FINDING LOVE IN SUN VALLEY, IDAHO - Angela Ruth Strong - One Free Ebook

Welcome back, Angela. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?

Oh, I’m a dreamer, so I could take up the whole blog with this answer alone. I’ve already deleted a few paragraphs, so I don’t bore readers. Let me just say three things here.

I was speechless when I found out my debut novel Love Finds You in Sun Valley was being considered for film. With such a possibility, I decided to get my rights back and rerelease the book as the first in a series about all the brothers in the family.(http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/faithmediaandculture/2012/07/mpi-to-bring-popular-love-finds-you-book-series-to-television.html )

The second novel in the Resort to Love series, Finding Love in Big Sky, Montana, comes out in September. It’s a Christmas story. And writing it made my heart grow like the Grinch’s. I hope it touches my readers just a fraction of the way it touched me.

On the last day of my writing retreat with my friends a couple months ago, I felt God had a verse for me. I opened my Bible randomly and there was a star next to Psalm 102:18. “Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord.” That’s where I’m headed.

Tell us a little about your family.

We have a blended family. My husband’s three kids are out of the house (though they still inspire me with their creativity), and we are raising my three teenagers. We don’t do it perfectly, but we do it better because we are together.

Currently, I’m working on getting my 16-year-old son a passport for a mission trip to Mexico with his youth group this summer, and my 15-year-old is at a special high school for kids who want to go into the medical field. She was just a little too excited to play nurse when my 13-year-old daughter broke her ankle playing her favorite sport at a basketball tournament a few days ago. Last night we went out for Mexican food on “big plates” and laughed until we cried over ridiculous things nobody else would think is funny.

Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?

In learning to write better, I’ve become pickier and pickier. I won’t finish a book if it doesn’t grab me because there are so many other books I want to read.

What are you working on right now?

I’m writing Finding Love in Park City, Utah. I attended the Sundance Film festival in January to research, which was awesome. This one is going to touch on some issues that I’ve dealt with in my own life, so it will probably be the most real of the three books in the series.

My first romantic suspense novel comes out with Love Inspired Suspense next February. I’ve been working on ideas for the cover and finding the perfect title. (I’m hoping for Playing Dead.) If there are any movie producers reading this, it would also make a great film. ;-)

What outside interests do you have?

I teach fitness classes—mostly yoga right now. And I love photography and scrapbooking. My husband also got a Harley this year, so I’m now a Harley girl. Whatever that means.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

My debut novel was part of the Love Finds You series, which was all about location. I actually set it in Sweet Home, Oregon, originally, because I liked the name of the town and wanted to do a whole home-sweet-home theme. I got my contract then the publisher asked me to move the story to Sun Valley because they already had too many Oregon stories. (Too many awesome authors in Oregon.)

So then I had to make a research trip out to Sun Valley. And it was so fun that researching settings has become a big part of my writing process. I choose settings I would like to visit. Then even if I don’t get to travel to the location (St. Lucia…sigh), I can still go there vicariously through my characters.

If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?

Joseph. He was a dreamer like me.

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?

My mom wrote, so I knew it was going to be hard, which is good and bad. The bad part was that I started out determined to prove myself. But now I know there’s nothing to prove. I’m never going to arrive. I’m just going to do it because I love it. I’ll always have more to learn, and if I touch any lives along then I’ll consider myself blessed.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

I’ve decided to go through the fruits of the spirit in my Bible. Right now I’m on love. (It’s going to take a while until I reach joy.) I learn something new every day. For example, yesterday’s verse was about how “love and faithfulness go before God.” I pictured it like a processional for a king or the line of limos from when Obama came to Boise. You know God is present and active when you experience love and faithfulness. Such a beautiful image. And also a reminder to notice our own behavior or to be discerning of other people who say they believe in God but you can’t see this fruit in their life.

What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?

Chase your dreams.

Climb over obstacles.

Get back up when you fall down—preferably while laughing at the realization of how funny you probably looked when flying through the air.

Tell us about the featured book.

In Finding Love in Sun Valley, Actress Emily Van Arsdale has returned to her Idaho hometown - with an entire film crew in tow! With its stunning scenery and reputation for hosting celebrities, Sun Valley is the perfect setting for Emily’s newest romantic comedy. Tracen Lake is happy to work as a stunt consultant for the movie but not as thrilled to deal with a bunch of high-maintenance Hollywood types. But Tracen is surprised to discover in Emily a down-to-earth Idaho girl who does all her own stunts and loves the outdoors. As filming wraps up and Emily heads off to her next gig, will she be able to leave Sun Valley - and Tracen - behind?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Tapping the brakes to turn off the cruise control in her rented Ford Escape, Emily squinted to read another marker located along Hwy 21. The winding road transitioned from the forested mountains to the dry valley, where the pine trees grew taller as if wearing stilts. This meant she was getting closer to the river and her resort destination.

           

When she was growing up, Dad had always refused to take her to Sun Valley, Idaho. Said he’d rather avoid the snobs who vacationed there. Of course, he was referring to the rich and famous, the actors and actresses. Which ironically she now was. An actress anyway. Never a snob.

           

Should she feel guilty for staying in the swanky lodge? Nah. She needed a good night’s rest before the flurry of filming swept her downstream—literally. Especially after spending a week with Mom in her hometown of Boise.

           

She also needed a bathroom and a hot meal. Spying a rustic restaurant snuggled next to a bend in the river, she pressed harder on the brakes before swinging onto the gravel side road leading to The Point. The log building looked as if it were in need of sprucing up, but by the number of cars parked out front, the food must have made up for any lack of elegance.

           

Emily pulled the compact SUV into what might be considered a parking space and leaned over the passenger’s side to pull her purse from underneath a sweatshirt. Since it was July, she’d only brought summer clothes, but Mom had pretended to be practical for a moment and insisted she take the ugly orange Boise State hoodie. Guess it was always good to be prepared.

           

Behind her, the driver’s side door jerked open with a squeak. The car rocked, and the sun baked her back, though that didn’t keep goose bumps from popping up on her flesh.       

Reactively, she dug one hand into her purse for a can of mace as she whipped around to confront the intruder. Every muscle tensed as possible scenarios tore through her imagination. Hijacker…mugger…crazed fan…

           

Her makeup stylist?

Looks like a fun read. How can readers find you on the Internet?

www.angelaruthstrong.com

Thank you, Angela, for sharing this book with us today.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Finding Love in Sun Valley, Idaho (Resort to Love)(Volume 1) - Paperback
Finding Love in Sun Valley, Idaho (Resort to Love Book 1) - Kindle

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