Welcome, Laura. Tell
us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
I’m spread throughout my main characters. Usually each one
has something about them that is me, but that’s all for characteristics.
However, emotionally, my characters struggle with many of the same situations
I’ve lived through or what I am struggling to overcome in my life—trust, fear,
hope for the future. And in my last book, Rachel’s Son, which is currently
looking for a home, the main character went on an emotional journey that was
far exaggerated into a negative place. My secondary characters have bits and
pieces of people I’ve encountered.
What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?
When I was sixteen, I was on a theatre tour in England and
ended up wearing my slippers for the last three days of site seeing. My newly
purchased boots hurt my feet, and I didn’t care if anyone else thought my
slipper wearing was inappropriate. Oh, the attitudes of teenagers sometimes!
If my feet hurt, I
would be tempted to do the same thing. When did you first discover that you
were a writer?
When I could first write letters and words, at about age 4.
Stories and poems followed shortly thereafter. It’s something I always loved
and wanted to do. I was praised in school for my writing, studied it in college
and beyond, but didn’t take criticism well so I quit every time a rejection
letter arrived. I didn’t understand the publishing world and thought I must be
awful even though my teachers had told me otherwise. Then for years I was busy
home educating my children. I decided to take writing seriously about five
years ago. I figured if I was bad, I could learn to be good as long as I was
open and teachable. Mount Hermon Writers Conferences were my growing up into
writing times. And I’m still learning!
Even after over 30
years in the business, I’m still learning. If we don’t, we start declining. Tell
us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
I’ve always loved a good mystery or suspense and still love
them. I enjoy contemporary and romance as long as they have some meat to them.
Occasionally I will read historical fiction, especially biblical. I most
appreciate problem solving action and deep characters—ones who are growing and
changing in a healing or redemptive way.
How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?
Lists. I have a list for everything, otherwise I try to hold
too much in my head. Discipline and routine. I try to keep a schedule and set
goals, and then flex within them. This is a work in progress though. I’m a
pusher of myself and can run myself right into the ground. I’m learning how to
let God be my director and listen keenly for his voice. I take Sundays off.
Seriously, that has made a huge difference! A day of relaxing, rest, and
worship makes my week run so much more smoothly.
How do you choose
your characters’ names?
Okay, so this will sound weird and maybe should be the
answer for the quirky question above. I love to wander through cemeteries.
There are great names and such history there! I jot down names and keep a list
(ha ha – see?) by my desk. When one of those doesn’t grab me, I Google baby
names. That’s the best when you are looking for a particular time period or
geographical location.
What is the
accomplishment that you are most proud of?
My seven children and nine grandchildren although I can’t
take too much credit. God gets that. But still, they are all amazing people who
bring me great joy and pride. I’m very blessed to be close to all of them in
heart if not in proximity. I long for big family reunions.
I love it when all of
our immediate family get together, and we always do usually twice during the
holiday season. They live close by, so we also get together several times
during the year. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?
A dolphin or a hawk. I love the freedom of swimming or
flying with no restraint. They both frolic and dive. I used to pretend I was a
dolphin when I was a kid swimming in our pool. And I love to watch hawks
soaring on the wind. Such freedom!
What is your favorite
food?
Can I list more than one? I have too many favorites. Salmon,
steak, pizza, lasagna, bbq chicken, ice cream, and dark chocolate. But I eat
pretty healthy so I have versions of those that are good for me. =) Oh, and my
daily smoothies especially coffee chocolate peppermint!
What is the problem
with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
Just doing it. It’s funny, but even though I LOVE to write,
I can take so long to get into actually sitting down and doing it. Once I do,
it’s hard to pry me away. I’ve heard other authors say the same thing, and it
doesn’t really make sense to me.
But I recently went through a productivity summit online
done by Michael Hyatt. It helped me focus (it was called Free to Focus) on what
I should be spending my time on. When I was able to see more clearly my brand
(Hope. Healing. Redemption.), and what I feel called to do (move people forward
in their lives), I was able to schedule my time more appropriately to create
content for that. I had to let go of some other good things to open the way for
more specific writing projects. It’s made me more intentional with my writing.
I also try to block out my time, and I set a daily goal of 1,000 words. I don’t
always make that (I’m still a busy mom with 2 teen athletes at home), some days
it’s much more, some days much less, but I try to write something every day.
I’m getting more consistent.
Good for you. Tell us
about the featured book.
Real estate agent, Aimee Wells, is a single mother of two
who has worked hard to rebuild her life after some tragic circumstances. She
thinks she’s got it all figured out until her missing high school sweetheart coincidently
walks into her office wanting to see a house. His presence disrupts her
perfectly ordered world and forces her to re-examine her relationships,
especially with God. Who can she really trust? She’d rather leave the past
where it belongs, but situations and another voice from her past won’t let that
happen.
Please give us the
first page of the book.
The day Aimee Wells dreamed of and dreaded for ten years
arrived without warning.
The nautical sign of Ocean Front Properties shifted with the
breeze as the front door closed, sending a brush of air to chill her, despite
the warm spring day. Her routine message checking paused. A momentary sense her
life was about to change wafted over her with the draft.
Slipping the office phone back into its place, she stared at
a growing silhouette now eclipsing the sun which streaked through paned
windows.
The apparition towered over the edge of her pristine,
mahogany desk. The dusky green of his eyes flashed in her mind before she
looked.
It couldn’t be.
She drew in a shaky breath when she realized she’d stopped.
Her heart pounded in her ears.
“Aimee?” It spoke. The room tilted.
She lifted her gaze, catching the familiar dark jeans and
casual olive T-shirt before looking him in the eyes.
Now I’m eager for my
book to arrive. How can readers find you on the Internet?
I have a website www.laurabennet.com
and I’m on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. You can also see my Voices of the
Past characters’ fashion style on Pinterest. My books are available on www.amazon.com and at www.barnesandnoble.comThank you, Laura, for sharing this book with us. I know my readers are as eager to read it as I am.
Readers, 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
22 comments:
Laura, your books sounds great. Blessings to your writing, my friend!
Voices From the Past sounds intriguing. I'm from TN.
Thank you, Janetta! I hope your tour is going well. We missed you last night. Thanks for finding me!
Thanks for reading from TN! I hope you will get a chance to read Voices of the Past!
Sounds like a good one! Thank you for sharing, Lena!
Melanie Backus, TX
Laura, loved reading your book. Once I started I had a hard time stopping. I love you my friend and miss you!
Julie Gillett, Sacramento, CA
This book sounds very interesting.I would love to win and read it.Thanks for the chance.Jackie from N.C.
This sounds like once I will very much like. Thanks for the chance to win a copy,
Brenda in VA
I love the title and it sounds like a great story.
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks Julie, for the great review!Miss you too!
Thanks for the comment, Melanie!
Thanks for the comment, Jackie! I hope you will find it interesting =) It was fun writing it.
Thanks for the comment, Brenda! I hope you will enjoy it. Even if you don't win, you can still find it on Amazon or Barnes and Noble. =)
Connie, from Kentucky, thank you for your comment! I love titles that make me want to read them. =)
Voices from the Past sounds like a book I would enjoy!
Beth from IA
Getting name inspiration from a cemetery stroll is brilliant!
Dianna in TN
Sounds like a great book!
Beth in Montana
Enter me!!
Conway SC.
Thank you, Beth! I hope you will get to read it!
Thanks, Dianna! It's fun even if quirky. I'm glad you think it's brilliant! ;-)
Thank you, Beth from Montana! I sure enjoyed writing it. =)
Sharon from SC - I'm so happy you'd like to be entered! Thank you.
Post a Comment