Why do you write the kind of books you do?
I write Amish-themed and historical novels because they take me to a simpler way of life, where I feel joy and a sense of peace.
Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?
The day I married my husband, Richard.
How has being published changed your life?
Besides the thrill of seeing my books in print, it’s always a joy to hear from readers who tell me that something they have read in one of my books has changed their life in a positive way. Also, being published has given me an opportunity to visit many other areas outside my home state.
What are you reading right now?
Love Amid the Ashes by Mesu Andrews.
What is your current work in progress?
I’m currently working on a stand-alone Amish-themed novel, and also a new Amish-themed children’s book.
What would be your dream vacation?
A trip to any of the Hawaiian Islands . Hawaii is one of my favorite places to vacation.
How do you choose your settings for each book?
Whenever I visit a new area, a feeling will often come over me that this is a place where I should set a new book or series. Sometimes it’s because of something I see or hear, but often it’s just a “feeling” or “need.”
If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
Nicolas Sparks. I spent several minutes with him earlier this year, when we were both signing our books at the Southern Kentucky Bookfest, but I would certainly enjoy spending more time with him, to learn more about his life as a best-selling author of so many wonderful books.
What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?
I enjoy gardening, photography, and ventriloquism. I also like to look for shells and agates whenever we are on the beach.
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
The first draft is usually the most difficult, but I work my way slowly through it, one chapter at a time. Having an outline helps, but often as I get into the story, my characters take me to places I didn’t expect.
What advice would you give to a beginning author?
Know what you write about, and know it well. I spend many hours researching my books, and I always write about places I have visited and have come to know well. I also make sure I have plenty of contacts in those areas, so that when I’m at home writing the book, I’ll have someone to ask questions of who actually lives in the area of the book’s setting.
Tell us about the featured book.
Love Finds a Home is a compilation of three of my earlier historical novellas that are now out of print. The first story, Daddy’s Girl, is set in 1879 and is about a young woman who’s a gambler’s daughter. Story two is called, Dear Teacher, and it’s set in 1890. It’s about a young woman who teaches school in a small town along the Lehigh Canal in Pennsylvania . The third story, called, Twice Loved, is set in 1945, and it’s about a young World War II widow who loses her job and needs to find a way to support herself and her young daughter.
Please give us the first page of the book.
DADDY’S GIRL
Chapter 1
August 1879
“All aboard!” The conductor’s cry pulled Glenna Moore to her feet. She glanced down at her father, slouched on the wooden bench outside the train station in Central City, Nebraska . His head was supported only by the unyielding plank wall, and his mouth hung slightly open.
Glenna bent down and gave his shoulder a good shake. “Wake up, Daddy. The train’s here, and we’ve got to go now.”
Her father groaned and swiped one hand across his unruly goatee. “Leave me alone, girl. I wanna sleep.”
Glenna dropped back onto the bench with a heavy sigh, making no effort to conceal her disgust. “You can sleep all you want once we’re on the train.” She poked him in the ribs with a bony elbow. “You don’t want to be thrown in jail, do you?”
How can readers find you on the Internet?
My website is: www.wandabrunstetter.comThank you, Wanda, for dropping by my blog.
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