Bio: Raised in Louisiana and Wyoming ,
Renee started writing poetry in junior high school and that, as they say, was
that. After having her son, a desire to attend pharmacy school sent her small
family to the University of Wyoming in Laramie, and she's been counting pills
ever since. While writing's her first love, well, after the Lord and husband,
she also likes to fish and hunt as well as pick away on her classical guitar.
Nestled against the Black Hills with her husband, crazy old dog and ornery cat, she serves the community of northeastern
Website: http://www.reneeblare.com/
Group Blog: http://diamondsinfiction.blogspot.com/
Welcome back, Renee. Why
do you write the kind of books you do?
I love to read all kinds of Christian fiction from
historical to biblical but when I write, it’s as if the Lord pours the story
into my brain. What can I say? He seems to like suspense. At least that’s what
I tend to find on the page when it’s all over! Of course, there seems to be a
little romance and mystery thrown in the mix as well. But above all, His
message rings loud and clear, and since I started writing to bring the
Christian message to fiction books, I guess that’s what is most important.
Besides when you came
to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?
I would have to say the day I married my best friend … my
husband twenty-six years ago. What a glorious day that was! It was a hot summer
day in Casper , Wyoming
How has being
published changed your life?
I’m very busy. I’ve had to learn time management. I don’t
know if I learned it well though. I’m still trying to figure that one out. I’ve
discovered as a newly published author that marketing and promotion is rather
time consuming.
But I not just an author. I’m also a wife, mother, daughter,
pharmacist, and, above all, a child of God. So … I pray. A lot. And rely on His
strength to get through the tight spots. LOL
What are you reading
right now?
Let’s see … Stranded,
a novel by Don and Stephanie Prichard and Farewell
for a While by Sharon Lavy. I told you! I’m a bit eclectic as a reader.
What is your current
work in progress?
I’m currently editing the second book in my Snowy Range
What would be your dream vacation?
My dream vacation? I have quite a few crazy thoughts when it
comes to “dream” vacations. How about a fishing trip to New Zealand or Alaska ? Or a beach front rental in the Bahamas for a
week? Or an old castle or ruins tour in the Scottish Highlands? Any of those
would be absolutely awesome and a dream come true for me!
How do you choose
your settings for each book?
I start with the characters, and story, and the story
defines the setting. For example, when I began writing Beast of Stratton, I knew that the character of Miles Stratton was
a wounded war veteran. I also knew that he would be a business owner. As the
story began to develop, and I formulated the characters into the story, the
plot took hold, and the setting fell into place. The Beast of Stratton owned and operated his engineering firm in New York City .
If you could spend an
evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
Billy Graham. Rev. Graham has valiantly spread the gospel to
a lost and dying world. When he speaks, people listen. From tent revivals to
radio shows, Billy Graham mesmerized many a nation with the message of Christ,
and bended the ear of every President of our own from Truman to Obama.
I would love meet this man before he goes home to meet our
Father in heaven. If only to say … job well done.
What are your
hobbies, besides writing and reading?
Fishing, although my husband would tell you that I spend
more time reading than putting a line in the water. NOT TRUE! I love to fish.
Picking on my dusty classical guitar or even my husband’s fancy electric one. J
Latch hook and cross stitch, although I don’t get to do it much anymore.
What is your most
difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
Turning off my internal editor! Especially when I’m penning
the first draft. I’m better at it now. It was tough though. I learned a thing
or two about editing, and I couldn’t get two sentences on the page without
changing something.
Now, I make myself leave it like it reads. Whether it’s
misspelled. Or bad grammar. Or just plain bad. It stays. I correct it later.
Talk about a major leap for a perfectionist like me! But I did it.
I know people tell us
to turn off out internal editor, but I’m an edit as I go writer. So it is okay
to do that. What advice would you give to a beginning author?
Keep learning and move on.
If you don’t make the cut, your works not up to snuff,
someone makes a derogatory remark, or you get a rejection, don’t sweat it.
Don’t get your feelings hurt. Take it with a grain of salt, learn from it, or
ignore it, but no matter what … buck up, get to work, and move on.
Tell us about the
featured book.
To Soar on Eagle’s Wings launches the Snowy Range Chronicles. The
first of a seven-book series, To Soar’s set in a small town in southern Wyoming . Timber Springs
is home to the Fitzgerald family. With their father, the local pastor, the
Fitzgerald's struggle to come to terms with the unexpected death of their
mother while life continues ... on the Snowy Range
The story follows Rachel and Steve as they meet on Spring
Break. Steve’s the new game warden in the area, and Rachel’s a local teacher.
Here’s the blurb.
