I guess because,
in truth, I am Daddy’s little girl. I used to watch Westerns with my daddy
before he passed. He taught me to shoot. For fun, he and the deputies in our
county used to quick draw on each other using wax bullets. Yeah, he was about
the closest person I’ve ever met to the real John Wayne. I guess he’s a little
part of everything I write.
Besides when you came to know the Lord,
what is the happiest day in your life?
Oh, wow, there
have been so many. Besides my boys being born healthy and strong, I’d have to
say the vacation in Deadwood with my sister Dawn. It was a girl’s trip, and it
was awesome! It was special, specifically, because I went on a trip out West
with my sister Suzy years ago, and it was the only one we did together. She got
breast cancer shortly after. Dawn was always sad she missed that trip, but at
least we finally got to do one together.
How has being published changed your
life?
To me the best
change caused by my career is I get to work from home. No more commuting,
traffic, wasted time in a car. And while I like people, I don’t mind being
alone. In fact, I like it. Which is one thing about this quarantine mess I
DON’T like. My kids are here. All. The. Time. LOL.
What are you reading right now?
Actually, I am
reading one of mine! I am working on the final book in my Defiance series, and I had to read A Destiny in Defiance to check on some
ideas, evaluate some possible plot lines, consider some spin-offs, etc.
What is your current work in progress?
As I mentioned,
I am working on the final book in the Defiance
series. I’m also outlining book 5 for my Brides of Evergreen series, and I’m
hammering out the first 10 pages of a script for an idea my agent wants to see.
What would be your dream vacation?
I am blessed to
say I’ve had it. One summer my husband and I went camping in Colorado . We drove all over the state
exploring ghost towns, horseback riding, and camping in various places. It was
spectacular.
How do you choose your settings for each
book?
Until I was nine
years old, I lived in Florida .
Then we moved to the mountains of Western North Carolina ,
and I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. But there was still this yearning in
me to go West. I’ve been blessed enough to explore several states out there (as
I still live in NC), and I just love everything west of the Mississippi . So choosing a setting is
determined simply by my love of the mountains and the wide-open spaces, or a
particular place that I’ve seen and thought to myself, “I need to set a story
here!”
If you could spend an evening with one
person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
Anybody who
spends five minutes with me will learn two things PDQ: I follow Jesus, and I
believe I am entitled to my opinion because this is still America . I am unapologetically
pro-God, pro-gun, pro-life and pro-Trump. I would love to sit down and talk to
the President about everything he’s done, learned, and seen in his time in
office.
I’d like to join you. What are your
hobbies, besides writing and reading?
I don’t get to
do it as much as I’d like, but I enjoy kayaking and hiking. I am gonna be
hiking when I’m 90!
What is your most difficult writing
obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
Organizing my
time on social media. I am very interactive with my groups and other authors on
Facebook and keeping all that time spent on there to a controllable figure is
maddening.
What advice would you give to a beginning
author?
Write the best
book you can and surround yourself with honest readers and editors. And decide
early on if you’re doing this for the money like a job, or for the passion of
it. Waffling on this question will cause you to write things you’ll regret.
Tell us about the featured book.
Carolina Homecoming is a retelling of the Book of Ruth. It
is set during the Civil War in one of my favorite places on the planet: the
Upstate of South Carolina. I’ve always wanted to delve into the story of the
loyalty between Ruth and Naomi, explore Naomi’s bitterness toward God, and find
out who this handsome, older gentleman farmer was that won Ruth’s heart. And it
turned out, Carolina Homecoming was one of those stories that practically
write themselves. The characters leaped off the page at me.
Please give us the first page of the
book.
Ruth wondered how she would face another day, strangled as she was by grief and guilt.
Ruth wondered how she would face another day, strangled as she was by grief and guilt.
The spring
breeze through her window chilled the tears in her eyes and she dabbed at them
angrily. “This is no time to be a whimpering sot, girl,” she chided, her Irish
backbone attempting to buoy her spirits. “Oh, James,” she whispered and sat
down again on her bed. “Why did you have to go off and die?”
From the parlor
she heard Noemie sniffle, and Ruth winced at the reminder. Her mother-in-law
was suffering, too. The war had taken James and left two women struggling with
the loss. For Ruth, her husband’s death stung, yes, but it wasn’t debilitating.
