BIO: Speaker and
award-winning author, Cynthia Ruchti draws from 33 years experience writing and
producing a daily radio broadcast to tell stories hemmed in Hope through her
novels, novellas, devotions, and nonfiction. She serves as the professional
relations liaison for American Christian Fiction Writers. Cynthia and her
husband live in the heart of Wisconsin .
Dear Readers, I’ve
known and loved Cynthia Ruchti for a long time. And her books are always
wonderful reads. Since the beginning of October, I’ve been reading mostly
Christmas books. There are a large number of new Christian Christmas releases. An Endless Christmas stands out as one
of the best. A unique storyline and characters who marched into my heart and
took up residence there kept me turning pages as fast as I could. A
heartwarming story that lingers, this book is sure to become a traditional
favorite that will be read year after year. You won’t want to miss this one.
Tell us about your
salvation experience.
A love for God, the Bible, and Jesus had been planted in my
heart almost since birth, or at least since I could recognize the word God and
the look of reverence on my parents’ faces. Respecting the Word of God and
appreciating Jesus and His love almost came naturally, growing up in that sweet
atmosphere. But when I was five years old, I was confronted with my need for
doing more than just thinking about Jesus. During swimming lessons that summer,
the instructor’s insistence on the buddy system “in case someone got in trouble
in the water” brought me face-to-face with the idea that even a child could
die. I wanted the assurance that if something happened to me, then or ever, I
would have a home in heaven with the God I loved. I can almost hear the screen
door slamming behind me all those years ago when I rushed home after swim
class, kneeled by the ratty tweed couch, and asked my parents to help me commit
my life to Jesus as my Savior. No turning back. No turning back.
I was also reared in
that kind of home, and I asked Jesus into my heart when I was seven years old.You’re
planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who
would they be and why?
My daughter, Amy, who has a writer’s heart and is one day
going to write more than the wittiest Facebook posts ever.
My granddaughter, Grace, who also has an exceptional gift.
My other granddaughter, Hannah, because her flair for the
dramatic may mean she too is on a path toward writing emotion-packed stories
(and because she’d never forgive me if she weren’t invited).
You, because you’d make them all feel at home. J
That sounds like a
fun retreat. I’d love interacting with all of you. Do you have a speaking
ministry? If so, tell us about that.
Yes, I speak frequently for women’s groups and retreats. I
love the relationships that form at these events and the ability to in that
way, too, tell stories hemmed in hope. I have the outrageous privilege of
serving as one of the speakers on a Women’s Retreat CRUISE in April, from Tampa to Key West to Cozumel and back. What a thrill to have been asked to
participate in that event.
Wow! That sounds like
fun. I love cruises. What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to
you and how did you handle it?
One of the most embarrassing was during a duet my girlfriend
and I sang in church when we were young teens. It was a sober song, but we got
the giggles and couldn’t get rid of them. My friend’s mother was our pianist
and shot us a searing “evil eye.” But that just made it all the funnier. We
never did pull ourselves together. But we were asked again and somehow managed
to overcome the temptation to allow it to happen again.
People are always
telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you,
too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?
I would tell people—and often have—to get to the best
writers’ conference they can afford. It’s such a good first step, because they
will either feel like they’ve finally found what they’ve been looking for, or
the realities of what it takes to become a writer will convince them there are
other ways to lose sleep.
Tell us about the
featured book.
An Endless Christmas is the story of Christmas week with the
Binder family. When grandson Micah Binder proposes to his girlfriend and she says
“No,” the week seems off to a rocky start. But the Binder family’s response
becomes part of Katie Vale’s journey to the heart of Christmas.
Please give us the
first page of the book for my readers.
“What did she say?”
A carol played in the background. Carols perpetually played
in the background at the Binder’s cottage at Christmas, Katie Vale had quickly
learned. The music almost covered the whispered “What did she say?” that made
the rounds of the room built for two that now held twenty.
“She said no.” Dodie Binder—matriarch and tone-setter—leaned
closer to her husband Wilson whose smile collapsed, stroke-like, when she
repeated the answer in his good ear.
“She said no?” He wasn’t the only one asking for
clarification.
