An Interview with Author Carol Heilman by Carole Brown

I'm tickled to introduce you to my friend, Carol Heilman! Her books are delightful and intriguing mysteries that are bound to keep your interest. Do check out her links to purchase them!

Is there a story behind your books?

Yes indeed. Agnes Hopper began as a short story—a writing assignment from a creative writing class. The story ended when Agnes walked away from a retirement home where the administrator ran a tight ship for sinister reasons. When I began asking

“What if Agnes stayed to help her friends?”

the story evolved into a book, and then a series. It’s been an adventure.

What started you on your writing journey?

I began writing in my fifties when I purchased a book on “free writing.” Completing those exercises took my breath away. I was hooked.

What kind of books do you enjoy reading?

Mostly historical fiction

• The Cigar Factory by Michele Moore,
• The Indigo Girl by Natasha Boyd, and
• Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Which character in your newest release most interested you while you wrote? Why?

Nellie, a recent resident of the retirement home, who claims to be Minnie Pearl’s cousin twice removed. She looks like the little old woman who lived in a shoe. She is a kleptomaniac, a quirky character who lends a sense of humor to the story.

Why do you write in the genre you do?

I love the people and their lives in small southern towns where a mystery thrives in the hot, humid air.

What is a favorite memory from your childhood?

Summer evenings spent listening to my coal miner daddy and uncle tell stories on our front porch while lightening bugs danced along the wood’s edge.

Share a verse or Scripture passage with us that is special to 

you. (and why it's special)

2^nd Samuel 22:17 NIV

“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters."

I was in my early thirties at the time when the Lord spoke to me through this verse. I was drowning in deep waters of bitterness yet He rescued me with His steadfast love. He has remained faithful and true.

Buy her books here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0792DNZMW/

About Carol:

Carol Heilman, a coal miner's daughter, married her high school sweetheart, a farmer's son. She began writing family stories, especially about her dad's Appalachian humor, for newspapers and magazines. One day her mother said, "We don't have any secrets any more!"

Carol's book series, Agnes Hopper Shakes Up Sweetbriar and Agnes Hopper Bets on Murder, was inspired by her mother's spunky spirit and her dad's humor.

She has relocated, along with her husband of fifty-plus years, from the mountains of NC to Charleston, SC. The low country is now their home. They love to play cards, go antiquing, hike, and visit grandsons on the east and west coasts.

***

Love Historical Romantic Suspense? Check out the first book of my WWII Spies series!

Book One:

Angry at being rejected for military service, Minister Tyrell Walker accepts the call to serve as a civilian spy within his own country. Across the river from Cincinnati, Ohio, a spy working for a foreign country is stealing secret plans for newly developed ammunition to be used in the war. According to his FBI cousin, this spy favors pink stationery giving strong indications that a woman is involved.

He’s instructed to obtain a room in the Rayner Boarding House run by the lovely, spunky red-haired Emma Jaine Rayner. Sparks of jealousy and love fly between them immediately even as they battle suspicions that one or the other is not on the up and up.

While Tyrell searches for the murdering spy who reaches even into the boarding home, Emma Jaine struggles with an annoying renter, a worried father (who could be involved in this spy thing), and two younger sisters who are very different but just as strong willed as she is.

As Tyrell works to keep his double life a secret and locate the traitor, he refuses to believe that Emma Jaine could be involved even when he sees a red-haired woman in the arms of another man. Could the handsome and svelte banker who’s also determined to win Emma Jaine’s hand for marriage, be the dangerous man he’s looking for? Is the trouble-making renter who hassles Emma Jaine serving as a flunky? Worse, is Papa Rayner so worried about his finances and keeping his girls in the style they’re used to, that he’ll stoop to espionage?

Will their love survive the danger and personal issues that arise to hinder the path of true love?

Buy the book here:

https://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1492661357&sr=1-1

About Carole:

Besides being an active participant in many writing groups, Carole is an award-winning author and enjoys mentoring beginning writers. She loves to weave suspense, tough topics, romance, and whimsy into her books and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons? 

Personal blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaroleBrown.author

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1427898838&sr=8-1
BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carole-brown

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/browncarole212

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sunnywrtr/boards/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5237997-carole-brown

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/carole-brown-79b6951a?trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile

Stitches in Time:  http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/

Earliest Author Memories with Special Guest, Linda Yezak

Joining us as a special guest for our Birthday Bash is Linda Yezak! Today she is sharing some of her earliest author memories, and how she discovered her calling to write. Linda's new book, Ride to the Altar is a part of our Grand Prize giveaway, so be sure to leave a comment to get your name in the drawing. 

