Welcome back, Virginia . Why do you
write the kind of books you do?
I am blessed to be able to write inspirational romantic
suspense because that’s also what I love to read! I’m been a fan of the mix of
romance and danger since I was a young girl and discovered gothic romance
writers like Phyllis A. Whitney or Willo Davis Roberts. As the genre grew more
and more steamy, I was fortunate to stumble across inspirational fiction that
fit my reading preference. So, when I published my first suspense with Love
Inspired Suspense, I was one happy lady.
I also loved books by
Phyllis A. Whitney, but I haven’t heard of the other author. I’ll have to look
her up. Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in
your life?
That’s easy but I would have to pick two days…the days I
became Momma to each of my sons. They’re no longer babies, grown—can 25 still
be considered grown?—but they each blessed my life in ways I could never
imagine.
I’m sure many people
consider 25 grown, but although my daughters are in their early 50s, they’re
still my babies. How has being published changed your life?
Ironically, it has given me much less time to write! When I
was published, I could come home after the day job, take care of the kids, then
spend as much time as I liked diving into whatever story I wanted. Now that I’m
published, I have to deal with deadlines and proposals as well as the business
side of writing that no one ever tells you about—marketing.
What are you reading
right now?
I have several books on my To-Be-Read pile right now
including Vanishing Point by Lisa
Harris, Fatal Mistake by Susan
Sleeman, and If I’m Found by Terri
Blackstock. I recently finished Lone
Witness by Rachel Dylan, Convenient
Lies by Robin Patchen, Oath of Honor
by Lynette Eason, and Justice Delayed
by Patricia Bradley.
Those are all
favorite authors of mine, too. What is your current work in progress?
Currently, I’m working on the third book in my Covert
Operatives series for Love Inspired Suspense. I just received the approved
proposal back from my editor so the story is still new and fresh in my mind. I
just finished writing a story for a romantic suspense collection with five
other authors titled Exposed that
goes live August 3rd.
I’d love to feature
both the LI book and Exposed on my
blog, too. What would be your dream vacation?
Unfortunately, the summer got away from me this year and I
didn’t have time to plan a vacation, but we took a trip to the mountains last
summer and I loved the beautiful scenery. I would go back there every year if I
could.
I love mountains,
too. I grew up in the Ozark mountains in Arkansas .
How do you choose your settings for each book?
I love the small-town, southern-life feel and, luckily for
me, those are easy to come by in my home state of Mississippi . Although I live just outside
the capitol city, it can hardly be called a bustling metropolis. That
laid-back, easy-going, small town aura is available to me for inspiration just
by stepping out my front door.
If you could spend an
evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
That would be a difficult decision. I suppose I would choose
someone like Beth Moore or Christine Caine. In our culture of everyone
demanding their right to do whatever they please, these two—and countless
others like them—understand that we women need to be empowered spiritually before
we can make a difference in the world. I pray my own writing touches someone’s
life similarly.
Wow! We are alike in
so many ways. I love teachings by Beth Moore, and Christine Caine is often a
speaker at the women’s conferences at our church. What are your hobbies,
besides writing and reading?
I’m raising two little boys again so these days, I spend a
lot of my free time on the playground, playing with Legos, or
listening/watching such shows as Power Rangers, Pokémon, and Minecraft. When I
can find some adult time alone, you’ll usually find me curled up with a good
book, sneaking out for a movie, or marathoning a series on Netflix.
What is your most
difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
Finding time to write and procrastination are my biggest
obstacles. Deadlines help because in my on-the-go life, only the things on the
top of my priority list generally get addressed. Having a deadline helps me
keep my writing at the top of my priority list.
What advice would you
give to a beginning author?
Read, read, read, read.
Did I mention reading?
Know what genre you are targeting and read heavily in that
market. To me, this is an invaluable step to getting published.
Tell us about the
featured book.
Cold Case Cover-Up is the first book in my new series Covert
Operatives. An infant is believed to have been murdered thirty years ago—but
investigative journalist Dana Lang is convinced she’s that baby. Now
someone’s willing to kill to stop her investigation. And only secretive deputy
Quinn Dawson, whose grandfather may have faked Dana’s death to protect her, can
keep her safe. But a killer’s dead set on burying the past—and them—for good.
Please give us the
first page of the book for my readers.
Someone was watching her.
The hairs on her neck prickled a warning. Dana Lang glanced
around the coffee shop but saw no one looking her way or appearing fixated on
her. Still, her instincts were never wrong. As a television investigative
journalist, she was used to people recognizing her, but this felt different.
