Welcome, Valerie. Tell
us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
There’s always a bit of the author in the characters, I
think. I take some of my traits or interests and dole them out to a few
different characters in each story. Then I give them some traits that are
opposite to how I’d react, and see what they do with the conundrum!
What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?
Quirky? Whoa, I didn’t think I was quirky! I guess I am a
bit unconventional in my foodie interests, though. We strive to eat organic
food grown as close to home as possible. This means living on a small farm
where we keep bees and raise a few cows, pigs, and chickens. It also means a
large garden from which I can and freeze a lot of food for winter. It means
sourcing grain from local farmers and fruit from nearby orchards.
This lifestyle provides the basis for my debut novel, Raspberries
and Vinegar, so it’s had some uses besides providing healthy food for
my family!
When did you first
discover that you were a writer?
There were clues in my high school and college years, but
somehow I never figured out books were authored by normal everyday people. I
toyed around with writing for a number of years but didn’t pursue it until I
landed a job at a small-town flooring shop where I had many empty hours in my
day. I began my first novel there in 2002 and continued on to write ten more
while working for that company.
Of course, I've since discovered that authors only seem
normal from the outside. Inside they are just as strange as I once thought they
must be.
Tell us the range of
the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
I read a lot of Christian fiction, mostly contemporary and
historical romance, with occasional forays into speculative fiction. For a
number of years I reviewed books on my blog weekly, but that became
unmanageable even though I still read a novel most weeks.
In nonfiction, I read a lot of marketing books!
How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?
I live on a 40-acre farm with a large garden. In some ways,
taking care of the garden and processing the produce adds busyness to my days,
but it also gives me a break from the computer. Nature grounds me and helps
keep me connected to God through the beauty He created for me to enjoy.
Also, I have three young granddaughters, one of whom lives
on our farm with her parents. When I need a change of scenery, I jump on the
trampoline with a one-year-old! That takes my mind off things.
How do you choose
your characters’ names?
They choose themselves once the characters become fleshed
out in my mind. I can’t proceed without the right names, and changing them
after the fact alters their personalities and is not a project to be taken
lightly.
I Google baby name (gender) (decade of birth) (ethnicity)
and see what shows up. For instance, I might Google “baby name girl 1980s
Russian” to learn what names were common for Russian females who are currently
somewhere in their 20s. Usually I’ll find a name that clicks.
What is the
accomplishment that you are most proud of?
It’s hard to separate out one, as my family is my greatest
pride and joy, next to my relationship with Jesus. I’ve been married to an
awesome man for over 30 years. Our two kids have grown into wonderful adults,
have married great spouses, and are parents to little girls I adore. Being a
grandmother to a 3.5-year-old, a 1.5-year-old, and a 1-year-old makes me smile
every single day.
If you were an
animal, which one would you be, and why?
This month I’m a hummingbird, dipping a little into this
interview and a little into that guest post, buzzing around from one website to
the next! Soon I’ll step back into tortoise mode, with the slow-and-steady
attitude that will get me my next novel’s first draft completed.
What is your favorite
food?
I have so many favorites, and which takes precedence is
often dictated by season. Right now my garden is in full swing and I can’t get
enough garlic-sautéed green beans. We’re having them probably five nights a
week. It’s also the season for any meat on the grill: burgers, steak, sausage,
chicken, lamb chops… (It must be time to go make dinner now.)
What is the problem
with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
My biggest issue has been learning how much of a novel I can
plot ahead of time. I’d like to outline the whole thing, frankly, as I’m that
sort of person in Real Life, but I simply can’t see the scope in advance. There
has been a lot of trial and error (about eleven novels’ worth) to determine how
much, or how little, plotting works for me. These days I’m focused on solid
character GMCs, knowing their goals, motivations, and conflicts. If I can get
an idea of what the major conflicts are and which will likely become the black
moment, I have enough to start, even though it still scares me silly.
Tell us about the
featured book.
