily ruled by external things. I’ve stopped
reading my reviews and checking my sales so often, and I’m concentrating
instead on writing the stories He’s placed on my heart.
What are the three
best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?
Keep writing, keeping reading, and keep submitting.
Persistence can really pay off, but you always need to continually grow in your
craft, no matter what stage you’re at.
That is so true. Tell
us about the featured book.
The Good Girl is about Tara Lancaster. As it says on the back
cover, she can sing “Amazing Grace” in three harmonies, two languages, and
interpret it for the hearing impaired. She can list the Bible canon backward,
forward, and alphabetized. And the only time she ever missed church was at
seventeen because she had pneumonia and her mom made her stay home.
Following all the rules has gotten her nowhere. And nothing
she learned in Sunday School can tell her where to go from there.
Please give us the
first page of the book.
Chapter 1
Forrest Gump was known for saying that life was like a box
of chocolates. You never knew what you were going to get.
My Grandmother Griffin had a different saying. She said that
life was like a Bible story. You didn’t always get a happy ending—at least not
here on this earth.
For years, I didn’t believe Grandma Griffin. After all, she
honestly thought that “cleanliness is next to godliness” was in the Bible. I
mean, I was a Christian, so life was supposed to be blessed. And blessed meant
that life was full of unconditional love and feel-good moments and abundance.
Right?
Wrong.
Now, I have my own sayings. One is that life is like a
beautiful apple. Sometimes you don’t know it’s rotten until you bite into it.
Other days, I thought life was like the solid wood coffee table that my uncle
fell on—revealing it was actually made of particleboard, thus my saying, “You
never know what you’re made of until you’re broken.”
I’m Tara Lancaster, and I come from a family of
missionaries, preachers, and Bible college professors. One could never be too
righteous in this clan. I was right on track in my family tree, following a
path that would have made Mother Teresa and Billy Graham proud.
That was, until two years ago.
It’s taken me a long time to figure things out. First, I had
to battle a ghost, question my faith, consult a psychic, and fall in love with
someone who wasn’t my husband.
It’s a long story. It’s a story about a good girl gone ... well,
I can’t tell you. I will say this: Life is like a movie. Just when things seem
perfect, the movie ends.
And that’s where my story starts.
I love reading your
books. I can’t wait until I get my hands on this one. How can readers find you
on the Internet?
They can find me at www.christybarritt.com,
as well as on Facebook at www.facebook.com/christybarritt.
Thanks so much for the interview, Lena !
My pleasure, Christy.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
The Good Girl - Christianbook.comThe Good Girl - Amazon.com
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 Google +, Feedblitz, Facebook, Linkedin, 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
24 comments:
great interview, and i would love to win this book thanks
jcisforme@aol.com
would love to win. Angela from KY
Sounds like a good, unique story. Would love to be entered for this book.
Thanks
Brittany (TX)
I love the first page and would like a chance to win this book. Thanks!
Tennessee
This book sounds like such fun.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Absolutely LOVED Christy's "Squeaky CLean" mysteries and looking forward to reading this series.
Thanks so much for the give away.
Blessings to you both!
HollyMag from SoCal
THE GOOD GIRL sounds like such a fabulous read. I really enjoyed the first page thank you.
Mary P
QLD AUSTRALIA
Thanks for the comments, everyone! Good luck to all of you. :-)
Would love to win it! Carol from Raleigh, NC
Sounds like a good book. Perhaps another good addition to the school's library should I be chosen as winner. :) I'm in middle-North Carolina
Thanks for the interview ladies! This certainly sounds like a departure from my normal reads.
Patty in SC
thanks for the chance to win
live in ND
thanks for the chance to read this novel.
karenk...from PA
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
I enjoy Christy's books and would love the chance to win The Good Girl. Thanks!
Merry in MN
Sounds like a great, thrilling read. Love the cover! Thanks for the chance to win.
Julie in MN
Oooh, I love the opening page! Sign me up!
kandrajane at bell south dot net
I would love to win this awesome giveaway and God Bless!
Sarah Richmond
N.C.
We have Christy's books in the Church Library.
I would love to win this one to add to our collection.
Thanks!
Janet E.
von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com
Florida
Enter me this book looks great!!
Sharon Richmond
Blanch,NC.
sharonruth126@gmail.com
I would love to read this.
Deborah D, FL
This sounds wonderful! I've been a fan since the Squeaky Clean series. I'm in MN.
I have enjoyed every Christy Barritt book I've ever picked up. Please drop my name in the hat!
Anna W. from GA
I would enjoy The Good Girl. Please enter me.
Beth from Iowa
Sounds like a fun read. Thanks.
Melissa O (NC)
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