Welcome back, Deanna. What are some of the
spiritual themes you like to write about?
The spirituality of my characters comes out naturally as
he/she develops. But I think my favorite aspect is the growth of faith, the
maturing. It fascinates me.
What other books of
yours are coming out soon?
I have two manuscripts out right now “shopping.” I hope you
will see both Waiting With Elmer and Blue-Eyed Doll in this lifetime.
If you could spend an
evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would
it be and why?
A contemporary person, hm. The problem for me is that I’m a
little short on heroes this year. I think there’s a general shortage, how about
you? Perhaps I’d enjoy a quiet evening with Laura Bush. I admire the way she
conducted her not-so-private private life.
What historical
person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?
Oh my goodness. I’d like to meet Helen Keller, Margaret
Mitchell, Carl Sandburg, Annie Oakley, U.S. Grant, … how much space do I have?
How can you encourage
authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?
The best rejections are the ones that come back with
comments, ideas that will make the story better. I love it when an editor says,
“really?” or “did you mean?” and other comments that hit me upside the head and
I go, “oh!” Then the story gets better. Unfortunately, not all readers make
comments. They either slip silently away after four months, or the form letter
suggests the failure to connect was on their part. Whether or not there are
comments made, you can interpret the rejection yourself. Read it carefully, not
as a writer but as a reader. Make your own constructive comments. Make it
better. And never, never give up. If you like the story, someone else will,
too. Try to find the “thing” that is missing, overdone, a misfit, or an
unresolved problem that may be holding things up. Don’t be afraid to reword the
story. There are many ways to say the same thing.
Tell us about the
featured book.
Cracks in the Ice is a YA/ teen fiction. I suppose technically
it could be historical fiction as there are a lot of real skaters and a lot of
real happenings. But, it’s mostly fiction. Gina, niece of a mafia don, has
dreams of Olympic gold as a figure skater, and she is well on her way to
accomplishing it. When crisis hits, Gina is ill-equipped to cope with the
disappointment. She spirals into depression and eventually alcoholism. Two
people who love her won’t give up on her. They are able to show her God’s love.
Realizing that she is still worthwhile off the ice, she returns to the faith of
her childhood, commits to rehabilitation and learns there are other victories
to be won in her life.
Please give us the
first page of the book.
Dear
Diary,
All I
want is to be in charge of my own life and ice skate. Is that so much to ask? I
mean I am fourteen. I think I can be in charge of something. It just isn't
fair. All I want to do is ice skate. Sometimes things happen that have nothing
to do with me, but they change things in my life. I don't think that's fair.
Now, I have all these other things I have to deal with. It makes me mad. Gina,
1954
I like to
stand up here, look out my window, think about things, and watch the Dobermans
running around in their yard. When I was little I was afraid of the Dobermans.
Bugsy, their handler, told me they'd eat me alive and I was never allowed to go
into their compound. That meant just about anywhere outside on the family
compound.
From up here in my
room I can see the play yard Uncle Giovanni's business associates built for me
when I was small. It's made of stone and tile and it has a fountain with a
spray and a big shade tree. They built a playhouse inside the tile enclosure to
look like a miniature of the big house. I like it okay, but I always wished it
had grass. The Dobermans have the grass.
I spent a lot of
time in that little playhouse when I was younger. I played with my Sonje Henie
paper dolls and read Little Women and Nancy Drew. I sucked on frozen Kool-Aid squares in the summer and
sipped hot Ovaltine from my red plaid thermos in the winter. My playhouse had a
table and two red chairs. I never knew who was supposed to sit in the second
chair.
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
I have a website, www.BooksByDeanna.com.
I’m also on facebook.
Thank you, Deanna, for sharing this book with us.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Cracks in the Ice
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