Dear Readers, I’m
interviewing a debut novelist today.
Bio: Faith Simone
is a poet, playwright, and novelist. She is also an active blogger, sharing her
personal thoughts, book reviews, and tips for writers on her website
FaithSimone.com. Simone is passionate about using her gift of writing as a tool
to help promote humanity, understanding, and compassion.
Welcome, Faith. Tell us how much of
yourself you write into your characters.
Well, I think I stay pretty distant from my characters. But
my close friends and family say that they see a lot of my main character,
Jacelynn, in me. So I guess I’m a tad bit delusional. It seems to be a
necessary character trait for most writers.
What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?
I do quirky things all the time: record YouTube videos about
random subjects that I never upload, hold personal auditions for American Idol
with myself, interview myself, and give my personal opinions of current events.
I’m truly the most interesting person I know lol!
When did you first
discover that you were a writer?
I was about 10 years old when I first decided I wanted to be
a writer. I let practicality get in the way of pursuing it. Then I had a life
changing event and decided that life is too short to not spend it the way you
really want to.
Tell us the range of
the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
I enjoy all kinds of books! From romance to chick lit to
suspense (as long as it’s not too scary) to the classics to African American
literature, romantic comedy, women’s fiction. I could go on and on …
How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?
Well, judging by my answers to the second question, I’d say
I failed the sanity test a long time ago. But I try to take time to disconnect
from technology, friends, and family and just sit with myself. It keeps me
balanced. If I don’t I start to feel stressed and overwhelmed. Another thing I
do it to practice the act of gratitude as much as possible. Being grateful has
so many benefits, including helping you to slow down and appreciate the little
things.
How do you choose
your characters’ names?
It’s totally random. I just think about the character as a
person and imagine what their name should be. Pretty easy and there’s no method
to my madness on that one.
What is the
accomplishment that you are most proud of?
Being the kind of person who is always there for loved ones
in a crisis. Those are the times when my love has the opportunity to shine the
brightest.
If you were an
animal, which one would you be, and why?
I’d be a butterfly. They’re beautiful, they’ve been through
a major transformation, and they fly!
What is your favorite
food?
Anything sweet and baked. After that, pizza is close second.
What is the problem
with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
Being easily distracted used to be a big problem for me. Not
during the actual act of writing, but making time to slow down and actually
make an effort was a problem. To overcome it, I simply channeled the bull dog
determination I’m known for and committed that unless I died, I wouldn’t let anything
stop me from writing. During the writing of When the Real Thing Comes Along,
I made an impromptu move from Texas to Michigan to Tennessee ,
cared for a sick loved one, and found a new 9-5 job. Through it all, I was
determined to finish and get that book out. Eventually, I did!
Tell us about the
featured book.
When the Real Thing Comes Along is a mix of romance, coming of
age, faith, and challenging choices. Readers who enjoy unpredictable character
driven stories will love WTRTCA! Here’s the official blurb:
She loved and lost … Will faith give her the courage she
needs to love again?
Jacelynn appears to have it all together: a great
relationship with her boyfriend Jason who is truly a man after God’s own heart,
a decent career and the love of family and friends. But when an unwelcome
reminder from her past shows up, her previously uncomplicated world is turned
upside down. Will she jeopardize what she has with Jason in an attempt to
rewrite the mistakes of her past?
They say you never forget your first love, no matter how
hard you try. So far, Jacelynn has done a pretty good job of forgetting Taylor,
the boy who had her heart first. When Taylor
returns several years later as a man requesting a second chance, what’s a girl
to do … Especially when she already has a new man?
The hidden issues of Jacelynn’s heart come to light, and
she’s forced take a hard look in the mirror while making choices that will
change her future forever. Will she be able to reconcile who she was then, with
who she is in Christ now?
Living and loving in faith isn’t always easy, but it’s
always worth it. That’s what happens …
When the Real Thing Comes Along
Please give us the
first page of the book.