She tried to shake off the feeling and tell herself she was
being silly. No one in this sleepy little town of West Bend ,
Mississippi
knew her. She glanced at the television mounted to the wall while she …
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
Thanks for hosting me, Lena !
I love to connect with readers! If you love stories where romance intersects
danger and faith, subscribe to my email newsletter at http://eepurl.com/dtFeVP or check out my
website www.virginiavaughanonline.com.
I can also be found on social media. Here are my links –
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ginvaughanbooks
Twitter: www.twitter.com/gin_vaughan
Instagram: www.instagram.com/virginiavaughanauthor
Thank you, Virginia , for sharing
this new book with me and my readers. I know they’ll love the book as much as I
did.
Readers, here are links to the book.
Cold Case Cover-Up
Cold Case Cover-Up (Covert Operatives) - PaperbackCold Case Cover-Up (Covert Operatives) - Kindle
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. A print book if the winner is in the US, an ebook if the winner is outside the US. 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:
Thank you for the excellent interview and excerpt. Virginia Vaughn would be new to me and her genre aounds like something i would enjoy. Her reading list sounds impossivly good, too. I am a follower checking in from a very HOT central Texas.
ReplyDeleteI forgot my e-mail: perrianne (DOT) askew (AT) me (DOT) com
ReplyDeletePerrianne Askew
This sounds like it will be exciting. I'd love to read more. Linda in CA
ReplyDeletelkish77123 at gmail dot com
Hi Perrianne! Thanks for stopping by. I know it's hot in Texas. It is here in Mississippi too! Oh the humidity!! LOL
ReplyDeleteHi, Linda! Thanks for dropping in and saying hi!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great page turner I would enjoy reading. I always enjoy the Love Inspired books.
ReplyDeletemarypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
Maryann in New York
Hi Maryann! Thanks for stopping in!
DeleteSounds like a fantastic book that my daughter and I will enjoy. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteMindy from NJ
Sounds like a good mystery! I'd like to read it and find out why her death was faked and who is after her. Vivian Furbay of CO
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good read. Lincoln Nebraska.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the interview with Virginia Vaughan and the chance to win a copy of her book " COLD CASE COVER-UP". Your opening description of the book had me hooked. That type book is so exciting and enjoyable to read.
ReplyDeleteI love reading the Love Inspired Suspense line of books. "COLD CASE COVER-UP" storyline sounds amazing and one that I would really enjoy reading.
Kay Garrett of Mountain View, AR
2clowns at arkansas dot net
"COLD CASE COVER-UP by Virginia Vaughan sounds wonderful.Have a good week. Thank you for the opportunity to win.PA.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good mystery, thank you for the chance to win a copy.
ReplyDeleteWendy in South Sioux City, NE
wfnren at aol dot com
Mindy! I love that you and your daughter share a love of reading. That's awesome. Thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteVivian, glad I hooked you! Thanks for commenting and good luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kim for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Kay! I'm also a fan of the LIS books as a reader and I was even before I started writing for them.
ReplyDeleteHi Tina! Thanks for stopping by and a good week to you, too!
ReplyDeleteHi Wendy, and thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to answer any questions you have about my writing, my books, or my life! Feel free to ask away!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great read!
ReplyDeleteIndiana - smincer10 (at) gmail (dot) com
Hey Susanne! Thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteThis book looks very suspenseful. I’m from Missouri. Thanks paulams49ATsbcglobalDOTnet
ReplyDeleteThis sounds intriguing. The first page hooked me.
ReplyDeleteConnie in Texas
This is a new author for me.
ReplyDeleteI love romantic suspense!
Oops, forgot to say -- I'm from TN.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to reading COLD CASE COVER-UP, thank you for the chance to win a copy.
ReplyDeleteLourdes Long Island, NY
Cold Case Cover-Up sounds intriguing and it mystery suspense is a favorite genre of mine. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Connie from Kentucky
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
ReplyDeleteConway SC.
COLD CASE COVER-UP SOUNDS AMAZING PLEASE ENTER ME FOR THIS GIVEAWAY TAHNK YOU! SARAH FROM WATERLOO, OHIO SARAHTAYLOR601973ATYAHOODOTCOM
ReplyDeleteSounds fantastic! And the reviews are sounding great.
ReplyDeleteTerrill - WA
sounds awesome! Shelia from MS
ReplyDelete