Dear Readers, Marion
is one of the authors I like to feature who doesn’t live in the US . The first
book of hers that I read had me hooked, so every time I hear about a new book
from her, I have to get a copy. Her foreign settings are interesting, like an
armchair travelogue. And her characters leap off the page. You won’t want to
miss this one.
Welcome back, Marion . Tell us about
your salvation experience.
I was around five years old. We had a child evangelist at
our church called Sunny Blondell (totally not sure if that’s spelled correctly)
– an elderly lady who did the most amazing flannel graph stories (anyone
remember those? Probably giving away my age now.) It was at her campaign that I
gave my heart to Jesus. I still have the little card with that famous picture
of Jesus standing at the door with a lantern, knocking. As a teenager I had my
years where I did not live the way God wanted me to, but thankfully He’s
faithful, even when I wasn’t. That’s grace.
I was seven years old
when I asked Jesus into my heart, and later, I was the flannel graph lady. You’re
planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who
would they be and why?
There are so many I’d love to choose, but if I have to
narrow it down, and this is really hard, it would be the following people for
the following reasons:
Angela K. Couch –
one of my critique partners. At ACFW last year, I got to meet two of my
critique partners (and if I was allowed 6 on this retreat, Heidi and Janet,
you’d be in there), but unfortunately Angela couldn’t come. I’d love to meet
Angela in person because I love her writing, as well as her input into my work.
Judith Robl –
just because I love this woman. We’ve been cyber-friends for over five years
now. I got to meet her at ACFW in Dallas
but because of the busyness of the conference, we didn’t get to spend that much
time together. I’d love the opportunity to be with her again in a more relaxed
environment.
Jan Edtti Thompson
– I’ve been in several box sets with Jan. Spending time with Jan one-on-one, tapping
into her vast knowledge of Indie publishing would be WOW! Plus, I’ve never met
someone with so much energy ... perhaps some would rub off on me if we were to
spend time together (although we’d probably be Facebooking each other silly
stickers all the time, laughing, and just having fun).
Autumn Macarthur
– Another of my box set buddies who I would love the opportunity to meet in
person.
ACFW will be in Dallas (actually Grapevine, a suburb of Fort Worth ). I’ll be there. I hope you come
again. I’d love to meet you in person, too. When it was in Dallas last time, I was just recuperating
from knee-replacement surgery. I was at the hotel for a few hours one
afternoon, but I didn’t get to meet you. Do you have a speaking ministry? If
so, tell us about that.
Only a writing ministry, but who knows what God has in store
in the future...
What’s the most
exciting thing that has happened to you recently?
Ooh, there are actually two exciting things that have
happened recently. I’ve just returned from a two week holiday in Scotland which
was awesome. During our time there, I had the opportunity to visit Glasgow , where this
featured book is located. I had so hoped to get a photograph of me outside the
opera house, or on one of the bridges I speak of in the story, with a copy of
my book. Unfortunately, I only discovered when we were on the train home that
where we were in the city was rather far from my story’s location. Glasgow is a BIG place,
and we walked over 22,000 steps that day (according to our phone’s step-counter
app.)
The second exciting thing happened just before we left Scotland . I
received news from Pelican Book Publishers that my first Passport to Romance novella,
Helsinki Sunrise—Glasgow Grace is my third
in this series—is one of two novellas in the Passport to Romance series that
have been chosen by Norway-based publisher, Hermon Forlag, to be translated and
published in Norwegian. Plans are to release the novellas in both e-book and
paperback.
Wow! That is awesome.
Helsinki Sunrise is the first book of
yours that I read. I’ve wanted to have a foreign edition of one of my books,
but it hasn’t happened yet. 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?
Good question, and in fact I had this happen to me about a
year ago. My advice was: take several months (a year if possible) and spend the
time learning the craft of writing. Only, then put pen to paper ... it’ll be so
much easier.
Tell us about Glasgow Grace.
Easiest way is with the blurb, so here it is:
Opera star, Skye Hunter, returns to the land of her birth as
leading lady in Phantom of the Opera. It’s the first time she’s been back to
bonnie Scotland since her mother whisked her away to Australia sixteen years
ago after Skye’s father died.
When Skye decides to have dinner at McGuire’s, she’s not
going there only for Mary McGuire’s Shepherd’s Pie. Her first and only love,
Callum McGuire, still plays his guitar and sings at the family-owned tavern.
Callum has never stopped loving Skye. But, desperate to know
if she’d want him if he was still a singer in a pub, he keeps his real
profession hidden from her. When Skye’s worst nightmare comes true, Callum
discloses his secret to save the woman he loves.
