She's an author, avid reader, and shameless hero addict. She loves books, Ancient Rome and all things gladiator. She makes her home in Houston, Texas with her husband, stepsons, and one very spoiled pitbull mix named Eric T. She is a 2015 Grace Award recipient, a two-time ACFW Genesis finalist, and a Romance Writers of America Lonestar finalist in the Inspirational Category. Though she still doesn't understand the point of white crayons, she is passionate about writing unforgettable stories with real characters that rise from brokenness to victory.
Please help me welcome Nancy Kimball!!! (Cue the applause :-) )
Where did your love of books/storytelling/reading/writing/etc. come from?
My parents. Mom and Dad read to me when I was little and my flannel board Bible stories in Sunday School sparked my love of story. As a tween and young adult, I wore out the library and we lived in a very rural area without neighbor kids so books were my friends.
How does your upcoming release, Unseen Love, relate to your faith journey?
When I wrote it in 2010, it was earmarked as the “get me published” story because it held more mass-market appeal than its predecessor, Chasing the Lion, which I was still trying to find a publisher for at the time. It was finished, edited and complete since 2012, but I feared inciting my loyal Chasing the Lion following to riot if I released anything that wasn’t the sequel to that book. The fear of that backlash kept Unseen Love in storage until this summer my writing partners and my husband became the catalyst to overcoming those fears. Through their love and support and some repenting, I got honest about whose approval I was really seeking. The Lord’s or my readers. Now my priorities are back in order and the book is coming as soon as the cover is finished and the formatting is done.
What do you think most characterizes your writing?
The honesty in my work and with my characters. They have real fears, frustrations, questions, struggles, triumphs, bad decisions, regrets, who question God and shake their fist at Him at times, doubt His goodness at others, and through it all are stronger and better for it at the end. By the time a reader has finished one of my novels, they know my characters almost as intimately as I do and seen shades of their own lives within them, and that’s what makes them so unforgettable.
Are there underrepresented groups or ideas featured in Unseen Love?
Oh, GREAT question. A main character with a disability and a new Christian struggling with sexual temptation. I don’t find characters with disabilities, especially main characters, often enough for my tastes in Christian fiction. The Disney film Love Leads the Way about the first guide dog in the United States, and Touch the Top of the World, the autobiography of Eric Weihenmayer, a blind athlete, mountain climber, and motivational speaker who has summited Mt. Everest and every other peak on every continent on the globe, changed my life forever. It gave me such a respect for the abilities of the blind it remained close to my heart and came out when I wrote this novel.
So did something a lot of male readers will be able to relate to. Sexual temptation. This isn’t a facet of a man’s character that magically disappears when he comes to faith in Christ. This is another thing I find underrepresented in Christian fiction, especially romance, that “the struggle is real” and is especially tough on men like my hero who are recent converts and didn’t grow up True Love Waits. They have pasts and sometimes those pasts bring relationships and entanglements that continue in day to day life as they seek to embrace an abstinent lifestyle. Drusus, the hero in Unseen Love, perfectly captures this as he presses on to live honorably in his faith while working out his humanity with its sexual attraction, sketchy past, and at times a very honest temper. He also has a hidden talent that’s REALLY COOL that I hope male and female readers alike enjoy learning about.
What is the biggest thing that people THINK they know about blindness, that isn't so?
People who are blind do not use footstep count to gauge distance. But we see that in movies all the time and it’s wrong! They do not think “it is six steps to the door from my bed” because when a person is tired, or carrying something, their stride shortens. Though I am not blind I put all my effort and abilities into researching and representing well the challenges and uniqueness of living with blindness and pray I did it justice representing it in the ancient world.
I'm sure you've done a memorable job. Tell us...Are you a full-time or part-time writer? How does that affect your writing?
Part-time and while I’m tempted to blame that for the years between releases, it really isn’t. I haven’t developed the discipline to write when I’m not inspired to and when I’m not burning with passion for the characters and their stories. But I’m working on that. So I am a work in progress as much as my own work in progress.
What are some ways in which you promote your work?