Breaking ground with the Farm Fresh Romance series, RASPBERRIES AND VINEGAR finds Josephine
Shaw and her friends renovating a dilapidated farm with their sights set on
more than just their own property. Transforming the town with their sustainable
lifestyle and focus on local foods is met with more resistance than they expected, especially
by temporary neighbor, Zachary Nemesek. Jo needs to learn that a
little sweet makes the tart more tasty.
Please give us the
first page of the book.
Josephine Shaw gritted her teeth as she jerked the
harvest-gold range forward on worn linoleum. There it was again. That incessant
scratching could only be from one source. Mice. Of course the old trailer would
have the despicable creatures. It’d been vacant for how long? The beam of her
flashlight found half a dozen naked newborns sheltered in a nest of insulation
and wood chips. A full-grown rodent shot through the gap she’d created and
scuttled right over her foot. Jo gasped, nearly dropping the light as she
jerked back.
Her roommate, Sierra Riehl, shrieked and danced a fierce jig
designed, Jo presumed, to fend off an attacking two-inch-high army.
“Whoa! You’re going to go right through.” A distinct
possibility, given the spongy feel to the old trailer’s floor.
Sierra’s gaze tried to capture every inch of space at once,
but at least her feet slowed their tempo. “Th-the mouse…”
Jo tried to get her own heart rate under control. “Long
gone.” At least, Jo would be if she were in his shoes. If mice wore shoes.
Which they didn’t.
“Are you sure?”
What was she, some kind of fortuneteller? Oh, wait. There
was still the nest, and somebody would have to deal with it. Didn’t look like
Sierra was up for the job. Never mind, Jo could do this herself. “Um. You might
not want to look.”
Sierra dug purple manicured fingernails into Jo’s arm, her
blue eyes wide. “Why? What’s back there?”
“You don’t want to know.”
What a fun first
page! How can readers find you on the Internet?
Connect at:
Website: http://valeriecomer.com
and http://farmlit.com/
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/valeriecomer
Writing Blog & Free eCourse: http://towriteastory.comThank you, Valerie, for sharing your life and your new book with us today.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Raspberries and Vinegar (A Farm Fresh Romance) - Amazon.com
Raspberries and Vinegar (A Farm Fresh Romance) - Kindle
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
17 comments:
would love to win. Angela in KY
Thank you for the introduction to Valerie Comer!
Britney Adams, TX
Thanks for stopping by, Angela and Britney. Nice to meet you, too. :)
Thank you for this Opportunity! This sounds like a book I would enjoy.
Jean Kropid
West Palm Beach, FL
I love the first page of this book and would certainly enjoy reading more.
Katie J. from FL
this interview, made me want some fresh greens and raspberry dressing.
Sounds like a cute story! Thanks for the interview!
Heidi, CA
A delightful interview! I'm adding garlic to my buttered fresh green beans tonight. This leaves me wanting to read more, appreciating the contrasts/rhythms in my daily routines, plus a tad bit like a hummingbird going at a turtle's pace. Best wishes for great success with this project, Valerie Comer!
Thanks, everyone, for your kind comments. Carol, try some of your green beans sauteed with garlic, and a splash of lime or lemon juice at the end. SO yummy!
I've read it and love it....I'd love to win a copy for the Church library
I would love to read Raspberries and Vinegar.:D Joy H. in WI
Raspberries and Vinegar sounds very good- contemporary issues, romance, and compromise with their choice of faith lifestyles. sharon, ca
I'm looking forward to this series. RASPBERRIES AND VINEGAR sounds wonderful. Love the title.
Mary P
QLD AUSTRALIA
Hi, Valerie!
Enjoyed your interview - sounds like a cute book, with an unusual storyline, that I would love to read.
Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
bonnieroof60(at)yahoo(dot)com
Ky.
title caught my attention. Thanks for chance to win
live in ND
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
This sounds really cute and I like the organic angle. I eat that way, too. I'm in MN.
Enter me!!
Sharon Richmond Bryant
Conway,SC.
sharonruth126@gmail.com
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