Can they rekindle what they had lost, or will Skye’s mother
threaten their future together once again?
Please give us the
first page of the book.
That she’d miss spending a warm Christmas and New Year with
family and friends this year mattered little to Skye Hunter. Even though she
wasn’t home, she was home. She could’ve sung an aria right there in the middle
of Glasgow International
Airport and let the myriad of holiday
travelers know exactly how she felt about being back in bonnie Scotland .
Sixteen years. A lifetime.
She caught her breath. Surely, everything would be
different. Everyone. People would’ve moved on with their lives … to other
cities, maybe even other countries as she had. Not that she’d been given a
choice in that matter. Nevertheless, her life had turned out well for the
change.
But, she wasn’t here to rekindle friendships. Pushing a
trolley laden with her baggage, she stepped outside to a gray monochrome sky.
One thing had remained the same—the weather.
Sheltered beneath the roof overhang, she hailed a taxi. She
had so missed these black London-style vehicles. Once she reached her hotel
room, she’d need to call her mother—let her know her precious cargo, marked
fragile, had arrived in one piece.
The fact that Rita Robinson hadn’t followed Skye across the
globe was a miracle. At least her stepfather’s ill--health had one upside—it
kept Mother home where she belonged. How Skye would enjoy these months of
freedom out from under her mother’s thumb.
Snowflakes fell on the taxi driver’s dark jacket as he
hopped out of the vehicle. He groaned. “Awnawsnaw.”
Amused at his protest, her lips curved. She’d forgotten how
Glaswegians lowered the pitch of their voices and strung their words together
in one sentence.
As he loaded her suitcases into the back of the vehicle, he
chatted nonstop. All unintelligible to Skye. But hearing the patter again was
good—it had been so long. Adjusting to this dialect would take time, however.
His accent made her think of her Da. She swallowed, blinking
away moistness as she brushed the snow from her coat and slid onto the back
seat. “Crowne Plaza Hotel, Congress
Road ,” she instructed as she sank against the worn
leather and stared out the window, drinking in both familiar and unfamiliar sights.
They were in the city center within minutes. The armadillo-shaped
Clyde Auditorium came into view, reminding Skye of her own Sydney Opera House
back home where she’d wooed audiences during the past year. At least that’s
what the tabloids reported.
But this was her big break into the global operatic scene. Phantom of the Opera. She had finally
arrived.
Star of the show, her name in lights. First Glasgow, then
Edinburgh. Finally, the Royal Albert Hall in London . This would be her year. It wasn’t
every day a girl got the opportunity to portray Christine Daaé and sing with
her angel of music.
She released a sigh. Once she’d had an angel of music, too.
Her mind tumbled back to another world filled with song. Callum McGuire. What
had become of him?
A smile touched her mouth as forgotten feelings filled her,
warming her like a mug of hot chocolate. She savored the sweetness they left on
her lips.
Wonderful! How can
readers find you on the Internet?
Readers can connect with me on any of the following links:
If readers would like to receive information on new
releases, cover reveals, writing news, they can visit my website, www.marionueckermann.net to
subscribe, or sign up following this
newsletter
link.
Thank you for hosting me today on your blog, Lena .
It's always a pleasure to visit with you, Marion. I know my readers will want to get a copy of this book.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Glasgow Grace - Christianbook.comGlasgow Grace (Passport to Romance) - Kindle
Comments Question: Have you ever visited a foreign country? If so, which country. If you haven't, which country would you like to visit?
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36 comments:
This sounds like a lovely story. I'm going to have to read it. I want to find out what his real profession is.
Linda in CA
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Thanks, Linda. I hope you do get to read Glasgow Grace. I absolutely loved writing it. And Callum does have an amazing profession :)
I am so curious .... will have to read this one... Just such an amazing Writer with an amazing talent. You bless us with your wonderful writer world !!
I am so curious .... will have to read this one... Just such an amazing Writer with an amazing talent. You bless us with your wonderful writer world !!
Thanks, Natasha. I'm blessed to have readers like you who continually support my writing and buy my books. Appreciate and love you.
Really enjoyed the interview with Marion. I love her books. Don't include me in the drawing as I have already read it and loved it.
Thanks so much for your kind words, Ann. So glad you enjoyed Glasgow Grace.
This story is my favorite by Marion! I absolutely fell in love with the characters. I encourage everyone to read it!!
Hi Marion & Lena! I have to tell you: anyone who can mix my love of singing, "Phantom," a good lookin' man, Scotland & Jesus all rolled into one story? I am SO all about it! Glasgow Grace sounds wonderful & I can't wait to get my hands on it!