Here's Linda:

As did so many other authors, I began writing at an early age—pudgy fingers fumbling with red crayons, probably something like “roses are red, violets are blue, I love Mom.” And, as was the same with many others, I improved with age and graduated to better poetry, song lyrics, short stories, flash fiction, all the good stuff (which I’d left in a paper bag when Billy and I moved. The cats shredded it and everything in it. We weren’t friends for a while).

When I was at Texas A&M, my English class followed my Algebra class. Switching from numerical logic to verbal logic, from practical to artistic, always took a few minutes beyond the stroll from one building on campus to the other. My creative writing professor at the time gave us a challenging warm-up exercise. Each session, she’d hand out index cards on which we had to write entire stories—beginning, middle, end—complete with viable characterization. At the top of the card, we were to write our “inspiration” for the story.

Mine usually went something like this:

(X + Y) x Z = AB/C

The stories would involve X and Y, who were military commanders of allied nations. They joined forces with Z to infiltrate the country of AB while it was being divided by C—also an ally of X and Y.

After a semester of reading my antics for ABC and XYZ, my prof confessed to me she looked forward to my notecards and encouraged me toward a career in writing. I wish I had heeded her advice. I would’ve had roughly thirty years of writing credits under my belt. Yes, I would’ve been plodding away on my IBM Selectric III, and my transition to a computer would’ve rivaled Jessica Fletcher’s in rebellion and refusal, but I would’ve been well along in my career by now.

But I think if my old professor could see me now, she’d be pleased with how far I’ve come. I still have a long way to go to meet my goals, but God has blessed me so much. All glory goes to Him.

About Linda:

Linda W. Yezak lives with her husband and their funky feline, PB, in a forest in deep East Texas, where tall tales abound and exaggeration is an art form. She has a deep and abiding love for her Lord, her family, and salted caramel. And coffee—with a caramel creamer. Author of award-winning books and short stories, she didn't begin writing professionally until she turned fifty. Taking on a new career every half century is a good thing.

Website: http://lindawyezak.com

Newsletter: http://dld.bz/CoffeewithLinda 

Facebook: Author Page

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lyezak/

Twitter: @LindaYezak

Amazon Page: http://dld.bz/LWYAmazonPage

Goodreads: Linda W Yezak

Author Interview – Marion Ueckermann

I have the privilege of welcoming Christian author Marion Ueckermann to discuss her writing career and latest book, Orphaned Hearts.

Thanks for joining us, Marion. Would you share a brief overview of your book including your inspiration for it?

Thank you for hosting me today, Laura. It’s good to be here at Stitches Thru Time. Let me deal with the latter part of your question first.

Whilst on holiday in Finland this January, I was beavering away at a Christmas story set in Lapland when I received an email from fellow author, Autumn Macarthur, inviting me to be part of a boxed set with several other international authors. SPLASH! (untitled back then) was planned for release on June 23^rd. The criteria for the story?—a novella between 20-35k with a theme of summer and water. Autumn went on to say that they’d like an international theme, especially a story set in Africa. I knew there was no other place for my story’s location than along the banks of the mighty Zambezi River in the country of my birth, Zambia.

Orphaned Hearts transports the reader into the wilds of Zambia to both a children's orphanage and an elephant orphanage. It’s a story of new beginnings and restored relationships with God. I think the blurb is probably the best overview I can give, so here it is:

When his wife dies in childbirth, Zambian conservationist Simon Hartley pours his life into raising his daughter and his orphan elephants. He has no time, or desire, to fall in love again. Or so he thinks.

Wanting to escape English society and postpone an arranged marriage, Lady Abigail Chadwick heads to Africa for a year to teach the children of the Good Shepherd Orphanage. Upon her arrival she is left stranded at Livingstone airport…until a reluctant Simon comes to her rescue.

Now only fears born of his loss, and secrets of the life she’s tried to leave behind, can stonewall their romance, budding in the heart of Africa.

You have been published through a traditional publisher and also as an indie author. Do you prefer one over the other? What path do you envision your career taking in the future?

