CENTRAL PARK RENDEZVOUS - Dineen Miller, Kim Vogel Sawyer, Ronie Kendig, MaryLuTyndall - One Free Book

Readers, we are privileged to interview two of the authors of this novella collection today.

Welcome, Dineen. How did your story for the collection come about?

Ronie got the ball rolling and then we just kept throwing ideas back and forth by email. Before we knew it, we had this really cool setting, a common element that carried through the stories (the coin), and a premise about love never failing based upon 1 Cor 13. I love that the stories span four generations.

What are you reading right now?

Fiction: Yesterday’s Tomorrow by Catherine West. My novella is partly set during the Vietnam War and I wrote it in honor of my father. Cathy’s book is set during the same war. I just had to read it!

Nonfiction: Out Live Your Life by Max Lucado. Love his books. The man writes nonfiction like a polished fiction author. Love that!

What other books have you had published?

My first nonfiction, Winning Him Without Words: 10 Keys to Thriving in Your Spiritually Mismatched Marriage released from Regal in 2011. My debut novel, The Soul Saver, released from Barbour just this May. They compliment each other. I love that I had the opportunity to do something like this—write nonfiction and fiction books that dealt with the same issue of being spiritually mismatched.

What is the hardest thing about writing a part of a novella collection?

Making sure we had the carry over details and timelines in sync. That was a real challenge, especially for Ronie and I because our stories overlap. But it was so much fun! The challenge just made it that more enjoyable when we made it work and unearthed all this really cool detail to do with the characters. That’s the creative part of writing that I love most.

How did collaborating with this team impact you?

Blessed me tremendously! I’d never done anything like this and thought of myself as the newbie of the group. Ronie, Kim and MaryLu are all multi-published authors and at the time of contract, I’d just signed the contract for The Soul Saver and Winning Him was due to release in a few months. Talk about a crazy time! My mind was spinning with all this great stuff on the horizon.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I keep a list of interesting names I hear or see in movies or people I come in contact with. My husband is a professional disc golf player and works in the tech industry. He’s always mentioning people with the most unusual names. So I started keeping a list and refer to it when I start a new story. Whatever clicks, I use!

What did you want the reader to take away from your story?

That blessings can be found even in the trials and losses in our lives. God is always working for our good (Romans 8:28). Always. He redeems everything we go through. I love that about Him.

Are you a member of American Christian Fiction Writers? If so, why?

Yes! What an amazing organization and group of people. I don’t think I would be published right now if it weren’t for this group. Correction—I know I wouldn’t be. I have learned so much and made so many wonderful connections through this group and have benefited hugely through the yearly conferences. They are the highlight of my year!

What is the best piece of advice you received as an author?

Don’t be in such a hurry. I wish I’d heeded it more, to be honest. That time spent on refining and growing your craft is so important. I wish I’d taken a year to do just that instead of trying to squeeze it in with all the rest of the stuff I was doing to get published.

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

My website is at www.DineenMiller.com . I'm actually giving away an e-book, The Making of The Souls Saver, for signing up for my newsletter. It has all the stories behind the scenes, setting and character pictures, interviews and three new scenes with The Soul Saver crew. Lots of good stuff just for letting me send an occasional newsletter. J           

Here are some of my other links. Drop me a message! I’d love to hear from you!

Websites:

http://www.dineenmiller.com

http://spirituallyunequalmarriage.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/dineen.miller

Facebook pages:

https://www.facebook.com/DineenMiller.AuthorSpeaker

https://www.facebook.com/SpirituallyUnequalMarriage

Personal Blog:  http://authordineenmiller.com/journal/

Twitter:  @dineenmiller

GoodReads author page:  http://www.goodreads.com/dineenmiller


And now we have Kim Vogel Sawyer.

How did your story for the collection come about?

I think this has probably been answered well enough by my fellow co-writers. :o)

What are you reading right now?