He had been a good man, a good provider, even a good friend, but not much of a
husband. For Noemie, though, he was the son she’d borne from her own womb. Ruth
couldn’t imagine the woman’s pain and she ached for her.
Closing her
eyes, she whispered a silent prayer for more understanding and compassion and
rose to take on the day. Her swishing, black, hoop skirt announced her entrance
as she stepped into the parlor. Noemie didn’t react. She was standing at the
window, a handkerchief pressed to her mouth. Her face, still fetching for a
woman of fifty, was a mask of pain. Furrowed brow, clenched jaw, and red-rimmed
eyes.
Surprisingly,
she hadn’t dressed yet. Her hair was not twisted up over her head in the crown
of braids she preferred. Instead, thick blonde and gray strands cascaded down
her back in an unbrushed torrent. And she was still in her nightgown and robe,
not her black dress of mourning with its voluminous hoop, like Ruth’s. She
looked older this morning; her years amplified by the soul-tearing grief.
From outside
came the well-timed, almost melodic steps of two hundred feet marching down the
brick avenue. The sound was somber, like a funeral dirge.
More good boys
headed off to this vile war. “Noemie, are you all right?” A foolish question,
but it seemed the only one to ask.
The woman
blinked, but still took several seconds to answer. “I’ve come to a decision.”
She turned faded green eyes to Ruth. “I’m done with Maryland . I’m going home.”
“Home? I don’t
understand. I thought Maryland
was your home. I mean, I understand you’re not from here, but ye’ve lived
here—”
“Ten years.
Almost ten years here with Jeremiah. He was my second husband. A good man. I
loved him, but Maryland
was his home place. I’ve got more years and more roots back in South Carolina .” She paused
briefly, as if reliving a flood of memories from those days. “James’ daddy,
Luke, and I were both born in Oconee
County . We did a lot of
living there before he widowed me.” She turned away from the window to face
Ruth. “And then Jeremiah went and died on me. I only stayed here after his
passing because I hoped you and James might start a family. And then he left
you to go fight in this blasted war.” She raised her chin and straightened her
shoulders. “I’ve held on to the place in Oconee County .
It’s time for me to go home.”
Ruth reeled from
the news. She opened her mouth to speak, but only squeaks came out. The
babbling seemed to spark more alertness in Noemie. She smiled tenderly at Ruth.
“I want you to go on back to Ireland .
Go back to your home. Bid this horrible war and its losses good-bye.”
“I don’t want
to.” Ruth crossed the room and took the older woman’s hands. “Please, don’t
send me away, Noemie. I love ye like me own mother. I’ve no one else left in County Cork
that matters to me.”
“And I love you
like a daughter, but I want what’s best for you.”
“And that would
be staying here.”
Noemie pulled a
hand free and motioned to the room. “Then you can stay here in this house, if
you’re of a mind to.” She patted her fingers reassuringly. “You’re still young
and pretty. I’ll see you’re taken care of till you marry again.”
“No, I want to
go with ye. Ye need me.”
Noemie’s brow
shot up. “I need you?”
“Aye, to take
care of ye.”
“I’m fifty,
girl, not eighty, and ‘bout as fit as you are.”
“But I can’t let
ye be alone.”
Noemie took a
step back, shook her head. “In fifteen months, I’ve lost my husband and my son.
I reckon God’s turned His hand against me, Ruth. Best you not be around me.”
“Ye wouldn’t
want me to break a promise to your son, would ye?”
Noemie’s emerald
eyes widened and glittered with shock. “What promise?”
“I promised him
I’d take care of ye. I gave him my word.”
“He had no right
to ask you for such a vow.”
“I made it. And
I made it gladly. I’ll not leave ye, Noemie. Where ye go, I will go. Your
people will be my people…”
“And my God,
your God.” Noemie smiled, but there seemed to be little joy behind it. “All
right. Then let us put our hand to the plow and not look back.”
So wonderful so far. How can readers find
you on the Internet?
I like keeping
this simple. You contact me through my website: http://www.authorheatherblanton.com
Thank you for
having me visit, Lena !
It’s my great pleasure, Heather. I’m
eager to read this book. And I know my blog readers will be, too.
Readers, here are links to the book.
Carolina Homecoming: A Romance Inspired by the Book of Ruth (Thanksgiving Books and Blessings) - PaperbackCarolina Homecoming: A Romance Inspired by the Book of Ruth (Thanksgiving Books and Blessings 1) - Kindle
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44 comments:
sounds wonderful as always! Shelia from Mississippi
Thank you, Sheila! It was fun to write and thus far readers really do seem to like it!
