Welcome, Tanya. Tell
us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
Not enough. I think if I explored my own fears in a deeper
manner, really touched the deep fears and struggles, readers would recognize
the feelings more. But I think I’ve been afraid to tackle my own fears and put
them on the page.
What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?
Hmmm. Quirky. My friends might say everything I do is
quirky. Well … when my children were little, one night a week we stopped at our
local fast food place for dinner after our non-stop run from practice to
practice. This particular fast food location had classic paintings in frames
and I fell in love with one. The picture had a moonlit bay with a sailing ship
and fisherman and their wives gathering nets. Beautiful. I wanted it. So I
asked the manager who painted it or where it came from. He couldn’t find out so
I asked if I could buy another print and trade it out. So … one busy lunch day
with a packed house, my husband brought his tools in, took down the painting
and traded it out. Of course everyone stared and my husband shook his head the
whole time muttering, “I sure love you.”
That print sat on my wall for twenty years and now, since
I’ve downsized to a motorhome, it sits on my son’s wall. He’s a writer like me
and unusual things tickle his imagination like mine.
I love that story. When
did you first discover you were a writer?
I was eleven years old. My favorite television show didn’t
end the way I thought it should so I sat down and wrote a book with the ending
I wanted.
Tell us the range of
the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
I read everything but right now, I’m focused on historical
mysteries. I love to read about history and how they solved crimes before
forensic science.
How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?
Who said I was sane? I have four children and twenty-one
grandchildren. I run as hard and as fast as everyone else. But while I run, I
try to remember Saint Francis’ words. “Preach the Gospel daily and when
necessary use words.”
That’s a wonderful
quote. How do you choose your characters’ names?
Sometimes, they just appear in my head. Other times, I look
them up on the Internet baby name sites. Recently I needed some Scandinavian
names so off I went to a site that featured European names and their meanings.
What is the
accomplishment that you are most proud of?
When my family gets together we go to church together.
Nothing gives me more pleasure than to look down the pews and see all my children
and grandchildren in church. Quite an accomplishment for a former atheist.
That is so cool. If
you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?
A panther. Even though I’m allergic to cats, I still have an
affinity for them. I think panthers are sleek, cool and strong.
What is your favorite
food?
Italian
What is the problem
with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
I have a theory. Writers are either storytellers or
wordcrafters. A lucky few are both but I’m most definitely a storyteller so I
get dragged down with the “how to’s.” How do I get my story across? What words?
How do I shape the sentences? I’m most definitely not a wordcrafter and I work
on it constantly.
Tell us about the
featured book.
My good friends Mary Manners, Marianne Evans, and Delia
Latham and I wrote a novella series called Hearts Haven for our publisher years
back. We loved the process so much, we did four collections in the series. We
decided we’d like to do another but this time we decided to self-publish. It’s
called Love at Christmas Inn Collection. Four novellas in one boxed
set. The family name is Christmas so they keep a Christmas theme year round at
their inn. We plan to do at least two more collections in the series.
Please give us the
first page of the book.
The first novella in the boxed set is my contribution. It’s
called Christmas Bells are Ringing. Here is the first page:
Remember how the Lord
your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years to humble and
test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep
his commands. ~Deuteronomy 8:2 (NIV)~
The Tennessee countryside
rolled out before Ariana Christmas as the highway topped the crest of a small
hill, providing a stunning view of Hope
Creek . Early October, and
the trees had turned. Bright orange, russet and golden leaves created an
amazing patchwork of colors on the panorama below.
Beautiful. Even if it was in the back of beyond. She tamped
down on the anger and resentment that threatened to raise ugly heads again.
Those emotions were useless. When her father first sentenced her to this
imprisonment she’d tried sarcasm, rage and finally tears. All to no avail. He’d
cancelled her credit cards and her phone account. He’d even taken away her lovely
little sports car with its leather interior and told her she had to earn her
own way. Her ailing Aunt Lizzie needed help. Ari’s new job was to take care of
Lizzie, and oh, by the way, oversee the renovations of the family’s historic
Christmas Inn.
So not fair. What did Ari know about running an inn? OK, so
she did have a master’s degree in hotel management. But she’d never worked a
day in her life. She didn’t need to. Her older brother Ian took his place
beside their dad to manage their hotel empire long before Ari left school. Ian
was a natural leader and a great asset to the business. Unlike her.
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
My website link: http://tanyastowe.com/index.html
My Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TanyaStoweReadersPage/
My Twitter handle: @TanyaStowe1
Thank you, Tanya, for sharing this new book
with us. I’m eager to read it.
Readers, here’s a link to the book. By
using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Love at Christmas Inn: Collection I
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
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pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on
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15 comments:
I love the premise of these novellas. Thanks for the nice interview
Cheryl in IL
Thank you, Cheryl. It was so much fun! I know part of that is because they other ladies are brilliant writers and inspired me! Lol. Thanks for the comment.
I would love to add these wonderful stories to my book collection. Thanks for the chance.
Linda in So Cal
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Hi Linda in So Cal. I'm a So Cal girl too! Thanks for participating.
There is something special about novellas about Christmas time and having the last name of "Christmas" would really be interesting.
Vera in North Carolina
I love Christmas! Thank you! Karen from Oklahoma!
oh, chirstmas is coming. I love Christmas books thanks for the chance to win
live in ND
I never tire of books with Christmas themes. Thanks for this interview and giveaway.
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Keeping Christmas up year round would be interesting. I love books about Christmas and would love to win a copy. Thank you for the chance
Susan in Odessa, TX
Theses look great! Thanks for the chance to win.
Oops.
Abigail from VA
Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
Conway SC.
Christmas books are always enjoyable!
Beth from IA
We LOVED the theme of Christmas all year round and plan to do many more at different times. I think you all agree so stay tuned! Thanks so much for commenting!
Great giveaway would love to win, love Christmas themed books.
Lourdes in Long Island, NY
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