Katie fingered the heirloom ring. In her hand, not on it. A
square-cut diamond surrounded by tiny sapphires. A narrow, glitter-edged ribbon
looped through its circle. Moments earlier it had hung on the Binder’s tinseled
Christmas tree. “I said…”—she apologized to Micah Binder with her eyes and with
all she couldn’t express—“no. I can’t accept this. I can’t—”
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
http://www.cynthiaruchti.com,
http://www.hemmedinhope.com, http://www.facebook.com/CynthiaRuchtiReaderPage,
http://www.twitter.com/cynthiaruchti,
http://www.pinterest.com/cynthiaruchti
Thank you, Lena . It’s
always a joy to stop by for a chat!
And, Cynthia, it's a joy to host you. With the growth of the readership of the blog, we always have new readers who haven't read any of your work. I'm happy to introduce them to other Christian authors.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
An Endless Christmas - Christianbook.comAn Endless Christmas: A Novella - Amazon
An Endless Christmas: A Novella - 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 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:
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
34 comments:
Thank you for a great interview, Lena! I have heard great things about this book and would really love to read it. Keeping my fingers crossed, for sure!
Melanie Backus, TX
Lena, this is an excellent book and it has introduced me to a wonderful author. I will also read An Endless Christmas again and again! . I already have this book so I will forfeit my entry to give someone else a chance.
Happy Thanksgiving and Blessings!
Connie from KY
Melanie, I do hope you have the opportunity to read the book. And Connie, Your comments are MUCH appreciated!
What a great interview, Lena! I've only recently discovered your blog here, and so far have been checking it out more often! Love your interviews with the authors especially. Thanks! Annie from MD
such a pretty and peaceful looking cover. would love to have the chance to win this
cheryl in IL
Fabulous interview! I would love to read AN ENDLESS CHRISTMAS.
Caryl in TEXAS
Great interview. Thank you for the giveaway sounds like a great book to read.
No isn't the same as I can't accept this.... I'd love to find out why not.
California
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Angela in KY would to win.
What a fantastic beginning to a story.
Mary P
QLD AUSTRALIA
This is the one Christmas book that I have really wanted to read this year. I love everything I have read in the synopsis and reviews.
Terrill - WA
Well, I want o know why she said no! Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of An Endless Christmas. :)
Anne~ Chesapeake Bay VA
Since I have survived many, shall we say 'unusual', family holidays, I really like the premise of this book. I am looking forward to reading it. Thanks for the interview and giveaway!
Loraine in TX
Love, love, love Christmas stories! Thank you for this opportunity.
Cynthia - NY
Please enter me
Blanch NC
Lena, I love your posts, interviews and give always. YOU ROCK, girlfriend! I would love to win Cynthia's Christmas novel. Thank you for the opportunity.
Marianne
El Mirage, Arizona
I truly enjoy Christmas stories and learning about authors. :-) Melissa in Mechanicsville VA :-)
I can't wait to read about Katie and Micah's journey to love!
Patty in SC
Nice interview. Books surrounding christmas are always fun to read. kamundsen44ATyahooDOTcom. North Platte Nebraska.
I like the theme of Endless Christmas, because it's always interesting to see how an engagement refusal ends up, especially right on the Holidays. sm CA wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com
Great interview! I really enjoy and appreciate reading the salvation experiences of various authors. This book sounds interesting.
Edward A in VA
This book sounds great! Thank You for the interview!
It was fun to read more about Cynthia. I've read several of her terrific books. AN ENDLESS CHRISTMAS sounds really good. Thanks for the chance to win.
pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com
Kansas
This sounds like a great Christmas story. Enjoyed the interview. Thanks for the giveaway.
Brenda in VA
Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
Conway, SC.
Please enter me.I would love to read this book.Thanks...Jackie Tessnair N.C.
Sounds like a good Christmas story! Thanks!
Beth in Montana
My youngest daughter's fiancé proposed to her in front of the Christmas Tree at our family's Christmas gathering. We could barely hear my daughter's answer because she was laughing so much. She did say yes and they've been married 8 years.
My youngest daughter's fiancé proposed to her in front of the Christmas Tree at our family's Christmas gathering. We could barely hear my daughter's answer because she was laughing so much. She did say yes and they've been married 8 years.
thanks for the chance to win Cynthia's book.
live in ND
I have read such great reviews of this book! Looking forward to reading it! Thanks for the giveaway!
Melissa in NC
The cover is beautiful. I always enjoy Christmas books.
Beth from IA
Look at the cover of this book, pure Christmas time. I would really enjoy reading this.
Deanne in PA
Thank you for the giveaway looking forward to reading this book really loving the cover.
Lourdes in Long Island, NY
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