Welcome, Denise. Tell
us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
I’ve heard it said it’s almost impossible to write a
character that doesn’t reflect at least a little bit of the author’s
personality, so I guess all my characters have bits and pieces of me. And maybe
some of them reflect qualities that I might have had … had I been raised
differently, or lived in a different time, or … been a man. Haha.
What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?
I need to get better at quirky. Unique? Now that I can
answer. For a number of years, I led a mid-1800s vintage dance group. It was
beautiful and fun, and showing up in a hoop skirt always took people by
surprise. However, I was always puzzled by the people who asked if I was Amish.
When did you first
discover that you were a writer?
At age eleven. My parents took me all over the Southeast to
historic sites when I was growing up. My active imagination wondered what kind
of people lived in those beautiful old homes and quaint towns. I started
bringing spiral-bound notebooks with me and scribbling stories in the back
seat. I would read them to my mom, who encouraged me to continue writing.
Tell us the range of
the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
I enjoy classics, contemporary romantic suspense, historical
romance, and Christian non-fiction titles that help me grow closer to God.
How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?
I start each morning with a cup of coffee, my Bible, and
prayer time. Beyond that, I try to keep things organized and as balanced as
possible. With all the big life changes happening in the next year for me, I’m
holding tight to my calendar with one hand and God’s hand with the other. I get
the feeling that calendar might fly out the window at certain points! LOL
How do you choose
your characters’ names?
Choosing a character’s name is always easier for my
contemporary stories. I just go by whatever I feel reflects the character. For
a historical, I research names popular to the time period, the location, and
the ethnicity, as well as considering whether the moniker reflects the
individual’s personality.
What is the
accomplishment that you are most proud of?
Definitely raising my two daughters, Emily and Abigail.
Emily is twenty, a student at the University
of Georgia Lee University
If you were an
animal, which one would you be, and why?
Probably a dog, since they seem to get the most love in the
world. I sure love my cockapoo, Lucy.
What is your favorite
food?
Cheesecake, coffee, or chocolate, or something that combines
all three.
That sounds yummy
right now. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock,
and how did you overcome it?
When I was just starting out, a brand-new publisher committed
to put out my Georgia Gold Series (which ended up being four books). Book one
had barely come out when the publisher folded. The situation put everyone in a
financial, social, and emotional disaster. I had to work directly with the printer
for a while. I learned a lot during that time, but mostly, I had to come to a
point where I surrendered my writing to God. To let Him know I was willing to
do something else if He wanted. Eventually, I found another publisher, and I
knew that was the path forward. So I’d say, even when everything crumbles,
surrender, but don’t despair.
Very good advice. Tell
us about the featured book.
The Witness Tree is about a Moravian marriage of convenience
that leads to an adventure in 1805 Cherokee
Territory
Past betrayal has turned John Kliest’s passion to his work
as a builder and surveyor in the Moravian town of Salem ,
North Carolina Cherokee Territory
Clarissa Vogler’s dream of a life with Daniel Kliest is
shattered when she is chosen by lot to marry his older brother and venture into
the uncharted frontier. Can she learn to love this stoic man who is now her
husband? Her survival hinges on being able to trust him—but they both harbor
secrets.
Please give us the
first page of the book.
Late August, 1805
“You have received a marriage proposal.”
At Susanna Stotz’s whispered words, Clarissa Vogler almost
dropped her paintbrush into the carpet of lush grass. Her heart thundered with
so much excitement it was easy to act surprised. “I have?”
Susanna nodded.
She couldn’t see the middle-aged woman’s face because of the
way she stood, blocking Clarissa’s light as she painted the women at work in
the garden of the Single Sisters’ House. But Susanna could read Clarissa’s
expressions with ease, so she widened her eyes. “Who asked for my hand?”
She wasn’t supposed to already know the answer to her
question. In their faith, a man ready to wed told his choir helper—his
spiritual advisor—followed by the elders. They counseled and prayed, then,
based on biblical principles, consulted the lot—slips of paper in a jar that
read yes, no, or were left blank, indicating the encouragement to wait. Only if
the lot offered a yes from God did the intended bride receive a proposal.
“Brother Kliest.”
Clarissa pressed her fist to her chest, barely noticing the
dampness of the paint smudges on her apron. She closed her eyes. Yes. The name
of the man who promised her freedom.
**I’ll say this … Clarissa is in for a BIG surprise.
I’m sure she is. How
can readers find you on the Internet?
Link to book: The
Witness Tree on Amazon
Thank you, Denice,
for sharing this book with my blog readers and me.
Readers, leave a comment for a chance
to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in
the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory
or country if outside North America . (Comments
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