Welcome, Nancy . Tell us how much
of yourself you write into your characters.
All of my characters have a little bit of me, and some have
a bit more. I try to write my characters as deeply as I can, so many times I
have to really dig into myself, my experiences, and what I understand about
people in order to express the heart of the character and their conflicts and
changes. It may sound funny, but sometimes they really surprise me, too!
That doesn’t surprise
me at all. What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?
I don’t know if this is the quirkiest, but it’s up there
with the top ones. Here’s what I did: My first son was the first grandchild for
my parents. Oh, how they doted on him, and as soon as we showed up for a visit,
they would start towards us, hands stretched out to receive the precious baby.
I thought it was adorable. They insisted we come over every Sunday afternoon
and do our laundry there and have dinner. I don’t know what got into me, but
one time when we showed up for our weekly visit, I decided to tease them a
little. The baby was asleep in the car seat, and I wrapped a small amount of
laundry into one of my son’s blankets, cradled it in my arms and entered the
house. As my parents approached, eyes alight, hands ready to receive the baby,
I lobbed my bundle to them and said, “Here, catch.” They both shrieked and I
had the bad taste to laugh at their appalled expressions. They quickly joined
my laughter, relieved, after first giving me that parental look of disapproval.
(I hope the reader doesn’t hate me now! But it still makes me chuckle at
myself.)
When did you first
discover that you were a writer?
I think I was around nine or so, and I wrote a short school
essay about Abraham Lincoln, who I admired so much. It touched me when I wrote
it, and I never forgot that. Soon after, I wrote my first poem just for myself,
all about what the outdoors feels like after a rainstorm. I’ve loved writing
since then.
Tell us the range of
the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
Oh, goodness. Classics, fiction, non-fiction, biographies,
memoirs, pretty much anything I find worth reading. What I don’t find worth
reading are stories written for the sole purposes of being sensational,
titillating, gory or gross.
How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?
I make sure I get enough sleep, put time into my spiritual
walk and relationship with God and my family, and I don’t eat much processed
food or junk food. And I take nutritional supplements. All that helps a lot.
How do you choose
your characters’ names?
Sometimes they just pop into my mind and most of the time
they’re usually pretty common-type names for the area I live in. For one book,
I used all the names of my nieces and nephews for the characters. Often, I name
characters for people I know or have heard of. I try to stay away from names
that are too hard to figure out how to say, so the reader doesn’t get slowed
down. I know that happens to me sometimes when I read a book, and the name is
so long or odd that I end up stopping to study it and wonder if I’m saying it
right inside my head.
What is the
accomplishment that you are most proud of?
My long marriage, and our five sons, and grandchildren. They
light me up!
If you were an
animal, which one would you be, and why?
I’d be a friendly kitty, docile but spunky. I think this is
because I’ve always adored cats, and they are so sensitive and curious, two
traits I’ve been told I have in a major way!
What is your favorite
food?
Aged cheeses. Yum!
What is the problem
with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
My greatest roadblock was in the beginning phase of writing
novels. I wrote as though I were explaining the story, and had way too much
telling rather than showing. I joined ACFW, and the wonderful critiquers there
helped me immeasurably. I would not be where I am without all of them and their
patient, caring, and insightful advice.
Tell us about the
featured book.
It takes place in the 1890’s in upstate NY. The main
character is Sarah, who is coming of age, and whose family and community
survived a fire nine years earlier. The way the fire changed their family still
has an effect on Sarah, and when she falls in love with the new, young pastor,
she finds herself going through internal changes she never expected. The story
is told from her perspective as well as that of Mark, the pastor, who also goes
through unexpected changes of his own. It’s been very popular with advance
readers, and I really loved writing it.
Please give us the
first page of the book.
This page is from the prologue which begins the story on the
day of the fire when Sarah was nine.
Upstate New York
Summer, 1883
A rest in the shade was tempting, but one glance at the
sunlit road ahead changed Sarah’s mind. She bumped her elbow on her little
brother’s arm.
“Let’s play road-hop, Joe.” Now that she’d turned nine, the
time for games would end soon enough. She had to fit some in whenever she
could.
Joe made up the game last year and it fast became their
favorite. They left the cool shelter under the pines to Ma and Pa and scampered
out on the dirt road. The sun blistered the top of her head and its harsh rays
highlighted every dried grass stalk and weed in the hard-baked ruts of the
road. Dry heat shimmered up from the ground.
Sweat sprang out on her forehead. She should rest. They
still had an uphill trek to get home from their visit to friends, followed by
chores for all of them once they arrived. But she couldn’t resist having some
fun.
What a long, dry summer. She and Joe spent their free time
splashing in the creek at home, which was now a weak ribbon of its former
strength, dwindling down in the daily onslaught of heat. It had to rain soon,
Pa repeated every day, scanning the cloudless sky. Sarah was sure it would,
since Pa said so.
Joe hopped on one foot, back and forth over the wagon ruts.
A large clod of dirt crumbled into the rut along the edge of his planted foot,
challenging his balance. Joe teetered on the edge while his arms sliced the air
in erratic, frantic circles. The sight of that, coupled with his grimace and
wide eyes made Sarah chortle and point at him.
Pa chuckled. Joe scowled at Sarah, regained his balance, and
said, “Ha-ha. I didn’t fall.”