Spring’s in the air. While the sun shines in Timber Springs,
snow falls on the Snowy
Range
Rachel Fitzgerald’s on Spring Break. Or at least she’s trying. Between paperwork, and harassing phone calls, she may as well have stayed in her classroom. So much for relaxation. A “chance” meeting with her brother’s old roommate offers her weary soul a shred of hope, but she discovers love, like life, isn’t easy.
He talks with the wisdom of the Lord but rejects the future. She wants to soar with the eagles but walks alone. And trusting God proves to be more of a challenge than ever before …
Rachel Fitzgerald’s on Spring Break. Or at least she’s trying. Between paperwork, and harassing phone calls, she may as well have stayed in her classroom. So much for relaxation. A “chance” meeting with her brother’s old roommate offers her weary soul a shred of hope, but she discovers love, like life, isn’t easy.
He talks with the wisdom of the Lord but rejects the future. She wants to soar with the eagles but walks alone. And trusting God proves to be more of a challenge than ever before …
Please give us the
first page of the book
PROLOGUE
A shadow darkened the pages of her book. Shielding her eyes
against the late afternoon sun, Rachel followed the bird soaring over lake. She
caught her breath as he dove in a sudden display of power and skimmed along the
surface, its reflection a shimmering echo. When the eagle climbed back to the
heavens, his piercing cry echoed off the white-tipped crags above the high
mountain valley.
“What’d I tell ya?”
Her foot vaulted into the air, sending a spray across the
water. Rachel peeked over her shoulder and spied her twin brother. He stalked
toward the lake, a stranger in tow. She closed her novel with a snap and
sighed. He would find me.
Well, she shouldn’t be surprised. After all, today was their
sixteenth birthday. She touched her cold ankle with a grimace. Although numb
due to its icy bath, the injured joint still appeared puffy. She winced and
peeked at the guy with her brother. Now this is embarrassing …
“You ready to head down the mountain? Mom and Dad want to
start supper.” Michael propped his hands on his hips and shifted from one foot
to the other.
At her twin’s look of expectation, all frustration
dissolved. So much like her own, his hair curled around his head. He appeared
almost comical. She suppressed a laugh. But when her gaze skimmed over his
companion, an unexplainable warmth spread through her.
Her heartbeat thumped in her ears. With her lashes shielding
her gaze, Rachel studied his broad shoulders and wavy brown hair. She tore her
eyes away from the man and pushed her ankle back into the frigid water with a
hiss.
“Rachel?” Michael’s brows sunk low over his eyes. “What are
you doing up here anyway? Dad’s not gonna like it.”
She ducked her head. Great. Heat worked up her neck. After
rummaging through her backpack a few minutes, she sucked in a deep breath and
cleared her throat. The cool mountain breeze blew at her bangs, and she cut her
gaze to the stranger. “I love it up here. I can sit and listen to the wind in
the trees for hours.”
A low chuckle reached her ears, and she glanced at her
brother. A slow smile spread across his face. His shoulder lifted, and he
gestured at the pines. “So … what are they saying today?”
“Oh, stop it.” Rachel waved off Mike’s teasing and tipped
her head back to track the flight of the golden eagle. “Do you see him? He’s a
regular around here. I named him Max. It seemed to fit.”
Michael’s companion bumped him and pointed. “He’s a
beautiful bird, that’s for sure.”
A clap shot through the pristine stillness, and Rachel
jumped. She glared at her brother when he grinned at her.
“Hey, sis, you met this guy yet?” At the shake of her head,
he continued. “This is Steve Mitchell, Paul’s roommate. I guess they’re both
gonna be new this semester.”
The University
of Wyoming
“Rach? You ready or not?” Michael’s annoyed tone drew her
attention away from Steve, and she pulled her foot out of the water.
She bit her lip. “Well, not really.”
“What’d you do now?” The disgust in his voice was palpable.
“Nothing,” she mumbled. Michael’s rough grunt grated along
her spine. She crossed her arms in front of her chest. So what if she’d twisted
her ankle hiking into the valley? It didn’t matter if she couldn’t—
Rocks and pebbles cascaded down the hill into the lake, and
she lifted her head. Steve’s wide shoulders were coming toward her. Snagging
her sock, she wiped the water from her toes.
In a flash, Steve hopped the boulders and landed in front of
her. “May I?”
“What—no really, it’s fine.” Rachel cradled her injured foot
close. When he squatted at her feet, she found herself mere inches from
chocolate brown eyes. Oh … does he know how much I love chocolate?
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
Thank you, Renee, for sharing this new book with us. I loved reading Beast of Stratton.
Readers, here is a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
To Soar on Eagle's Wings
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