At first Jacelynn actually thought that she was
hallucinating. She figured that her mind must be playing tricks on her. One
minute she was going through her normal church routine: making sure there were
enough programs for the service, verbalizing assignments for the youth
assistants, etc. The next minute she was struggling not to pass out at the
sight of a blast from her past. Swaying slightly, Jacelynn leaned against the
wall and signaled to one of the other ushers that she needed to be relieved
from her post. Since the service hadn’t even started yet, Latonya, the little
teenage girl that took her place, made it clear that she was being put out. Ten
minutes later, after chugging a glass of ice water in the fellowship hall and
holding her head between her knees, Jacelynn returned to her position at the
rear entrance of the church.
She stood there, confident that the dim lighting in the
sanctuary had caused her to see something, or rather someone, that wasn’t
there. She tried to smile and greet people as they walked through the church
doors but her nerves were so shaken that she gave up. Finally, she worked up
the courage to look for him in the crowd of people already seated. She
recognized him instantly. She would know the back of that head anywhere.
The minister of music fired up the organ and the praise
leaders took their places at the front of the church. Jacelynn’s heart dropped
and her lungs felt like they were about to collapse. This time she didn’t
bother to signal Latonya. She simply walked over to the first pew she saw and
sagged onto it.
Taking slow shallow breaths, she continued to sit there as
people sung, shouted, fell out and recovered. All she could see was the back of
that head in a sea of heads. An hour and forty-five minutes later she still
hadn’t moved. But, she knew that she had to get out of there before that head
turned around.
The door to her freedom was about sixty feet away. If she
moved quickly she could easily make it out of the church and into the sanctuary
of her car in one minute flat. Her heart beat fast against her rib cage as
Pastor Greer finished up the benediction, “In the precious name of your holy
Son … ” Jacelynn grabbed her purse and took a shallow breath. By the time “amen”
drifted from the lips of fellow worshipers she was pushing the plexiglass doors
open while disgracefully sprinting across the parking lot.
With shaking hands she turned the ignition of her 2011 Honda
Civic. She exited the parking lot with little regard for oncoming traffic,
barely noticing the screeching brakes that echoed in her wake. On autopilot
Jacelynn mashed the gas pedal and merged onto the 91 Freeway. She ignored the
indignant honks and focused on trying to regulate her breathing as she deftly
changed lanes in the light Sunday afternoon traffic. Ten minutes later, she
jerked her car into the underground garage of her apartment, threw the gear
shift into park, and ran through the courtyard. She was completely oblivious to
the snickers from the teenage boys admiring the sight of her behind bouncing
slightly as she bounded up the stairs. Once she was safely inside, she locked the
door and closed her curtains to the blinding Southern
California sun. Slumping onto the couch she kicked off her
stilettos.
He’d finally found her. Not that she’d been hiding; he
simply hadn’t been looking in the right places.
Until now.
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
I’m everywhere! I love hearing from readers, so don’t
hesitate to contact me.
Website:
FaithSimone.com
Facebook:
Author Faith Simone
Twitter:
@FaithSimone2011
Goodreads
Faith Simone
Google+
Google.com/+FaithSimone
Amazon Author Page
Faith Simone
http://www.amazon.com/author/faithsimoneThank you, Faith, for sharing your new book with us. I know my readers will love it. I can hardly wait to read it myself.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
When the Real Thing Comes Along - Paperback
When the Real Thing Comes Along - 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.)
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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.
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11 comments:
Thanks so much for hosting me! This was such a fun interview and I'm available to answer any more questions from your readers.
would love love love to win. Angela in KY
WHEN THE REAL THING COMES ALONG sounds like a must read! Lena, thank you for hosting Faith.
Caryl in TEXAS
A very interesting first page thank you.
Mary P
QLD AUSTRALIA
Thank you for a great interview, Miss Lena!
Melanie Backus, TX
Thanks for the positive feedback ladies! Let me know if you have any questions about WTRTCA. I'd love to answer them. :)
Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
Conway, SC.
Love the first page! Sounds like a great read! Thanks for the chance to win.
Beth in Montana
Hi!
This sounds like it will be a great read! I am interested in reading more of this book by Faith Simone. :) Thank you for the chance!
~Sabrina/Mippy :)
Northern Utah
Wow this looks like an Awesome read! Looks like it will be on my Must Read List! Thank you for gifting us with your writings! God Bless!
Great interview and enjoyed the first page!
Beth from IA
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