MaryLu Tyndalls, Viel of Pearls. Good story!

I loved that book by Marylu. What other books have you had published?

I’m so blessed to have three Heartsong titles, three women’s fiction titles with Barbour, another novella set (Montana Mistletoe with Lena Nelson Dooley, Lisa Harris, and Debby Mayne), four young adult titles with Zondervan, and eleven historical and one contemporary with Bethany House. Sometimes I shake my head in wonder at what all God has accomplished in the past six years!

I so enjoyed being a part of the Montana Mistletoe collection with you. And I’m excited about us planning to put that collection up as individual ebooks soon. What is the hardest thing about writing a part of a novella collection?

I think making sure all the stories agree with one another. Ours were so closely intermingled--the modern-day story weaving through the “steps back in time”--there were lots of margins for error. It required a lot of communication and compromise!

How did collaborating with this team impact you?

I felt as though I got to know each of these wonderful writers on a deeper level--a friendship level. Since writing can be such a solitary activity, I truly enjoyed the camaraderie we developed as we worked together.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

My characters were named for my mom, her siblings, and my maternal great-grandfather (although he was never nicknamed Bernie!). I reversed the birth order of my mother’s siblings, however, making her the oldest instead of the youngest. She liked that. :o)

What did you want the reader to take away from your story?

I hope the reader recognizes hard times aren’t meant to drive us away from God, but serve a purpose in binding us closer to Him. His arms are always open to offer comfort and strength...but we have to be willing to lean into His arms.

Are you a member of American Christian Fiction Writers? If so, why?

Yes, I am! I can’t imagine taking this writing journey without the support and prayers and friendships and knowledge I’ve gained through ACFW. I view the membership as an extension of my family--such a marvelous group to which to belong!

What is the best piece of advice you received as an author?

I’ll share two: “Write for the Audience of One,” from Angela Hunt; and “To be published takes both talent and perseverance,” from Deborah Raney.

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

Website: www.KimVogelSawyer.com

Blog: www.writespassage.blogspot.com

Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kim-Vogel-Sawyer-AuthorSpeaker/162401150486586

Thank you, Dineen and Kim, for taking time out of your busy schedules to visit with us today.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.

Central Park Rendezvous (Romancing America) - paperback
Central Park Rendezvous (Romancing America) - Kindle


Leave 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.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

THE SOUL SAVER - Dineen Miller - Free Book

I have really looked forward to the publication of your first novel. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

Usually, not too much, but for The Soul Saver, a fair amount of Lexie’s story is my story and many others who are spiritually mismatched. Oddly (or should I say godly?) sometimes elements in my stories parallel my life in an almost prophet way. As I started to write The Soul Saver, I knew Lexie and Hugh lost a child to a brain tumor. And Hugh was a physics professor at Stanford. Shortly after I started writing the story, my teenaged daughter was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Lots of miracles happened through that time, including a successful complete resection (removal) of the tumor and only radiation was needed for her treatment, which was designed by a physics professor at Stanford. God-bumps anyone?

I call them God-incidences, instead of coincidences, and yes, I remember the time with your daughter. All our prayers. God's miraculous work. What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Let’s see. I once made the screwiest face I could think of, took a picture and texted it to my daughter. She was living away from home for the first time and I wanted to make her laugh. It worked. And may that picture never resurface as long as I’m alive. J

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

Fourth grade. I wrote a story about an Irish Setter who broke his leg. He healed quite nicely I think.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I like to read all kinds of books, including nonfiction. I’m especially partial to books that have a supernatural thread as it relates to how God and the spiritual realm works and interacts in our lives. I love thrillers, suspense, women’s fiction, romance. And I love nonfiction books that bring to life God’s Word and His amazing love, grace and mercy for us all.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

I pray...a lot! If I keep close to God and make sure the running is for Him, life moves a long pretty well and I can leave my office most days feeling like I accomplished something that matters to Him.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

