SECOND CHANCE FAMILY - Winnie Griggs - Free Book

Why do you write the kind of books you do?
Interesting question, because I read very eclectically.  But my voice is a small town voice and small town, community-based stories are the ones that come most naturally to me.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?
The day my husband proposed to me.

How has being published changed your life?
Ironically, it has brought me out of my shell quite a bit.  Even though writing is a very solitary activity, I have become quite active in local and regional writing organizations and count writers as among my closest and dearest friends.  Also, though I’ve always suffered from an extreme case of stage fright (in college I took 10 hours of Spanish to get out of 3 hours of speech) I find myself actually looking forward to presenting workshops at writers conferences, which I do about 4-6 times a year now.

What are you reading right now?
A book by Laura Marie Altom titled A Wedding For Baby.

What is your current work in progress?
I am writing the third book in a continuity (set of connected books whose storyline is conceived by the editors) for Love Inspired Historicals.  These books follow the lives of three sisters who immigrate from Ireland to America in the 1850s.

I'm sure I'd love that series. What would be your dream vacation?
I’d love to visit Nova Scotia someday.  I grew up in South Louisiana’s Cajun country, and in tracing my family tree, I’ve discovered that some of my Acadian ancestors came over from there and I think it would be fun to experience the place first hand.

I can see why you'd want to go there, and I've heard it beautiful in Nova Scotia. How do you choose your settings for each book?
When I start a book, the setting is nearly as important to me as the characters.  I even spend as much time find just the right town name as I do figuring out the name for my characters.  But as I said before, small towns are my setting of choice.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
I’d love to spend some time with screenwriter Joss Whedon.  I love his writing, especially his dialog - so sharp and unexpected. 

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?
I enjoy experimenting in the kitchen - taking an existing recipe and playing with it to create something new and entirely my own.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
I suppose that would be my awful tendency to procrastinate.  There are days when I have to exercise a great deal of discipline and self-control to dive into my story.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?
There’s nothing that takes the place of perseverance.  No matter how talented you are, you will get rejections and harsh critiques - that’s part of the business.  The trick is to not let it discourage you and to keep on keeping on.

Sabrina Jeffries said it this way:  “Sometimes hanging in there is all it takes to succeed in life as well as in writing. Failure is part of the process, but it doesn't have to be the final destination.”

Tell us about the featured book.
Second Chance Family is the third book I’ve set in Knotty Pine, Texas.  Mitch and Cora Beth, the hero and heroine, have both appeared in the first two - The Christmas Journey and The Proper Wife.  It’s been obvious (in a hopefully subtle kind of way) from the outset that these two were attracted to each other, but it wasn’t until I sat down to write this book that I took the time to explore why they never acted on their attraction.  It led to some interesting revelations about their backstory.  

Anyway, here is the official blurb:

Love was out of the question... until it became the only solution.

Mitch Hammond is a man of his word.  And for Cora Beth Collins that’s a problem.  The honorable sheriff has vowed never to love again, for fear of wounding someone else.  The most he can offer is marriage in name only.  But with no other way to adopt two beleaguered, runaway orphans, she accepts.

Despite his intentions, however, Mitch is starting to want more from Cora Beth...and from himself.  For in her trusting eyes he sees everything he hopes to be - as a lawman, a father and a husband.

I can hardly wait to read it. Please give us the first page of the book.

September 1893   Knotty Pine, Texas  

“Hey, let me go!  I ain’t done nothing wrong.”

Sheriff Mitchell Hammond wasn’t buying that for a minute.  The furtive way the boy had been sneaking out of the boardinghouse garden had guilt written all over it.  In fact, Mitch’s gut told him this kid was more than likely the culprit responsible for the rash of petty thefts that had plagued the town the past week or so.  “Stop your squirming, son.  I think maybe we need to talk about that bunch of carrots you have stuffed in your shirt.”

“Them’s my carrots.”

The kid’s voice had more than a touch of bluster to it. 

Mitch tightened his hold on the boy’s collar.  “You don’t say?  Well, here comes Mrs. Collins now.  Since she runs this boardinghouse and this here is her garden, why don’t we see what she has to say about that.”

Cora Beth Collins was bustling toward them.  Even in the watery early morning light he could make out the concerned look on her oh-so-readable face, could tell that her honey-brown hair was pulled back in its usual tidy bun, could appreciate the way her crisply starched apron was tied around her trim waist. 

Mitch frowned as he realized where his thoughts had strayed.  He’d always considered Cora Beth a fine lady and a good friend.  But lately he’d begun to feel something a little warmer than mere friendship when he caught sight of her. 

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is www.winniegriggs.com.  And you can find me on facebook as well.


Thank you, Winnie, for stopping by my blog again. You've given us a lot to think about.



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