Bio: Beth K. Vogt
is a non-fiction author who said she’d never write fiction, the wife of an Air
Force physician who said she’d never marry anyone in the military, and a mom of
four who said she’d never have kids. Vogt believes God’s best often waits
behind the doors marked “never.” A 2015 RITA® Finalist and a 2015 and 2014
Carol Award finalist, her 2014 novel, Somebody
Like You, was one of Publisher’s Weekly’s Best Books of 2014. She lives in Colorado with her
husband, Rob, and their youngest daughter.
Dear Readers, I
usually prefer historical novels, but there are some authors who write
contemporary novels I always read as soon as they release. Beth K. Vogt is one
of those novels. From her first published novel, I was hooked on her writing
and storytelling. Crazy Little Thing
Called Love grabbed me from the first page and didn’t let go. I loved the
characters, the story line, and the setting. It’s the whole package. You won’t
want to miss this book.
Welcome back, Beth. Tell
us about your salvation experience.
I grew up in a religious home, but didn’t understand what it
meant to have a personal relationship with God. I met my future husband, Rob,
right after a rough breakup. On our second date, he shared his faith with me.
When I told him I believed in God too he said, “I don’t see you doing anything
about it.” (Yes, he’s a direct person.) We had a long distance relationship and
he continued to share scripture verses with me.
Seven months later, we got engaged during the holidays and
decided to have a “crash course” in premarital counseling while he was home for
one week for Christmas. Rob was in the U.S. Air Force at the time, so we made a
call to the Andrews Air Force Base chapel. –– We were assigned quickly to meet
with a Quaker chaplain. During our first meeting, the chaplain pulled out a
Campus Crusade Four Spiritual Laws tract and said, “Let’s just make sure we all
know where we’re coming from.” He then walked us through the Gospel. At the end
of that little booklet, there’s a picture of two circles: one with you on the
throne of your life and one with Jesus on the throne of your life. And I stared
at that page and knew I was in the wrong circle.
After that, my time was filled with reading the Word,
attending a small Bible church once we were married, joining a couple’s Bible
study – all of these things helped me grow as a young believer.
You’re planning a
writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be
and why?
Rachel Hauck and Susan May Warren . They have mentored me from the
beginning of my writing journey, and they are forces to be reckoned with. I
love “talking story” with them. Melissa Tagg will also be there because she’s
just crazy-talented and loads of fun and we’ve known each other from the
beginning of our writing journeys. Cathy West will also join us. She is another
phenomenal writer. She’s a pantser, while I’m a plotter. I visited her in Bermuda this summer and wooed her over to my side of the
writing process – a little bit. We had so much fun plotting a story together!
Who knows? She might provide the location for the retreat.
I would want to be a
fly on the wall of that retreat, especially if it is at Cathy’s place. Do you
have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.
I enjoy speaking to women’s groups and to writers. I was
involved with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers International) as a writer, editor,
and speaker. I love encouraging young moms. I’ve spoken to local groups and at
their national conventions. I also love teaching other writers what I’ve
learned along the writing road. I’ve taught local workshops, online courses,
and at the ACFW annual conference. For me, an opportunity to speak is an
opportunity to encourage.
What is the most
embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?
Now how do you answer a question like this? I could fudge
and say I’m always embarrassed when I can’t remember a person’s name – I am so
bad at that! Or I could tell you about the time I was in a high school talent
show and sang a song with two other girlfriends, and I missed my cue and came
in at the wrong time. Yeah. Totally miffed it. And when you’re a teen that kind
of experience scars you forever. Of course, we didn’t win the talent show. How
did I handle it? I finished the song – and went off stage and cried. I
apologized over and over again, and felt like a failure. I did learn that you
survive that kind of experience.
People are always
telling me 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?
My response varies with the person. Most of the time, I
smile and say, “How interesting. What kind of book?” Inside my head, I’m
thinking, “Let me know how that works out for you,” because most people do not
understand what the writing life demands of you. If a person shows a real
interest in writing though – an inkling of passion – then I listen. And if they
ask questions, I offer a small amount of advice. Not too much though. They’ll
find out when – and if – they start their writing journey.
Tell us about the
featured book.
Crazy Little Thing Called Love asks the question: What if you
discovered that what you thought was your worst mistake was actually the right
choice? Wedding bells and storm clouds collide in the first novel in my
destination wedding series that examines the power of love, and the mishaps and
missteps that happen on a couple’s journey down the aisle to “I do.”
Please give us the
first page of the book for my blog readers.
Thousands—even millions—of women had routine
choose-a-church, select-a-dress, plan-a-reception kinds of weddings.
For some unknown reason, she was not one of those women.
Vanessa scanned the brochures spread out across the scarred
top of her mission-style coffee table, her plate of Chinese beef and broccoli
shoved to one corner. Photographs of white sandy beaches curving around
sparkling oceans presented an enticing mirage for a destination wedding. And
then she reread the list of medical workshops her husband-to-be would be
attending two days after they exchanged I do’s.
TIA’s and Strokes: State of the Art Approach
Advanced Airway Endoscopy Course
Hot Topics in Pediatric Emergencies
Not the typical themes for a honeymoon following a romantic
destination wedding.
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
My website: http://bethvogt.com/
My blog: http://www.bethvogt.com/blog/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bethvogt
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/beth_vogt/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/bethkvogt/
Thank you, Beth, for sharing this new book with my blog readers today. I know they'll love it as much as I do.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Christianbook.comCrazy Little Thing Called Love: A Destination Wedding Novel
- AmazonCrazy Little Thing Called Love: A Destination Wedding Novel
- KindleLeave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (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.
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