Kristen in OK
kam110476 at gmail dot com
Thanks, Janet. I absolutely loved writing this story. It was awesome to go to Portree and to the same cemetery I wrote into the story when we were in Scotland in June. I'm just disappointed I didn't get to the auditorium and the bridges in Glasgow. Next time.
Hi Kristen, I believe you'll find all of that in Glasgow Grace in good doses. Hope you love the story.
This book sounds so good! I can't wait til I get the chance to read it!
J.C. -Indiana-
Thanks J.C. Hope you're strolling through Glasgow soon with Callum and Skye.
Thanks J.C. Hope you're strolling through Glasgow soon with Callum and Skye.
This sounds like such a fabulous read.
Mary P
QLD AUSTRALIA
Thanks, Mary. Hope you get to read Glasgow Grace soon.
Marion, what a fascinating story. Can't wait to read your book.
Sandy Q TX
Thanks, Sandy. Hope you get to read it soon :)
I have only visited Mexico. Next year my hubby and I want to go to Ireland! Sounds like a good book.
Beth in Montana
Thanks, Beth. Ireland is beautiful. We lived there for 18 months. My book, Spring's Promise is set in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and I'm planning a Christmas novella set in Dublin, Ireland, so you could always armchair travel with me :)
Marion, would love to join you in that writing retreat!
Maybe we could have it in Ireland?
Autumn, that sounds AWESOME! I know of some great places :) Think I need a research trip, too.
I would love to return to Glasgow. It is a memorable and beautiful city - all of Scotland is gorgeous, and the people are so friendly. I have also been blessed to travel to England, Sweden, Norway, France, Costa Rica and many times to Canada. Now, I prefer my travel through novels.
Bonnie
Scottsdale, Arizona
Bonnie, I loved Glasgow ... I just wished I'd had more time there than just one day. There was so much more I did want to see. I'll have to return. I have a series I'm currently writing set in England (Lake District, York and London). Book 1, A Match for Magnolia, is already published, and books 2-4 will release end September, and 5-7 between December and early next year. I also have a novel set in Norway, Oslo Overtures. Hope you get to travel with my stories.
Ironically, Scotland is one of the main countries I want to visit someday. There and Ireland. We have wonderful friends in Ireland and have only visited with them when they have come to the states.
I so enjoy your sweet romances, Marion. Are you still planning on continuing the Seven Suitors for Seven Sisters series? I was excited for more after reading A Match for Magnolia.
Terrill - WA
Hi Terrill, I love Scotland and Ireland, and they are great for setting stories.
So glad you enjoyed A Match for Magnolia. I'm currently hard at work on the next stories in the series. Books 2-4 will release end September, and books 5-7 between December and early 2017.
I'm also planning a further 3 books in my Heart of Ireland series. Book 1 released earlier this year set in Belfast - Spring's Promise. I hope to get Book 2, Summer's Affirmation written by mid 2017. If time permits I'll write, Autumn's Whisper and Winter's Truth in 2017, too, otherwise in 2018.
I've too many stories, and too little time LOL.
I haven'y had a chance to travel outside of the United States but I would love to visit England and Ireland. Thanks for a great interview and review.
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Connie, England and Ireland are beautiful. Scotland's my best, of course, but that's my heritage coming out and being biased. You'll really enjoy it. In the meantime, you're welcome to join me in armchair travel to these places through my books.
Read part of Glasgow Grace on Scribes! Bets read this too! Not to be missed!
Scotland is such a beautiful country. I'd love to visit there along with Norway and Sweden since these are where my heritage is. I have never been to a foreign country.
Beth from IA
Thanks, Diane. Yes, it's taken a little while to get through the publishing process. So glad to see it finally published. Thanks for your kind words.
Beth, Scotland is amazing, and I've just loved every Scottish hero I've written. There's just something about them. Visit Norway with me in Oslo Overtures, my other Passport to Romance novella from Pelican Book Group. Sweden I haven't done, but Finland I have with Helsinki Sunrise, my first Passport to Romance novella, which will be translated into Norwegian soon.
Loved this interview as well as the sound of Glasgow Grace. If I don't win it, I'll have to buy it. Would you like to do an interview for me once I get home? After your current mad deadlines. (Mind you. ARE You ever without mad deadlines? LOL!
Loved this interview as well as the sound of Glasgow Grace. If I don't win it, I'll have to buy it. Would you like to do an interview for me once I get home? After your current mad deadlines. (Mind you. ARE You ever without mad deadlines? LOL!
Shirl, I'd love to. I'll find time to squeeze it in :)
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