What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done? Shot a hole through the roof of the Weapons Storage Area where I was assigned during my tenure in the U.S. Air Force. Long story, that one! (And I wasn’t the one holding the rifle at the time.)
When did you first discover that you were a writer? I
“bill” myself as a “Storyteller, Writer, Author.” I started telling stories to
my stuffed animals (and my imaginary friends) when I was four(?) I began
writing in junior high school. I knew then I would pursue it as a career.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy
reading. I read “clean” books of all kinds. I enjoy science-fiction/fantasy,
adventure, animal. I am NOT a romance reader. Romance is okay, so long as it is
NOT the focus of the story.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world? I
am retired. I sit and watch the little lizards run around our back yard, or
watch the birds fight for territory. I listen to the sounds of the
neighborhood: cows, goats, peacocks (yeah, them too…what they’re doing in this
neck of the woods is beyond me) turkeys, roosters, horses, traffic on the road…And
when it gets really crazy, I sit and let the Lord center me. I remember that He
doesn’t NEED me. He LETS me participate in what He is doing. I remember my
place in His plan, and that takes some of the franticness out of it.
How do you choose your characters’ names? Other than
Collin and one other character, I try NOT to name them after anyone I know. I
do NOT want to be reminded of the real person, either for good or bad. Mostly I
make up names, or find names I don’t think I will ever meet in real life.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of? I
am proud to be the mother of two children, and the grandmother of two more. All
other “accomplishments” are gifts from the Lord. His accomplishments, worked
through me. (If He can use a donkey, He can use me!)
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why? A
dog. I could lie on the couch, get fed my meals, run around in the yard, love
on my people and make them happy by being happy. OR I’d be a hawk and fly.
What is your favorite food? Chocolate. To those who
say, “That’s not a food” I say, “Phooey! It’s an entire food group!”
I agree with you on that. What is the problem with
writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it? Imposter
syndrome. “I’m not a real writer. I’m not good enough. God, You should use
someone better than me.”
I overcame it through obedience. God said, “Write. Write for
the Audience of One…Me. Do that, and I’ll take care of the rest.” He said
write, so I write. He said, hone my craft, so I hone my craft. He said publish,
so it was published. (Yes, I had to do my part. But all results are up to Him.)
Please give us the first page of the book.
FRIDAY
As soon as Collin Walker’s feet hit the bottom step of the
bus, she heard it. The low, pounding, distinctive rumble of a river. A river
somewhere nearby. She froze, overwhelmed by the panicked impulse to fight her
way back upstream through the departing campers, dive under the backbench seat
and not come out until the week ended. A thought kept circling through her
head: Dear God in heaven, there’s a river.
A hand on her shoulder interrupted her mental breakdown. A
voice dripped sarcasm. “Hey, caseworker lady. You getting off this bus or what?
They’s some of us what wants to visit the facilities, you know? Been a long
trip. Move it.”
Life returned to Collin’s feet, and she stepped off the bus,
moving aside to let the remainder of the forty odd campers—and their vastly
odder counselors—disembark.
Odder? Is that even a word? Collin shut down the internal
tormentors before they could continue. Sane. I will be sane for the remainder
of this trip. And you all will keep your comments to yourself.
It might be easier to believe without the cursed cackling in
her head. Collin would deal with her demons later. She’d been dealing with them
all her life. So what’s another day? Collin leaned against the side of the bus
to get her bearings and her breath. She wrapped her arms around her chest and
began slow breathing to bring herself under the rigid control she learned over
the years. In. Out. In. Out. In.
Rob Sider, her ward for the week, stepped in front of her.
His eyes narrowed slightly in confusion. “Who you fightin’ in there, huh?”
Collin jiggled her whole body to release the tension. “I’m
working on a plan to beat your sorry anatomy in hoops.”
Rob stepped back with half a grin. “No wonder you having a
tough time of it.”
Collin held a hand in front of his face. “Watch it, bro. You
know the old saying, ‘He who laughs last—’”
How can readers find you on the Internet?
http://colleensnyderauthor.com
Facebook: Colleen K. Snyder, Author
Thank you, Colleen, for sharing this book with my blog
readers and me. I am also an avid reader.
Readers,
here’s a link to the book.
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5 comments:
Your book sound very intriguing. I personally love your answer to the question about writing. Being a fellow author, when God says write, you write, then you trust Him for everything else. Blessings to you. Jamie
Your book sounds so amazing I would love to read this Blessing's Sarah in OH.
Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
Nichols SC.
Beautiful cover and sounds wonderful. Blessings from Lucy in WV
Thank you all! Jamie, it's definitely true. God is the only one that can determine where a book lands. All we can do is be faithful.
Sarah, I hope you have opportunity to read it!
Lucy, Cynthia Hickey, my publisher, does the artwork for all my covers. She's amazing!
Sorry I'm late in responding. I do value everyone's comments and thoughts! Honest!!
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