Interview with author Lucy Nel!

Angela here. Thank you all for joining me and my special guest, Lucy Nel. here is a little bit of an introduction:

Lucy Nel is a coffee addicted work-in-progress daughter of the Lord Almighty. She's a mommy to a rambunctious toddler and wife to her best friend and real-life hero. Along with three spoiled Pugs, they make their home in Gauteng, the smallest of nine provinces in South Africa.

During the day, she's a bookkeeper. At night when the world sleeps, she delves into her passion, creating interesting characters in historical settings.

She's a member of American Christian Fiction and her dream came true when she recently signed a contract with Pelican Book Group for her Christmas themed novella, The Widow's Captive.

One of her favorite quotes about writing is by C.S. Lewis: You can make anything by writing.

Her favorite verse is Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

First of all, Lucy, I want to say how much I enjoyed your novella, The Widow’s Captive! And the cover. So lovely and Christmassy! (See end of interview.)

Thank you so much, Angela. I’m thrilled to be here! Yep. I’m really impressed with the cover!

For those who don’t know, would you like to tell our guests where you are from?

I live in Alberton. *Nothing ever seems to happen here, though. ;)* It’s a town in Gauteng, the smallest of nine provinces in … South Africa

Your novella’s is set in Colorado, if I remember correctly. What made you decide to write American frontier stories? 

This is the most common question I receive when people realize I’m South African. (Giggles!)

Easiest answer would be that we just don’t have cowboys. ;) 

The more thorough answer is a combination of several of things. 

Grace Livingstone Hill’s books. 

Little house on the Prairie. 

Janette Oke’s Love Comes Softly. 

And of course…Hollywood.

A good combination. What made you decide to become a writer?

I’ve always enjoyed reading. I was thirteen when my parents got divorced and since I’m an introvert, I struggled to put everything into words. So, I wrote my first ‘novel’ to cope with all the emotions I experienced. Now, years later I’ve discovered how beneficial writing is. I get to say a whole lot of things without opening my mouth!

Where did the inspiration for The Widow’s Captive come from? 

From a picture I saw on Pinterest. I was researching Myers-Briggs personalities and WHAM – there it was. It said ‘Don’t argue with the types while they’re holding… ESFJ: A frying pan’. Needless to say, my heroine is an ESFJ.

What do you want readers to come away with after reading your story?

I tend to write ‘light’ fiction. A smile is good enough for me.

Smiles are very important. :) 

Now for something really random. Let’s say you are running against a writing deadline, or something else is life is stressing you out. What is your favorite comfort food or beverage? 

Lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and water. I wish. Unfortunately, everything that settles at the hips seems to wander into my mouth…

I was wondering there for a minute! Really, who eats cucumber then they are stressed out? Speaking of favorites, though, what is one of your favorite scenes from The Widow’s Captive? 

I love the scenes that included Ethan, my heroine’s son, but if I have to pick one it was the Christmas tree scene.

I agree, that is a good scene. 

So The Widow’s captive is your debut novella. What are you writing now? 

I tackle several projects at a time. One of the reasons is that since I’m a panster, I tend to get stuck on occasion. If I have more than one project, I can keep going. At the moment I’m working on a full length novel set in a fictional town in Colorado. 

Amelia Clark is stubborn, bossy and independent. She loves the general store as much as her Daddy ever did, and can run it as well as any man in Sweetwater Creek. Perhaps—even better. Despite her competencies, her father didn’t think it natural for a woman not to marry, much less run a business. When her late father’s will determine she should marry in order to inherit the story she takes matters into her own hands and thwarting his instructions, picks her own husband.

Micah Kelly returned to Sweetwater Creek to take care of his orphaned nephew, Adam. As the prodigal brother of Amelia’s childhood friend, Micah struggles to rid himself from the shame of his youth, and finds himself heading nowhere.

Amelia’s offer of marriage is an answer to his prayers. Adam will be safe. Micah will have a chance to show his worth.

What could possibly go wrong?

 Thank you so much for joining us today, Lucy. We look forward to all your future projects! 

Thanks for having me, Angela! 

On the run with two small children and a third due within weeks, Adeline Spencer fears the approaching blizzard will seal their fate. An abandoned cabin is an answer to her prayers. She hopes it will shield them from both the storm and the enraged brother-in-law hot on her tail. But when a stranger knocks at the door, she is convinced they have been found by one of Ward’s lackeys.

Blamed for the death of his friend, Sheriff Jonah Hale is determined to prove himself worthy of his badge, even if it means riding into a blizzard to check on a crazy miner. When Jonah reaches the cabin, he’s caught off guard by a pretty and very pregnant young woman wielding a skillet. Bound to a chair while the storm rages, and as Christmas settles in around them, he must find a way to earn Adeline’s trust…and perhaps her heart.

You can find Lucy:

Quills and Inkblotts

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