Bio: Joyce
Magnin is the author of the Bright's Pond novels, including the award-winning The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow. A member
of the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Fellowship, Joyce is a frequent
workshop leader and the organizer of the StoryCrafters fiction group. She lives
near Philadelphia , Pennsylvania .
Welcome back, Joyce. Why
do you write the kind of books you do?
I love the idea of community and people working together to
solve problems and support one another. So all my books have that in common.
And I also believe that part of getting through life is keeping a sense of
humor about things.
Besides when you came
to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?
Well, I guess I’ve had several happiest days if you count
the days my kids were born, the day I got my first book contract, the day I
learned to ride a bike, the day my brother came home from Viet Nam, the day my
daughter got married, the days she gave birth to The Adorables (my three
grandsons). Yikes! Lots of happiest days. It is really hard to narrow down to
just one—sorry.
The longer we live,
the longer those lists become. I now how two great grandsons as well. How has
being published changed your life?
Oh, boy, I’m certainly busier than I ever was. Getting a
publishing contract is very validating for writers even though there are many
days when I think I’m the worst writer in the world.
Don’t we all? What
are you reading right now?
Books by Elizabeth Berg. I love her simplicity. Books on
needlework and embroidery because I’m working on a book that uses embroidery as
a symbol.
What is your current
work in progress?
Working on a book called Counting
Threads about a woman who runs a small stitchery shop.
What would be your
dream vacation?
I want to go to Scotland and wander the moors and
castles. Or a day to myself would be nice.
How do you choose
your settings for each book?
They choose me. I love small towns so that’s where I set my
books. The small towns I write about are pretty much an amalgam of all the
small towns I’ve explored in upstate Pennsylvania .
If you could spend an
evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
My sister Elaine. I haven’t seen her in a long time.
What are your
hobbies, besides writing and reading?
Cross Stitch, video games, grandsons.
What is your most
difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
Self doubt. I never think I’m good enough. I overcome it by
looking at past successes and listening to the amazing cheerleaders in my life.
What advice would you
give to a beginning author?
Read. Read. Read. Write. Write. Write. Attend conferences.
Persevere.
Tell us about the
featured book.
A patchwork quilt holds together two hearts separated by
miles of ocean and the Second World War. Maybelle can’t sew. But when she finds
an unfinished quilt in the attic of her mother’s house, she gets the crazy idea
to complete it. At first, it’s just a way to fill the lonely nights while her
husband, staff sergeant Holden Kanzinzki, is away fighting in World War II.
Yet when Maybelle discovers that the quilt is made from
scraps of material that can be traced back through her family heritage, the
project is suddenly much more important. Then word comes that Holden is missing
in action, and with little else to do, Maybelle clings to the quilt as much as
to the hope that her husband is still alive. As neighborhood friends gather
around Maybelle to help her through the unknown days and nights ahead, it is
the quilt that becomes a symbol of her unflagging belief that Holden will
return—to her, to their home, and to their quilt-covered bed.
My newest great
grandson is named Holden. Please give us the first page of the book.
October 1943
Chester , Pennsylvania
My dearest Maybelle,
Another long day has finally come to an end. We just finished dinner. Paxton is already snoring. He can sleep anywhere. I don’t have to tell you how sleep eludes me here. But, supper was good, lamb stew with potatoes and carrots. I had three helpings. I can’t tell you how or where, but we actually ate supper at a real house, not a foxhole. But now, I am in our tent, shivering because it is so cold and it makes me wish even more you were in my arms. I love you, darling, and miss you more than anything. I know you are worried, but don’t be. I’ll be home soon, I promise. I can hear artillery off in the distance, but if I listen real hard, I can hear your voice, singing the silly song you always sang. Oh, sorry, sweetheart, I have to go now. My sergeant is waiting for me. Some sort of (censored) duty. Good night, darling.
Your Ever-Loving Husband,
Holden
Maybelle slipped the V-Mail letter into her pocket and headed off downNinth Street toward
the Sun shipyard. The main reason she had taken the job was because she thought
it would help take her mind off of missing Holden. And because most of the men
had been sent off to war, they needed her. As it turned out, learning to be a
welder repairing huge war ships did accomplish some of her goal, but it also
accomplished something else. Maybelle had become a part of a small group of
army wives whose husbands were fighting in Europe .
A group that worked together, laughed together, ate together, and far too often
cried together. Try as they might, the wives had a difficult time refraining
from long talks of their husbands and the war. There was no use trying to hide
their true feelings, although each and every woman was proud as punch her
husband was doing his part. It seemed to be the motto on the home front. Do
Your Part. Well, Maybelle certainly believed she was doing hers.
She lived only five blocks from the massive shipyard on the Delaware River inChester —a small but bustling suburb of Philadelphia , Pennsylvania .
After Holden enlisted, Maybelle moved in with her mother. Maybelle and Holden
had plans to move into one of the blossoming communities a little farther west.
