Tell us how much of
yourself you write into your characters.
I find others much more interesting than I am, so character
traits of friends and family inevitably wind up in my characters. I’m sure,
however, that subconsciously I’ve woven threads of myself into my stories. It’s
probably more apparent to others than to me.
What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?
I make up stories for my blog about our animals. I have them
arguing, fighting, going on adventures. Sometimes, I wonder what people may
think of me, but the fun I have writing the tales outweighs any of that.
When did you first
discover that you were a writer?
When I was eight years old, I began keeping a diary. I also
started a little magazine that year which folded within a week, but I think the
desire started then.
Tell us the range of
the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
I love Southern Fiction and Coming of Age stories, which is
what I write, but I also read a lot of Christian nonfiction.
How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?
My day is centered every morning in God and his word. In
addition to my regular devotions, this year I’m reading the One Year Chronological Bible. This version
offers an interesting perspective while reading through the scriptures as they
actually occurred.
I change devotional books and versions of the Bible fairly
often myself. How do you choose your characters’ names?
Sometimes I use family names. Sometimes I research names and
use ones that bear a meaning that only I may know about. That meaning however
helps define the character.
What is the
accomplishment that you are most proud of?
I’m most proud of my precious children. We home schooled for
eight years, and I’m thankful God allowed me to have that extra time with them.
If you were an
animal, which one would you be, and why?
I love all kinds of animals, but I’d love to experience the
freedom that birds feel when they soar through the sky, the wind against their
breast and under their wings.
What is your favorite
food?
I love breads made of whole grains. But I’ll take other
kinds as well.
James and I love
whole grain bread. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest
roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
My biggest obstacle has been to believe in myself. I’m
blessed to have a husband and sister who’ve continually encouraged me to
persist. This writing journey is not for the faint of heart and when the
rejections come, one has to learn to shake it off and keep working.
Eventually, you learn
to get it over it more quickly. Tell us about the featured book.
Fourteen-year-old Mary Helen wants things to stay the same—small,
safe, and protected-- but her world starts to unravel when cancer strikes her
mother. Mary Helen is sent from her home in Asheville ,
North Carolina , to St. Simons Island
Surprised by her aunt’s ways and island culture, all Mary
Helen wants to do is return home, but then she meets Ben, whose passion for the
island opens her mind to new possibilities. What happens next sends her on a
challenging journey of self-discovery. Will Mary Helen embrace the changes in her
life, which may lead to something greater than she’s ever dreamed, or will she
continue to cling to all that’s familiar?
Whichever she chooses, one thing’s for sure—she’ll never
forget the summer she first saw the marshes of Glynn.
Please give us the
first page of the book.
Chapter One
A Big Loss
Seeing the world takes more than just physical eyesight.
Your heart also has to see.
As I sit at
the marsh border, I take the pen from my backpack to ink the Southern-flavored
utterances of the character cast in my head. From a cloudless cerulean sky, the
calls of two herring gulls distract me, interrupting this otherwise tranquil
June morning—a morning in many ways like the inaugural morning I spent here
over two decades ago as a fourteen-year-old girl on St. Simons Island. The dark
anxiety I felt then obscured my vision … I never saw the gulls. Not for a long
time.
Today, the gulls join a group of
feathery comrades and soar out toward East Beach
As I touch
pen to paper, a scream from behind me splits the calm, and a painful smack sends
me tumbling toward the marsh, where I end up on my back in tall, thick grass.
The coolness of murky water seeps through my shorts and shirt. Out of the
confusion, a woman’s voice emerges.
“Are you all
right? I’m so sorry.”
Hands are
on me, brushing debris away. I shake my head to re-orient, manage to rub the
point of impact on my back, and look at my hand. No bleeding. I shake my head
again. As I try to focus my eyes against the eastern sun, a young woman hovers
over me.
“You’re a
mess. Can I help you up?” she asks.
Very interesting
start. How can readers find you on the Internet?
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Give My Love to the Chestnut Trees [GIVE MY LOVE TO THE CHESTNUT T] [Paperback]
Give My Love to the Chestnut Trees
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