A TWIST OF FAITH - Pepper Basham - One Free Book

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

Well, I think it depends on the characters. I know there is some of me in all of them, especially the heroines, but I find many more of my own personal thoughts and character traits in the ones who are a bit quirkier ;-)

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Aha, and speaking of quirky J Probably dress up as Gandalf to play LOTR with my kids in the backyard. I even made a cotton ball beard.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I feel like I’ve been story creating my whole life, but actual writing started when I was about eight. My sweet granny bought me a second-hand typewriter when I was 10 and gave it to me because she said, “A writer needs one.” She was the first person to call me a writer. It stuck.

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

I love adventurous books with either intense romance, suspense, humor, or action. Usually I stick with any of the above if they have a good dose of romance.

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

The grace of God! Definitely. And lots of laughter, music, prayer, family, tea, and chocolate. I’m a more relaxed personality, so it helps with juggling the crazy.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I use a baby names book with name meanings, but I also ask my brainstorming team for ideas and keep my ears open for other interesting names.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

My children. Hands down. Now, if you mean writing, I’m just so proud to have three books releasing this year – and I’m proud of all of them.

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

A golden retriever – probably.

When I was in high school and college, our family had a golden retriever. He rode in the back of Daddy’s pickup truck with his head hanging around the driver’s side edge of the cab. He loved the wind in his face. What is your favorite food?

Savory: Chicken Scaloppini   Sweet: Dark Knight Chocolate Torte

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Someone taking a chance on my writing. How did I overcome it? I kept submitting and submitting and submitting…until someone finally believed in the story enough to take a chance.

Tell us about the featured book.

Oh boy! A speech-language pathologist determined to move up the academic ladder and out of rural Appalachia makes a deal with her arrogant supervisor to change a thick-accented and big-hearted cattle farmer into corporate world material by Thanksgiving. An Appalachian twist to My Fair Lady                                             

Please give us the first page of the book.

PhD was not supposed to smell like this.

Adelina Roseland dropped a box of research articles onto the floor and stifled a deep breath as the strong aroma of naturally fertilized farmland wafted in from the open window. The small room, with apparently, no air conditioning, defied any prestige the brass placard on her mahogany desk could have given:

Adelina.N. Roseland, PhD

Assistant Chair

Department of Communicative Disorders, Blue Ridge University

She tossed her bag on the desk and contemplated closing the window, but a cool morning breeze blew in for a moment’s respite from the stuffy warmth in the room. Stale heat or the scent of country charm? She sighed in resignation to the irony of life and kept the window open. Country charm it was.

The view outside paused her turn. Blue mountains, a cascade of them, filled the horizon and stirred an almost irresistible pull. They shouldn’t draw her, or provide any comfort. The memories of her childhood should snuff any longing the fog-covered sea of mountains encouraged, but instead of pain, she heard the gentle hum of her granny’s voice. The soft song from the past threatened to awaken feelings and memories she avoided like black-eyed peas and family reunions. But it called her to remember. To soften the sadness, loss, and grief.

Her throat tightened as unbidden memories peeked into the present. She pushed them away, determined to leave her unsavory past in the place where all bad memories go: one-on-one intensive psychotherapy.

That piques my interest. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Best place is Facebook or my website, www.pepperdbasham.com I’m also on Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram and can be found at my group writing blog, The Writers Alley – http://thewritersalleyblog.com

Thank you, Pepper, for sharing this book with us. I'm particularly eager to read it, because I have a drama background, and My Fair Lady is one of my favorite Broadway musicals.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
A Twist of Faith - Paperback
A Twist of Faith: Will a wager against her future steal her chance at true love? - Kindle

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