But for now, home with Mom and Bingo, her black mutt of a dog, was the best of all
places for Maybelle. Still, she missed Holden more than anything. They had
gotten married only two weeks before he shipped out for Europe .
His orders came early. Six whole months early and so Maybelle and her mother
scrambled to get the wedding organized in time. Pastor Mendenhall was more than
accommodating. As a matter of fact, Maybelle was delighted the way the entire
congregation, what was left of it, pitched in.
Maybelle could hear the shipyard whistle blow all day long from the house. The yard operated twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The whistle announced the numerous shift changes, lunch, starting and stopping times. She felt fortunate for having the day shift
My dearest Maybelle,
Another long day has finally come to an end. We just finished dinner. Paxton is already snoring. He can sleep anywhere. I don’t have to tell you how sleep eludes me here. But, supper was good, lamb stew with potatoes and carrots. I had three helpings. I can’t tell you how or where, but we actually ate supper at a real house, not a foxhole. But now, I am in our tent, shivering because it is so cold and it makes me wish even more you were in my arms. I love you, darling, and miss you more than anything. I know you are worried, but don’t be. I’ll be home soon, I promise. I can hear artillery off in the distance, but if I listen real hard, I can hear your voice, singing the silly song you always sang. Oh, sorry, sweetheart, I have to go now. My sergeant is waiting for me. Some sort of (censored) duty. Good night, darling.
Your Ever-Loving Husband,
Holden
Maybelle slipped the V-Mail letter into her pocket and headed off down
She lived only five blocks from the massive shipyard on the Delaware River in
Maybelle could hear the shipyard whistle blow all day long from the house. The yard operated twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The whistle announced the numerous shift changes, lunch, starting and stopping times. She felt fortunate for having the day shift
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
I can be found at http://joycemagnin.blogspot.com
or Facebook.
Thanks for visiting with me!Joyce, it's always a pleasure to host you, and I love the Quilts of Love books.
Don’t miss the newest Quilts of Love book, Maybelle in Stitches, by Joyce Magnin. Maybelle can’t sew. But when she finds an unfinished quilt in the attic of her mother’s house, she gets the crazy idea to complete it.
Joyce is celebrating the release with a $200 Modcloth giveaway. Enter today for a chance to spruce up your spring wardrobe!
One winner will receive:
- A $200 ModCloth.com gift card
- Scraps of Evidence by Barbara Cameron
- A Sky Without Stars by Linda S. Clare
- Maybelle in Stitches by Joyce Magnin
Spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER.
Joyce, I recently discovered the ModCloth web site. I'd love to win a shopping spree there. I'm sure my winners would, too.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Maybelle in Stitches - Christianbook.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 Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, 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.
17 comments:
Lena, Enjoyed the interview with Joyce.
The excerpt from her book is very interesting and I would love to read it.
Thank you from Ohio
mcnuttjem0(at)gmail(dot)com
I read Harriet Beamer takes the Bus awhile back and liked it so much, I look forward to getting into another of Magnin's novels soon! :)
Tammy (AL)
Portsmouth, VA
Sounds like it would be an interesting book
oh.hello.hiya@gmail.com
Thank you for sharing this great interview with Joyce Magnin. I adore the Quilts of Love series and look forward to reading MAYBELLE IN STITCHES!
Britney Adams, TX
I enjoy the Quilts of Love series and would enjoy reading this one also. sm CA wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com
I would love to win. Angela in Ky
What a wonderful interview. The first book I read by Joyce was "Charlotte Figg Takes Over Paradise - A Novel of Bright's Pond." I was in love with Joyce's writing from that point on. I also really, really wanted to buy a trailer. Something my husband is continuing to encourage me in...slowly.
Kelly
Prescott, AZ
The interview was great! Thank you for sharing. Maybelle in Stitches sounds like a must read.
Melanie Backus, TX
I know I am going to enjoy this story immensely.
Mary P
QLD AUSTRALIA
Thanks Joyce for the interview. I'm looking forward to Maybelle in Stitches!
Blessings!
Judy B from Indiana
Enter me!!
Sharon Richmond Bryant
Conway,SC.
sharonruth126@gmail.com
This book sounds so interesting! this is a time period I began to learn more about through Anna Schmidt's current series, and enjoyed. Since I can't sew - barely buttons under duress - it sounds even more interesting! Thank you for the wonderful interview and chance to win! I live in Arizona.
I am very familiar with Chester, PA because I grew up very close to there. I've never seen a book set in that area before.
I currently live in Lancaster County, PA.
Will definitely be looking for this one!
Doreen
priviesandprims[at]yahoo[dot][com]
wonderful interview.I am looking forward to reading Maybelle in Stitches.The excerpt sounds wonderful.Please enter me in contest.Thank you for the opportunity to win. PA.
I've heard so much about the Quilts of Love books, but haven't had the opportunity to read one yet. I'd love to win!
Courtney C. from AR
Maybelle in Stitches sounds touching, I'd love to win it!
Merry in MN
Post a Comment