By instinct, I think. I think of the character and research names. It’s the one that just seems to fit the character. Sometimes it takes a while. I look at baby name books and name websites sometimes. I also collect names. I have a list I add to anytime I hear a really cool name that would make a great character.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

My husband and I will celebrate 25 years of marriage in September and I love the guy more than when I married him. And from that came these two incredible young women who make me proud to be their mama. So, yep, my family. Though I don’t take full credit for any of it. God is truly the good and faithful one in the mix.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

A dog. LOL! I love dogs more than I ever thought I would. I have seen my daughter’s dog make a huge difference in her recovery from depression and cancer and I just know this furry rescue mutt was a gift from God. I can’t think of a better thing to be to someone than a gift from God. Can you?

What is your favorite food?

Depends on what day you ask me. LOL! I love all food, which is part of my problem, but right now, I can’t seem to get enough unfrosted strawberry poptarts. Other than that, I absolutely love Pringles low fat plain potato chips paired with a really good green onion dip. That’s a rare treat for me though.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Doing it! The ministry I’m part of is growing and The Soul Saver is about to release (May 1^st). So, there’s lots to do with both. I had to create a schedule where I actually leave the house two days a week to write at a coffee shop. Otherwise, all that other cool stuff wants my attention and being the task motivated person that I am, I tend to do the stuff I can get and see done fast. LOL! The coffee shop lets me leave that all behind and just settle into my story.

Tell us about the featured book.

God wakes Lexie in the night with a vision of a place she needs to go to. Then she has to go into her studio to sculpt the face of the person she’s supposed to help. That’s just how God uses her to reach the lost, to restore hope, or whatever it is God needs her to do. She’s also married to an atheist. The book explains better how that happened, but he’s the one she can’t seem to reach, nor does God seem to be “sending” her his way.

Part of the conflict is the spiritual warfare waging around her and her husband. The enemy is working hard to destroy Lexie’s marriage to keep her husband from being saved. And he’s using a pastor of all people to do it. Does he succeed? Does Lexie’s husband get saved? You’ll have to read the book to find out.

What an intriguing concept. Please give us the first page of the book.

The tremble of wind chimes roused her from slumber, beckoning with their familiar call. Darkness blanketed the room in peaceful silence. The last vestiges of her dream seeped away like sun-kissed mist, leaving only the clear image of a seedy bar—and her trepidation.

Where was God sending her this time?

As she freed herself from the covers, Lexie Baltimore touched Hugh’s arm, whispering a prayer of blessing and protection over her husband. His sleepy warmth tempted her to snuggle next to him, but her fingers itched to reveal the face of her next mission.

She stepped into her slippers and slung a cotton robe over her shoulders then left the room and her husband undisturbed. At the end of the hallway, she peeked into the small bedroom that once belonged to her as a child, confirming the rise and fall of her son’s chest. In sleep, Jeremy’s lips still puckered like they did when he was a baby. Awake, he was all boy and a “young man of eight” by his own definition.

Last night’s salmon dinner met her nose at the bottom of the stairs. She crossed the kitchen to the door leading into the ...

Okay, that leaves us hanging and wanting more. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Everywhere! No, just kidding. Here are some links to my favorite hangouts. Hope you’ll come visit!

Websites:

http://www.dineenmiller.com

http://spirituallyunequalmarriage.com

Facebook:  

https://www.facebook.com/dineen.miller

Facebook pages:

https://www.facebook.com/DineenMiller.AuthorSpeaker

https://www.facebook.com/SpirituallyUnequalMarriage

Blogs:  http://authordineenmiller.com/journal/

Twitter:  @dineenmiller

GoodReads:  http://www.goodreads.com/dineenmiller 


Thank you, Dineen, for letting me be a part of promoting your debut novel. It's a blessing to me.


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
The Soul Saver - paperback
The Soul Saver - Kindle


Leave 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.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com