After I released Chasing the Lion, I didn’t do much promoting. It is in an uncrowded (relatively speaking) sub-genre of Christian fiction so it’s selling in ebook on Amazon and audiobook on Audible on searches and hits, together with strength of cover and reviews. Which is really rewarding almost three years later, and I’m hoping to see the same with Unseen Love. My amazing subscriber email list will help me get it launched and get initial reviews up, but after that it’s up to the story and reader word of mouth to get the new novel out there into more reader hands. I’m going right back to working on my next book.
What do your plans for future projects include?
I’m pleading the fifth. I announced on my website recently the highly anticipated sequel to Chasing the Lion is on hold indefinitely. I’m still maintaining that position but can share that I am working on two projects right now and whichever one is finished first will be my next release. I learned the hard way not to overpromise, so I’ll just say I fully expect to have Unseen Love out by Thanksgiving and a new release sometime in 2017. God willing and I continue to cultivate more discipline in my writing.
I completely understand, Nancy. Even the Bible teaches us to say, "Lord willing." Thanks so much for sharing with us today.
Everyone, I hope you've all enjoyed Nancy's visit as much as I have, but in case you think the fun is over... Nancy had offered to giveaway an ebook copy of CHASING THE LION to one of this post's participants. ( Winner to be announced in the Monday Weekly Wind-up post.)
So let's talk... Nancy mentioned unforgettable characters. What is one of the most unforgettable characters you still carry with you? What about them was most rememberable?Find Nancy online at
http://www.nancykimball.com/
Don't want to wait? Snag your copy of CHASING THE LION here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/
Like Nancy, my parents gave me my love of books & reading. We also lived out in the countryside.
ReplyDeleteI have just finished re-reading EMMA by Jane Austen. Miss Bates is one of my all time favorite characters. She is so eager to please and to approve. No doubt she would be exasperating in real life, but a wonderful character to read.
Ha-ha! "Exasperating in real life"--I love it.
DeleteI've seen the movie Emma, but I haven't read the book. Are they far apart?
One of my favourite characters is Hadassah in A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers. What I most like about her is the selfless way she serves those around her even when it costs her.
ReplyDeleteAn admirable trait for sure. Sounds like a character I'd want to read about.
DeleteThanks for dropping by and sharing today, Lientjie. :-)
Nice to meet Nancy through this blog. Nancy's characters are very realistic based on her interview (something I enjoy in books).
ReplyDeleteOne character that has always stood out to me is Beth in Little Women. Despite her illness she had determination, faith and love for others.
I find it interesting that more than one of y'all have mentioned characters in books that are classics. Hmm... Maybe that's why they're considered classics. :-)
DeleteThanks for dropping in, Marilyn.
My grandmother gave me the love of reading.
ReplyDeleteA precious inheritance, Kim. :-)
DeleteI also have to mention a classic when I name a favorite character. I love Melanie Hamilton Wilkes from Gone With The Wind. She chose to always see the good in people and her loyalty and love was "unbreakable"" and "unchangeable". She never wavered in her love for both Ashley and Scarlett and she chose to believe that Rhett was a gentleman!
ReplyDeleteConnie
cps1950(at)mail(dot)com
You know I was just struck by how the word "chose" in your comment, Connie. It's it remarkable how so many good (and bad, unfortunately) things all boil down to a simple choice.
DeleteThanks so much for sharing with us. :)
I always have a hard time thinking on the spot - I can't pick just one person who sticks with me. Of course the characters of Pride and prejudice are most forefront because I love them and their personalities.
ReplyDeleteI know the feeling, and I'll probably get scolded but I'll admit I've never read Pride and Prejudice. However, I've heard many good things about it. :)
DeleteThanks for stopping by and sharing, Susan. :)
Every thing Nancy Kimball writes is solid gold! Her characters are very real to me! I share Nancy's "hero junkie" addiction, and could not help falling in love with Jonathan. My first love from "the world of Kimball" was Drusus thanks to a sneak preview. Nancy Kimball paints an epic hero that gets into your soul and stays there. I. CAN. NOT. WAIT. for Unseen Love to make its appearance!
ReplyDeleteNancy is a very talented woman and author. I'm in the same boat with y'all on liking a good "hero". :)
DeleteNot really thinking of one that really sticks with me.. This one sounds like one I'd enjoy..
ReplyDeleteGive it a try, Deanna. Maybe then you'll be able to have one that sticks and comes to mind easily. :)
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