Welcome, Yvonne. James and I did a lot of driving this last weekend, and I finished reading Hearts That Survive on my Kindle. I loved it. And I like this picture of you on the reproduction of the staircase on the Titanic. Why do you write the
kind of books you do?
I write them because I can’t not write them. I love creating the world of story and experience
the characters come to life, work through their problems and find a solution
and a hope. I want the readers to experience entertainment and a take-away
value.
Besides when you came
to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?
That’s difficult. There are so many. Perhaps the most
awesome was when I stepped foot in Israel . I think it involves that
joy and peace and wonder that passes understanding, knowing I was in the place
God selected for his Chosen people and that I walked on the same streets, the
same stones, on which Jesus walked. I saw where he lived and died.
How has being
published changed your life?
I don’t know what life I would have lived if I had not been
led into writing. A whole new world opened up to me when I attended the Billy
Graham School of Christian Writing more than three decades ago. At that time, I
was married and had three children. The next year, carrying my fourth child, I
returned to the School and received their Award of Excellence for my contest
entry. Through the years, I took one college course at a time, worked after my
children started to school, founded and directed the Blue Ridge Mountains
Christian Writers Conference in NC since there was only the BG School, and Mt. Hermon Ridgecrest
NC
What are you reading
right now?
Last night I finished Ann Tatlock’s wonderful story, Travelers Rest. Tonight I’ll start Deb
Raney’s After All.
What is your current
work in progress?
Yvonne: I want to follow up the Titanic book with another story based on a true event. For many
years I’ve been fascinated with the story of Japanese and German diplomats and
families of diplomats having been held together at a resort surrounded by barbed
wire fencing and “protected” by 25 American Border Patrol guards during WWII.
With three enemy nations together, all was not peaceful. This historic resort
is a couple miles from my home.
Other than that, I recently finished Let it Snow, the third in a series of Heartsong novels set in Washington DC
What would be your
dream vacation?
I don’t want to go anywhere to rest. I want to tour
interesting places. If I could never go anywhere but one place, the place would
be Israel .
I’ve been there and the trip was the joy of my life. It’s beautiful, different,
holy, and like walking on the pages of the Bible. I’ve also been to Paris and would love to
return. I would like to go to Europe, Ireland ,
Scotland , Austria .
How do you choose
your settings for each book?
I live in the panoramic mountains of western North Carolina and set
many of my stories here because it’s such a beautiful, intriguing place with
numerous plot possibilities. Several of my stories are set in South
Carolina since we vacationed in the Charleston area which lends itself to
contemporary and historic novels. Some have been suggested by other authors
when we wrote novellas and novels for collections. My Hawaii series was because the editor wanted
that setting. Some are places I’ve lived or visited.
If you could spend an
evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
Having been writing for a while and directing conferences
attended by highly-acclaimed Christian authors and beginning writers, I’ve had
the privilege of spending time with them and enjoy the experience equally. I am
inspired by writers on all levels. However, whenever I’m reading a novel, it
does cross my mind that I’d like to talk with that particular author right then
about the book he/she wrote. But, if I had to choose only one person it’s my
daughter, Cindy, who is also my best friend. We can be perfectly honest with
each other and accept each other with love and respect.
What are your
hobbies, besides writing and reading?
I don’t have a hobby because writing is my gift, my mission,
my life. I make time to do things I enjoy like occasionally do yard work, spend
time with children and grandchildren, eat out with friends, exercise, swim
occasionally, attend a weekly Bible study in January and February, attend
another Bible study and lunch once a month, have a writers group that meets at
my house monthly (when we aren’t too busy), teach at writers conferences, plan
my Novel Retreat, and mentor CWG
students. I enjoy eating popcorn and watching movies.
What is your most
difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
Trying to
handle my own career according to the way I think it should go. I don’t like it
when my agent says “Wait, before we submit this,” or my editor says, “Let talk,
later.” I have to rethink and remind myself that I pray for the agent and the
editor and that God will direct them, me, and my career. Writing is so much my
life that I tend to think it’s over if contracts aren’t coming in and all my
ideas aren’t going out as novels. I have to stop and think, “Trust in the Lord
with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in
all you do, and he will direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT) – Yes, a
challenge.
What advice would you
give to a beginning author?
Authors who have been in this profession for awhile already
have a following, a platform, a web appearance. A new author should strive for
that, but more important is concentrating on learning the craft, practicing the
creativity, writing the best story possible. Please the reader with a good
story instead of concentrating too much on one’s own personal advantage. Then,
you will gain a following.
Tell us about the
featured book.
Hearts that Survive – A Novel of the Titanic
Of all the unbelievable things that occurred, the strangest
thing took place. The floating half of the ship began to melt like a dollop of
butter on a hot roll. It just melted smoothly into the ocean and the hoard of
people were in the water. Their hair didn’t get wet. No water splashed on their
faces. For an instant they didn’t scream. They couldn’t. A communal gasp went
out over the sea, produced by hundreds and hundreds of terrified people who
unexpectedly stepped into icy water up to their necks.
The ship of dreams vanished, disappeared as it sank into the
sea.
In its place emerged a nightmare.
The sinking of the “unsinkable” Titanic was not the end of
the story for the 2207 passengers, plus the crew. It was the beginning of an
unforgettable event that changed history, changed culture. There were only a
few hundred saved in the 20 lifeboats. Not only were hundreds and hundreds of
souls lost that night, but the event touched people throughout the world. Each
person had family, friends, acquaintances and their lives too were touched and
changed. Being saved was not the end, but the beginning for those who struggled
not just to survive, but to live again.
This is the story of one ship, two families, three
generations.
Please give us the
first page of the book.
Friday evening, April
12, 1912
Clothed in her shame, Lydia Beaumont stood on the deck of
the Titanic, waiting for John. Each evening since they departed two days ago from
Southampton , she and John strolled here after
dining. Other first-class passengers found their own special spots, like
congregants in a church sanctuary.
Oh, the
church analogy brought the thoughts of condemnation she’d rather not entertain.
The grandeur of the greatest ship ever built had pushed aside her personal
feelings, any doubts or guilt that had so beset her in previous weeks. She’d
tried to forget her fears by planning the trip, convincing her father to allow
her to go, and helping her maid pack the trunks.
She thought
back to the day before sailing while she was staying at the South Western
Hotel. She’d made the acquaintance of several passengers, her favorite being
Caroline Chadwick, in her mid twenties. She and her husband, Sir William, had
arrived from London and were awaiting the ship’s
maiden voyage to America .
Staring out
the hotel suite window at the magnificent structure, four city blocks long and
ten stories high, had accelerated her heartbeat. However, walking up the
gangplank to board the ship and seeing the grand staircase took her breath
away. Even Craven Dowd, the president of her father’s company and accustomed to
the best, commented on the luxury as they were led to their state rooms.
John Ancel
glanced her way, his deep blue eyes shining with excitement beneath raised
eyebrows and lips turning into a mischievous grin. Had Craven not been entering
the room between hers and John’s, her beloved would likely say aloud what he
only mouthed, “This is no toy ship.”
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
My website is www.yvonnelehman.com
and I occasionally blog at www.christiansread.com
Thank you, Yvonne, for sharing this story with us.
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Hearts That Survive: A Novel of the Titanic
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