“Don’t tease each other, children.” Ma’s tone of
admonishment made Sarah quench her giggles. But he looked so funny, and when
they were alone, most of the enjoyment of the game was the teasing part while
they tried to outdo each other.
“Sorry, Ma.” Joe hopped four more times and finally lost his
balance. Both feet touched the ground while Joe huffed out an exasperated sigh.
Sarah clapped and jumped in delight. “My turn.”
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
Website Link: http://boltonnancy.com/
Author Blog Link: Group Blog
Author Facebook Link: Facebook Page
Author Twitter: On Twitter
Goodreads: Goodreads page
Thank you, Nancy, for sharing this book with us.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Answering Sarah - paperbackAnswering Sarah - Kindle
Comments question: Have you ever had a devastating fire?
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (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
30 comments:
angela in ky would love to win.
I enjoyed reading this post. The "laundry grandbaby" made me laugh! Stacy from Dallas
I enjoyed reading this post. The "laundry grandbaby" made me laugh! Stacy from Dallas
We had a devastating fire at our ranch a few years ago. Welders working on our hay shed through a spark and caught our hay on fire. We lost our jeep, lawnmower, all our hay and our shed. We were led to believe that we were covered by our insurance but as it turned out, we were not. A total loss!
Melanie Backus, TX
A lovely interview.
I appreciate character names that just trip off the tongue easily.
Mary P
QLD AUSTRALIA
Good luck Angela from KY!
Stacy, I'm glad you enjoyed my story about my silly behavior!
Melanie, that's so sad about your experience with fire and loss. What a rough thing to go through.
Mary, I also prefer character names that are easy on the tongue. Names that are hard to figure out tend to make me stop in my reading to ponder whether or not I'm imagining the pronunciation correctly! I guess that's why I prefer to use character names that are recognizable.
Love the laundry baby! Sounds like a great read. Thanks for the chance to win!
Beth in Montana
To answer the comments question, no, I thankfully have never experienced a devastating fire. Although, as a inquisitive child, I barely escaped starting a few!
I haven't read any books by Nancy Bolton before, but after reading this article, I will have to go looking! This is one of the things I love about your blog, Lena. I am introduced to new authors. Thank you so much! Oh, and I would love the chance to win! --Holly I. in Morehead, KY
Enjoy stories in the 19th century. north platte nebraska.
I have never had a fire, but, have known people who have experienced house fires. So sad. This looks like a good story. I would love to read it.
Melissa in Mechanicsville VA
Hi Beth! Good luck in the drawing!
Hi Holly! I hope you'll read some of my books. I think you'll enjoy them. I have four out now, with two more releases before the end of the year. I write both historic and contemporary, and I love to tell an inspiring tale with interesting characters! Good luck in the drawing!
Kim, since you like historicals set in the 19th century, I think you'll really enjoy "Answering Sarah." It's been very popular with advance readers and reviewers.
Melissa, I do hope you read and enjoy my book. This story is especially dear to me!
Nancy ~ I think the joke you played on your parents is a hoot! I am still laughing. BTW, I use a lot of names of people I know, too, even put real people in my stories. Fun!
Bonnie
AZ
I have never been through a devastating fire. I knew a family not to long ago that lost their home in a fire and it can be devastating! Thankfully the Red Cross and others stepped in to help.
Patty in SC
This is a new author to me Lena. Sounds like a good book. As to a fire. I was born in 1935, the seventh child of eight. I was told that my folks suffered through three fires, but I only remember one. since was only six when it happened. We lived out in the country and a truck stopped at our country school to tell them the Lloyd's house was burning. The flatbed truck drives turned around to take the six of us to what had been our home. When we got their it was a big fire. Our well was out front and to the side of our house and my baby brother was in a large pasteboard out there by the well and road. So they made me stand out there with the baby. It was a really bad and scary time. Times were hard back then too. The book sounds interesting and I would like to win it. Maxie (TX )
I checked out Answering Sarah on Amazon and added it to my wish list. It sounds so good. Congrats on its release, Nancy, and its future success.
I checked out Answering Sarah on Amazon and added it to my wish list. It sounds so good. Congrats on its release, Nancy, and its future success.
Terrill - WA
Hi Bonnie! Glad you enjoyed my prank. After my parents got over the shock, they thought it was funny, too! I hope you'll try out some of my books, and enjoy them as well as be blessed by them! Thanks for commenting!
Patty, you're right about what a blessing Red Cross is, and good, helpful citizens, too. Americans can be so generous in troubled times!
Hi Maxie in TX! Good luck in the drawing! So sorry you had to go through such tough times, but I imagine they made you strong in ways you didn't expect. In my story, I tried to show how these difficult events can shape our lives in various ways, and how there are many different responses to the same event. Thanks for commenting!
Hi Terril in WA! Thanks for your congratulations, and your interest in my book, and putting it on your wish list! Good luck in the drawing!
Sounds like an enjoyable book to read. I would love to win a copy.
Blessings,
Cindy W. from Indiana
No, I have so far escaped that tragedy. I can't imagine where you would start and losing family photos and momentoes would be so very sad.
Thanks for sharing.
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Enter me!!
Conway SC.
The 1800's are a favorite part of history to me.
Beth from IA
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