Lena, there never was a time in my life when I didn’t know for certain that Jesus was my Savior. I remember going to Sunday school when I was very small, and our sweet teacher told our class about God’s salvation. I believed with the innocence of a child, and from that time on, I loved learning about Jesus. At first, John 3:16 was the verse that I loved the most because it encapsulates all the Truth of salvation. Then I fell in love with Ephesians 1:6, “He hath made us accepted in the Beloved.” What a precious truth. Finally, Psalm 47:4 says, “He shall choose our inheritance for us.” I believe that means God has chosen a path for each of us, and to seek and follow that path leads to the greatest joy in life and for eternity.
You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?
Because I write historical fiction, I would love to sit down with authors of the past whose work I admire and who have influenced me. I would choose Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Charles Dickens, and Lew Wallace. The first three are English authors who really understood human nature, both good and evil, and the tragedy that strict social structures can cause. Wallace wrote Ben Hur after spending several years trying to prove God did not exist. At the end of his journey, he found Jesus, just like his character. These authors could tell me what life was truly like in their time periods, and with that knowledge, I could write more realistic stories.
Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.
I do have a speaking ministry, but it’s not the typical kind. I teach Composition and Humanities at a community college, and I begin each class with a “thought for the day.” Sometimes these are Bible verses or quotations from great Bible teachers, other times they are words of wisdom from secular sources that reflect biblical truths. In my course work, I assign stories that honor God. In classroom discussions, I try to draw out Christian students and give them the opportunity to share their faith. While I can’t preach to my students, I do try to be a light for the Lord in my fairness and (I hope) kindness to each student.
Sounds like a delightful class. People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?
I tell people the same thing my friend said in 1984 when I told her I wanted to write a book: Go home and write it! So I did. Then, after going back to college and getting my degree in creative writing, I was able to edit that book, and it became my first publishing credit. I always tell people, “If I can do it, you can do it. So go do it!
At the Captain’s Command is the third book in my Revolutionary War series with Harlequin’s Love Inspired Historical line. Loyal to the British Crown, orphaned Dinah Templeton has vowed never to marry a seafaring man, for her father died at sea and her merchant captain brother is always away. But when Captain Thomas Moberly sails into St. Augustine to defend the East Florida shores from American pirates, Dinah finds that her heart may overrule her head regarding this seafarer. Captain Thomas Moberly, captain of HMS Dauntless, has been assigned to capture the notorious American pirate Nighthawk, who plagues the Atlantic coast of East Florida. War-weary and hoping for a refreshing visit with his brother and sister, who live near St. Augustine, Thomas never expects to find love. But how can he resist the lovely Miss Templeton, even though she is what his father, Lord Bennington, would call a common American?
An intriguing story idea. Please give us the first page of the book.
May 1780
St. Augustine, East Florida Colony
The instant Dinah saw the three naval officers, she ducked into the mercantile and hid among the stacks of goods. To her relief, the men, grandly uniformed in indigo wool, gold braid, and black bicorne hats, continued up St. George Street. Yet she could not help but notice the well-formed profile of the captain among them. A strong jaw. High cheekbones. Jet-black hair tied back in a queue. She wondered what color his eyes were.
What was she thinking? She quickly turned her attention to a display of awls and knives laid out on a shelf.
"How may I help you, Miss Templeton?" The rotund, middle-aged proprietor approached her, admiration gleaming in his dark eyes. "Some silk for a new gown, perhaps? My latest shipment of lace has arrived and—"
"No, thank you." Dinah lifted her basket of lavender flowers from her arm and held it like a shield as the widower moved closer. Coming in here had been a mistake.
"I do not require anything." Tension tightening in her chest, she hurried toward the door.
He reached it first, and his eyebrows arched. "I have tea from China and…"
Dinah drew herself up to her full height and lifted her chin. "Please allow me to pass, Mr. Waterston."
I can hardly wait to read it, and my copy arrived today. How can readers find you on the Internet?
My website is http://blog.louisemgouge.com/. I’m also on Goodreads.
Thank you, Lena, for having me as your guest!
My pleasure, Louise. Come back anytime.
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