My first novella, Helsinki Sunrise, was published by White Rose Publishing, a Pelican Book Group imprint in August 2014 as part of their Passport to Romance series. My second novella in the same series, Oslo Overtures, releases in August this year. I currently have a third novella under consideration for the same series. An August 2016 release? I hope so.

Orphaned Hearts released on June 23^rd as part of the SPLASH! boxed set—9 Refreshing Romances Filled with Faith. I plan to release Orphaned Hearts independently on July 10.

I’m still learning the indie ropes but in my indie and traditionally published experiences, I have enjoyed the sense of family in both worlds—as part of the SPLASH! authors, and as a Pelican author. Of course, both traditional and indie bring strengths and weaknesses to the publishing journey. The one thing that is great about indie publishing is not having the long wait to hear whether your manuscript will be accepted, and then another long wait for the publishing process to take its course.

Going forward, I definitely envisage being a hybrid author, having a foot in both worlds. For traditional publishing, my current plan is to write and submit at least one novella per year for Pelican’s Passport to Romance series (two if time permits). I’m already a substantial way through a fourth, although it was put on hold at the end of last year, and I have plans boiling for another. Then for indie... After being advised to turn Orphaned Hearts into a series, my Heart of Africa romance series was born. I plan to write and publish two novellas a year in this series.

What are you currently working on?

I’ve just completed a 6,000 word short story for a contest. Now that needs to be edited and submitted by the end of June. Then I’m heading back to my Christmas novella that I’ve been writing on and off since January. I’m excited about this story set in Lapland and already have a publishing home for it. With a deadline of mid-September looming to have this ready for print, I have to turn all my attention to that now (between having three books to market now.) Poles Apart will be part of a Christmas boxed set that many of the SPLASH! authors are involved in.

What is your favorite Bible verse and why?

Definitely Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” It’s just one of the most uplifting and encouraging verses I know. To have that assurance that the God of Creation has great plans for me takes my breath away. I can trust Him with my life.

Many struggling writers wonder how long it takes to get a book published. Obviously, the process is probably more streamlined as you publish more books. How long did it take from the time you started writing your first book until it was published?

I was once told by a multi-published author that it takes about ten years to get published and that most writers give up after five years (I think I found myself considering that several times). Randy Ingermanson, the Snowflake Man, says you need to write about a million words before you’re ready to be published (I think I came really close to that figure). At 100,000 words a novel, one novel a year...that’s ten years’ worth of writing. I believe there’s merit in Randy’s estimate. My first novel I penned almost found a publisher here in South Africa. Looking back, I’m so glad it didn’t. I was far from ready and had so much to learn.

After hearing and reading several top published authors writing journeys, I was amazed to note how long they took to be published—ten years on average.

So my journey... From the time I first started writing, it took me close on thirteen years to reach that publication dream (excluding the devotions and Chicken Soup story I’d had published a few years back). From the time I started writing my first novel, close on seven years. That particular story remains filed away on my computer. And from the time I started taking my writing whole a lot more seriously, around two years. Helsinki Sunrise, my first published novella, was really like birthing a baby...twice. It took nine months from the day I started writing to when I received a publishing contract, and another nine months before the eBook was released.

What encouragement do you have for other Christian writers struggling to get published, especially when rejection letters keep coming?

Remember the Bible story of the talents... If God has called you to write, then write—don’t bury that talent. And when publishing seems to elude you, keep writing, but more importantly, keep pursuing perfection in your writing—get yourself a handful of good critique partners (I couldn’t do without mine). Most important, do not be in a hurry and don’t settle for something that could hurt your writing career (and your bank balance). Allow God to bring your publication dream to fulfillment in His perfect time, because He knows exactly when you will be ready.

Thanks for this interview, Laura. It’s been super fun to share my journey with your readers.

Thanks for sharing with us, Marion. I learned something new about you today, as well. I’ve read some of your books and look forward to reading more in the future. You’re an amazing writer.

MARION UECKERMANN's passion for writing was sparked in 2001 when she moved to Ireland with her husband and two sons. Since then she has published devotional articles and stories in Winners, The One Year Devotional of Joy and Laughter, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miraculous Messages from Heaven, and her debut novella, Helsinki Sunrise (White Rose Publishing, a Pelican Book Group imprint, Passport to Romance series). Her second Passport to Romance novella, Oslo Overtures, and her first Indie novella, Orphaned Hearts (Book 1 in her Heart of Africa Romance series), both release mid-2015. Marion loves writing romances set in novel places. She lives in Pretoria East, South Africa in an empty nest with her husband and their crazy black Scottie, Wally.

