TEMPEST'S COURSE - Lynette Sowell - One Free Book

Welcome back, Lynette. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I don’t purposely write some of myself into my characters, but like for many writers, I know that happens inadvertently. I think writers always touch on some aspects of their own experiences when crafting characters. For me, usually it’s emotional journey—whether that’s joy, betrayal, outrage, finding the need to forgive, or a lesson I’ve learned. I love cooking and trying recipes, and I’ve had several characters who are chefs, either running their own restaurant, or a bakery, and even a White House chef.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I told a friend the other night about a costume party back in college. I couldn’t figure out what to wear, so I made a toga of sorts out of my dorm room curtains, and I wore that to the party. There's a picture of that night around, somewhere...

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I distinctly remember that discovery in elementary school, either fourth or fifth grade. A teacher gave us a list of 25 words and said, “Now write a story using all of those words at least once.” For me it happened naturally. My story was a Thanksgiving story involving Pilgrims and Indians. I can still remember the thrill of reading it aloud in class, and the whole room being silent as I read what I’d just made up. But it wasn't until much, much later I seriously considered writing with the goal of publication.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I enjoy reading anything from sweet romance (it has to be a unique enough hook to grab me as a reader) to gritty suspense/thrillers. Southern fiction, cozy mystery, you name it.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

I force myself to slow down and rest. I usually underestimate the time I need to get certain things done—either that, or I’m overly ambitious. Recently because of my husband’s health issues, we’ve had to slow down some, but that's okay. We don’t have to do everything.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

When I sit down and think of a character, sometimes I wait until they introduce themselves to me. It depends on their personality, or ethnic background. I also try to choose names that are easy to read—no guessing on the pronunciation—especially if they’re not common names.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Choosing to become a mother to my husband’s two children. They were three and five years old when I married their father, and I don’t regret becoming an instant mother one bit. The two of them are grown now, and my husband and I did the best we could to raise them as the Lord would have us raise them.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

I used to say I’d be a cat, because the cats in our household have a really nice, cushy life. But part of me would be an eagle—I’d love to feel what it’s like to fly and be able to see details from great distances.

What is your favorite food?

I have to pick one? I’d have to say chocolate. Period.

A woman after my own heart. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Learning when to move on from a book. I spent several years kicking around a proposal that never really came together. It’s a suspense/thriller, and I still love the idea. But it never felt right. I’m not sure if it’s the characters, plot, or what. I wasted a lot of time not letting myself get over that book and moving on to something else. Finally, I had to just put it to the side and let it go.

Tell us about the featured book.

Tempest's Course is part of the Quilts of Love series from Abingdon Press. It's the story of a textile conservator who’s treading water financially, emotionally, spiritually, professionally, and one eventful summer she spends in New Bedford, Mass. She lives and works in a whaling captain’s mansion as she works to restore a 150-year-old Mariner’s Compass quilt. Her life really gets interesting when she meets the groundskeeper at the mansion and also discovers the long-hidden journal of the woman who originally made the quilt.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Prologue

April 1853

New Bedford, Massachusetts

They say a madwoman cannot make sense of the world around her, let alone write about it, but I can. My empty arms are full, but my heart tells me that it will never be full again. The one light of my life is gone from me, and I have no embers from which to coax a new spark.

My atonement is futile. I have no other choice other than the one before me. If Almighty God is listening from Heaven, surely He will accept this sacrifice. Perhaps the generations to follow will as well.

Chapter 1

Present Day

Kelly Frost tried not to shiver as she stood on the sidewalk in front of Gray House, but she did anyway. The breeze drifting from New Bedford’s waterfront had some bite in it, even for May. Kelly squinted against the sun’s glare reflecting off a car door, now slammed shut.

An efficient-looking woman made her way with precise steps to the gate that protected the front lawn of Gray House from nosy passersby and visitors. “Sorry I’m late. I would have told you to meet me at the real estate office, but the house is closer.” She unlocked the gate and swung it open. The ironwork complained at the disturbance.

“Not a problem,” Kelly said as she followed the woman—Mrs. Acres, was it?—up the cobbled sidewalk, then the wooden steps.

“I’ve been instructed to open the house for you while you complete your assessment of the piece, then lock up when you’re ready to go.” Mrs. Acres now worked the front door lock with an ancient key. “How long do you think you’ll need?”

“An hour, most likely.” She’d made assessments of antique and ancient textiles before, and this current request should be little different than other times in the past.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

You can find me at my Facebook Author Page, https://www.facebook.com/lynettesowellauthor , on Twitter as @LynetteSowell, and on Pinterest as LynetteSowell. I hope you’ll check out my Pinterest board for Tempest's Course and some of my photos of New Bedford I took during my research trip. I’m also on Goodreads and have an Amazon author page. 

Thank you, Lynette, for sharing this new book with us. I can't wait to read it.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Tempest's Course - Christianbook.com
Tempest's Course: Quilts of Love Series - Amazon.com
Tempest's Course: Quilts of Love Series - Kindle

Christian Book Store

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