I’d like to
introduce you to author Anita Mae Draper. She’s a fellow-Canadian whom I
happened to meet at my first American Fiction Writers Conference (ACFW) in
2010. Since that time, Anita Mae has semi-finaled
in the Historical Romance category of the ACFW's 2011 Genesis contest and
finaled in the Inspirational category of the 2011
Daphne du Maurier, the 2011 Fool for Love,
and the 2011 Duel on the Delta. In addition, she signed her first contract!
(Leave a comment at the end of this post and be entered to win a $10 Starbucks gift certificate! As two Canadians, we apologize that it is for US residents only.)
CG - Welcome to our blog Anita
Mae. I'm so happy to have another Canadian on Stitches Thru Time. Can you tell
us what part of Canada you're from and what's so unique about it?
AMD - Thanks, Cherie, I'm glad to be
here. I was born in Northwestern Ontario, north of Lake Superior, but my dad's job
took us to Winnipeg, Manitoba which is what I consider my stompin' ground. When
I was 17, I joined the military and was posted back to Ontario where I met my
husband. After 20 yrs of Service, we settled in Southeast Saskatchewan to be
close to hubby's folks. We're still here and if I have say what's unique about
it, I'd have to say the lack of trees!
CG - I love that our country is so diverse. Why don't you tell me about your
current project?
AMD - It's
funny you should ask because my debut publishing credit is a short story in a
Christmas anthology, A Cup of Christmas Cheer Volume 1. My story,Riding
on a Christmas Wish is set in 1911 within an hour's drive of Toronto,
Ontario. Although I mainly write prairie westerns, research into my husband's
genealogy in the Keswick area of York County sparked an Edwardian story that
grew in rich historical detail and refused to be ignored. So I did what any
writer does and wrote it down. CG - Wow, that sounds so intriguing! For anyone who's visited Toronto in recent years, you'll know that this city and the surrounding areas are quite populated now and an epi-center for modern business. But can you tell us what York County was like in the early 1900's?
AMD - Back
in 1911, most of York County was farming country with small communities every
few miles. Although it sounds boring, it was an exciting and hectic time of
change. Telephones were being installed for those who recognized the wonder of
modern communications. Buggies and sleighs had to share the narrow, unpaved
roads with automobiles whose drivers drove on whatever side they wanted at
speeds that enraged the population. Many horses panicked at the sound of
automobile horns and turned into runaways, upsetting whatever they were pulling
and causing injuries and even death to their passengers. Newspapers were full
of incidents involving dangers of the day. It really is incredible what they
went through to survive.
CG - That does make for an interesting backdrop. What is the premise of A Cup of Christmas Cheer?
AMD - A Cup of Christmas Cheer is a 2-volume hardcover set of Christmas short stories. Volume 1 contains stories of Faith and Family, and Volume 2 contains stories of Joy and Wonder such as angels and miracles. Riding on a Christmas Wish plays into the Faith and Family theme because it's about an over-protective father, a teenager who craves freedom, and the mother who wants to honor them both.
CG - Sounds like these books would make a great Christmas gift! Where and when will it be available?
A Cup of Christmas Cheer is available now at the Guideposts Books online store at http://www.shopguideposts.org/a-cup-of-christmas-cheer.html and that includes the 2 volumes and a special fridge magnet.
Thank you for inviting me to be on your blog, Cherie. Although we didn't discuss handcrafts, the homey atmosphere made me feel at home.
CG - Well, maybe we can talk handcrafts next chat ;) Thanks Anita Mae for your time today!
Blessings,
Cherie Gagnon
PS - Don't forget to comment to be entered into the draw!
Thank you for introducing us to Anita. A Cup of Christmas Cheer has a beautiful cover and I know the short stories are wonderful. Thank you for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletemauback55 at gmail dot com
Congrats, Anita! It's so exciting to see your story taking on its own life now! I think you're going to get some great reviews on your heartwarming story.
ReplyDeleteLisa, you've been a wonderful role model of a successful writer. I appreciate your comment. :)
DeleteYou're welcome, Melanie.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree - Guideposts Books have done a wonderful job with the covers of this 2-volume set. Very Christmassy. :)
Thank you for commenting.
We have Guideposts books in the church library. I would love to order your books for the library. Thanks for entering me in your giveaway.
ReplyDeleteJanet E.
von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com
Library Lady, I've always considered libraries as a great outreach for churches. You never know which book God has chosen to speak to someone, and not everyone can afford to buy books. For those people who weren't raised with books in the house, reading can be considered a waste of time instead of a form of mental nourishment. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. :)
DeleteInteresting interview. Would love a chance to read the book.
ReplyDeleteHello, Joyful Chorus, I've got you entered in today's draw for a $10 Starbucks gift card.
DeleteI hope you get a chance to read the wonderful stories contained in these books. For a free read of the first story, go to the Guideposts Books online store at http://www.shopguideposts.org/a-cup-of-christmas-cheer.html
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteHello Anita Mae. You are new to me, but I just saw these books in a mailing from Guidepost.
ReplyDeleteI love Christmas books, so would love to win this. I have bought books from Guideposts before and they always have some good books. I used to live in a small town in OK.
It hardly had any trees at all. But the time my folks died more people had planted trees and it looked better in town.We moved there from TX. And, Texas always has trees. I guess there are some in the mid-west with few. I have a friend who lives in Odessa, TX. and he said he can't get any tree to grow there except the misquite trees are plentiful. I would love your book. MAXIE mac262(at)me(dot)com
Hello, Anonymous. The beauty of A Cup of Christmas Cheer is that you get stories written by over a dozen authors, including well-known names, so you're bound to find some favorites. Hopefully, you'll like mine, too. Unfortunately, my giveaway was for a Starbucks card as I haven't any of the books yet. But I'll be posting the places I'm guest blogging and the giveaways on the 'Appearances' tab on my website, so keep an eye out and you may win one yet. :)
DeleteYour comment reminded me of research I did once about planting trees in the west and how people with breathing problems and air-borne allergies used to move to Arizona for the air quality. And when they got there, they planted trees, shrubs and other vegetation to pretty up their communities. Of course, the problem was that the people with allergies started to have problems again because they're brought the source of irritation with them and surrounded themselves with it.
Here in Saskatchewan, the prairie was as bald as Kansas when the settlers moved in, but now we have shelterbelts in the fields to stop the soil from blowing away and trees around our farmyards to stop the wind from battering us.
I appreciate you dropping by.
Well dang, I thought I had a grip on these threaded comments. The above deleted comment was me thinking I was at the end of the line. Let me just say again...
ReplyDeleteCherie, thank you for hosting me here on Stitches Thru Time. I really do like the warm atmosphere. As for the Starbucks card, let me know as soon as you pick a winner and I'll mail it out to them.
Blessings,
Anita Mae.
Thanks Anita Mae for being here!
DeleteWhat a fun interview (and such a lovely blog, too!). I'm so thrilled for Anita Mae. I bet Cup of Christmas Cheer will be a keeper for many, read and re-read every holiday season. Congratulations, Anita Mae!
ReplyDeleteWhy, thank you, Susanne. I love the way you say that. :D
DeleteI loved meeting Anita and enjoyed her interview! A Cup of Christmas Cheer sounds like a wonderful anthology!!
ReplyDeletetexaggs2000 at gmail dot com
Thank you, Britney, and I appreciate you taking time to drop in and visit. :)
Delete