You can find her at www.marionueckermann.com or her Amazon author page.

Follow Marion on:

Facebook

Google+

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Pinterest

**Current Stitches Thru Time Giveaway: Don't forget to leave a comment to get your name in the drawing for Hemorrhaging of Souls by Nicola Furlong. Contest runs through June 30.**

Laura Hodges Poole blogs weekly at  "A Word of Encouragement." Her latest book is a devotional, "While I'm Waiting," available on Amazon.com

Lessons Learned from the Inklings

By Shirley Raye Redmond

CS Lewis & Aslan

In recent years, the successful Lord of the Ring and Chronicles of Narnia movies have won J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis a legion of new fans. Tolkien and Lewis were members of the same writers group—known as the Inklings—for more than fifteen years. Lewis usually hosted the Thursday night critique sessions in his rooms at Magdalene College.

“Jack made things seem larger than life,” Walter Hooper, Lewis’ former secretary told me some years ago when we met in Oxford. “Everything had more meaning around him.”

I learned a lot about Lewis and his writers’ group during that hour’s chat. The Inkling weren’t really the stuffy Oxford dons one might have imagined them to be. I also got an inkling of what it takes to ensure the success of a writer’s group.

(1) The Inklings had specified goals. They knew what they wanted to write and why. They shared info about publishers and they networked. Each member was committed to professionalism.

(2) They had a commitment to craft. The Inklings had phenomenal publishing successes because they mercilessly polished their prose. Their bestsellers are still selling today. Lewis’s The Last Battle won the prestigious Carnegie Medal for best children’s book of the year when it was released in 1956. His commitment to craft has paid off for decades.

(3) Last but not least, they had synergy. This word is generally defined as “cooperation” or “the working together of two or more parts to stimulate new ideas that result in greater productivity for all the parts.” Synergy promotes the originating of new ideas and their fruition. The members supported one another all through the brainstorming, writing, revising and marketing aspects of one another’s work. For instance, when The Hobbit was published in 1937, Lewis wrote glowing reviews of Tolkien’s book for a wide variety of publications, including The Times Literary Supplement, and was instrumental in ensuring the success of his friend’s book.

The Inklings met twice a week—socially on Tuesdays at the local pub and on Thursdays for reading and critiquing at Lewis’s rooms at the college. They brought with them their best intentions. John Wain, one of the younger members, once described the Thursday night meetings with fond fervor, declaring, “The best of them (the critique sessions) were as good as anything I shall live to see.”

Do you belong to a supportive writing group? If so, what do value most about the group?

Don't forget to leave a comment to get your name in the drawing for Hemorrhaging of Souls by Nicola Furlong.

Author Interview – Heidi McCahan

I have the privilege of welcoming Christian author Heidi McCahan to discuss her writing career and latest book release, Covering Home.

Thanks for joining us, Heidi. Would you share a brief overview of your book including your inspiration for it?

Thank you for the opportunity, I’m happy to be here. Covering Home is my second novel and my first as an indie author. Here’s a brief snippet gleaned from the back cover:

On assignment in Japan, television personality turned sportscaster Britt Bowen is determined to land an interview with the most reclusive pitcher in baseball and prove she can succeed in a demanding profession. A relationship with a professional athlete is the last thing she needs. Shunning all media attention, former All-Star pitcher Caleb Scott is focused on rebuilding his career in Japan, far from his past and the horrible tragedy that nearly ruined him. Then he meets Britt, who is everything he vowed to avoid…

The original inspiration for this story came from a call for submissions from a publisher. They wanted novellas set in various international locations with three required elements. The prompt for Tokyo caught my eye, as they wanted a bell, a bat, and an angel incorporated in the story. I immediately thought about baseball, because I’ve been to Tokyo and watched a professional game there. Once I wrote the opening scene, I knew it would be a full-length novel and no longer an option for that particular publisher. Caleb and Britt were really enjoyable characters to write about so I just kind of went with it. 

You have been published through a traditional publisher and also as an indie author. Do you prefer one over the other? What path do you envision your career taking in the future?