This is a wonderful book!!! I love all of Heather's books, and this one is no exception!! It grips you from the start and doesn't let go!!
Heather is fun to follow online (Facebook) I’ve read several of her Defiance books, but I know she has many others I haven’t read.
Patty in SC
As I live in North Carolina, Carolina Homecoming sounds like a great read on a relaxing summer day with a cup of iced tea in my screened in back porch!
I love how your books touch on each other and characters weave in and out of others’ stories. I also enjoy the relationships your characters have with God; they’re true relationships in which your characters have conversations with God instead of praying AT God. Does that make sense?
Erin from Massachusetts
Thank you, Trudy!
Patty, hope you enjoy the book. You need to get up to Table Rock State Park!
rbooth43, reading and sweet tea and porches sure go together! Hope you enjoy it!
Erin, that's a valuable insight. Yes, my characters talk to God not AT Him. I always try to make him a sort of "character" in the story. Not just high and off by himself on the throne. Thanks for reading!
I enjoyed reading this interview, Thank you so much for sharing it. Your book sounds like such a good rad and the Book cover is Beautiful! I love it. I love your Great Faith for God, God is Good! How sweet that you used to watch westerns with your dad. My dad used to love watching westerns all the time and I got to love western movies. Have a Great week and stay safe. God Bless you and your family. This is Licha Haney from FB.
Not sure I've read anything else you've written but I loved Carolina Homecoming.
Enjoyed the interview. Loved the book too!
Love your books this one is no exception, westerns bring back memories of my grandad we used to watch them together. The time you spend online with readers is appreciated especially when you try to accommodate your non US readers. Jean - Scotland
Such a good interview! This book is a superb example of family and loyalty--and a healthy, sweet romance. I really appreciate Heather standing up for her beliefs, as well. We should all take a page from her book. (wink, wink!)
Howdy, Licha! Thank you for reading!!!
Thank you, Deanna! I so appreciate your support!!!
Molly, you're so honest and I appreciate you. Thank you!!!
Jean, you are so precious to me. Wish the world was different. I'd love to come visit. Hope you are feeling better!
Pam, you take a page from my book any ol' time! I've got your back!
Sounds good!
-Melissa from TN
Thank you for the delightful interview. I enjoy Heather's books! Love following her on FB. She always has pretty memes.
I am from Michigan, living in my husband's beloved West Texas.
What a fun interview, Heather! One of my favorite things about you is that you're unapologetic about where you stand! I've loved your Defiance series and really don't want it to end so when you mentioned "spin-offs" in the interview, I got excited. I'm sitting here in Northern Virginia at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains just a hop, skip, and a jump from the MD & WV borders.
This sounds like a great story, thank you for the chance to win a copy.
Wendy in Nebraska
wfnren at aol dot com
Thank you, Melissa!
Thank you for commenting, Wendy in Nebraska!
Howdy, Jennifer! Thanks for reading!
Hey, Kelly! Thanks for stopping by. Love those foothills!
This looks really good!
Abigail in VA
Captivating and fascinating novel. I live in NM.
Oooh!! Been looking forward to this one!!
Elly -Indiana-
Sounds like a great book! Thank you for sharing Sarah in OHIO
Hi Heather, if I was asked why I read the books I do, my answer would mirror yours in the first question. I watched western movies and tv shows with my Daddy so I love authors who feature western themed in their books. Thanks for sharing today!
Connie from Kentucky
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Sounds like a good one!
Melanie Backus, TX
Oh, thank you, traveler. I appreciate that!
Thank you, Elly! Hope you enjoy it!
Thank you, Connie. And God bless those daddies who raise their girls right!
Thank you for commenting, Sarah!
Melanie, thank you so much for commenting!
Sounds like a must read!
Caryl K in TEXAS
Hi from NOrthern Utah! Sounds great! :D I hope you have a fabulous weekend! :D
Sounds like a great read. Thank you for sharing. Blessings from WV.
Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
Conway SC.
Great interview, as always I appreciate your candor. You have always been a straight shooter and to the point. I’m always rooting for you and your aspirations with Hallmark as you know! Keep going and don’t look back, unless you need material for a new project...lol.
Maybe a short story about us in high school and why I had my GOD dream.
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