This is such a hot topic within the industry right now. From literary agents to seasoned authors, it seems like not a week goes by that there isn’t a blog post or an online forum debating the merits of traditional versus independent publishing. I’m still very new to the published ranks and at this point in my career, I’m grateful for both options. I’m a ghostwriter for a small press, which is a wonderful thing because I do the work and they handle the rest. It also provides a nice income to finance my indie projects. A different small press published my first novel and I’m equally grateful for the opportunity and the knowledge gained from that experience. We did part ways amicably, which prompted my first venture into independent publishing. It’s hard work being a writer and even more challenging when you have to wear the production and marketing hats, as well. But it’s also a rewarding experience and I’m so pleased to be a part of the indie author community, where we support and encourage one another. I try to follow the Lord’s leading in terms of next steps. Both traditional and indie opportunities are on the horizon and I prayerfully pursue both until doors are closed.

What are you currently working on?

I just finished a novella, Love Flies In, which releases in June as part of an e-Book collection of inspirational romance novellas written by 9 different authors. I also have three chapters of a novel under consideration with Harlequin Love Inspired. I’m waiting to hear back on whether or not they’d like to read the full manuscript, which also means I need to finish writing it by mid-July. After that, I’ll start a Christmas novella slated for a late fall release and keep working on a sequel to my first novel.

What is your favorite Bible verse and why?

It’s hard to choose just one. There’s a different verse I cling to depending on the season of life. In the context of my writing, I lean on Romans 8:28. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Many struggling writers wonder how long it takes to get a book published. Obviously, the process is probably more streamlined as you publish more books. How long did it take from the time you started writing your first book until it was published?

First, let me say I’ve wanted to be a writer since pre-school. Once I figured out all those words printed on a page equaled a story, I was hooked. In junior high, we were required to pursue publication with a traditional publisher for a poem or a short story. I still have that first rejection letter from Seventeen magazine somewhere. The dream to be a published author resurfaced when I became a stay-at-home mom and the idea for a story percolated in my brain while I rocked a baby. That became one paragraph living on my hard drive for about seven more years. Then one summer, the need to write became so powerful I couldn’t ignore it. I knew the time had come for me to pursue publication again. From the day I expanded that idea into my first chapter until I signed the publishing contract was about three years.

What encouragement do you have for other Christian writers struggling to get published, especially when rejection letters keep coming?

I’m going to share what has worked for me and the underlying motivation that keeps me moving forward, even when I want to quit. I believe God plants dreams in our hearts and equips us with the resources to pursue them. For me, writing is a calling and I follow where He leads. Practically speaking, just as a sprinter doesn’t walk onto the track and win a medal his or her first time out of the blocks without any training, a writer doesn’t create award-winning novels overnight. Become a student of the craft. One can learn a lot by reading books and blog posts, joining a professional organization, and finding solid critique partners. I also recommend hiring a freelance editor for a thorough substantive edit of your manuscript. Some writers resist this step, mostly for financial reasons, but it’s an invaluable part of the process. Finally, I’d like to offer a quote: “Stop waiting to be picked.” I’ll attribute it to Jeff Goins, from his book, You Are a Writer, So Start Acting Like One. In short, it means pursue your dream every day and don’t give up. You are a writer, whether a traditional publishing house or a literary agent makes it so. There’s never been a more exciting time to be a writer. So embrace your options. Live joyfully and share your gifts with the world.

A Pacific Northwest girl at heart, Heidi was blessed to spend her formative years in Alaska. Her unique upbringing, coupled with Alaska’s breathtaking scenery, fueled her active imagination and loosely inspired her debut novel, Unraveled. Heidi graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Medicine from Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington and a Master’s Degree in Athletic Training from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. After a brief career as a Certified Athletic Trainer, Heidi married her husband, Steve. They live in North Carolina with their three active little boys. When Heidi isn’t stepping on Legos, chauffeuring the boys around suburbia, or watching one of their many sporting events, she loves to read and write heartwarming romance.

Website: http://HeidiMcCahan.com

Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/heidimccahan

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeidiMcCahan 

Thanks for sharing with us today, Heidi. You’ve given us good information and inspiration! Covering Home is a wonderful story. I look forward to reading more of your books.

God bless,

Laura

Laura’s blog: "A Word of Encouragement"

Twitter @ Laura_Poole

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/LauraHodgesPoole.

Books:  A Christmas Chance and While I'm Waiting 

Leave a comment below to get your name in the drawing for The Healer's Touch by Stitches author Amber Schamel! Check the Weekly Windup on the 18th to see if you're the winner.