Author Interview ~ Bonnie Leon

Bonnie Leon dabbled in writing for many years but never set it in a place of priority until an accident in 1991 left her unable to work at her job. She is now the author of several historical fiction series, including the Sydney Cove series, Queensland Chronicles, the Matanuska series, the Sowers Trilogy, and the Northern Lights series. She also stays busy teaching women’s Bible studies, speaking, and teaching at writing seminars and women’s gatherings. Bonnie and her husband, Greg, live in Southern Oregon. They have three grown children and four grandchildren.

When did you decide to be a writer?

Actually, writing found me. Late in 1989 I was overcome by a compulsion to get my thoughts down on paper. I filled legal pads with short stories, personal experiences and poems. I had no idea where it all came from, but it was great fun.

I attended a writing seminar in the spring of 1991 and one of the visiting authors was impressed with my writing. She told me I had a unique writing voice and that I was gifted and encouraged me to keep writing. I drove home that afternoon with my head full of ideas for my writing career.

At what point did you stop juggling suggestions and critiques and trust yourself (as a writer)?

That day hasn’t arrived yet. I rely on other writers to see what I don’t see. I’m part of an online critique group and I take their input seriously. Sometimes I disagree with their opinions and go with my own ideas, but often they are right on and are a great help.

Are you a disciplined writer or do you just write when you feel like it?

I’m not as disciplined as I’d like to be, but after a writer signs a contract they have a deadline to meet and that won’t happen without self discipline. A publishing house has taken a risk on our book so we have an obligation to fulfill our promise to produce a book they can publish. We represent Christ in all we do, including our writing business.

What kind of activities do you like to do that help you relax and step away from your deadlines for a bit?

I enjoy reading fiction, but often I have to force myself to stop mentally editing as I read. To step away completely I enjoy watching a movie or taking my dog for a walk or I get out with friends. I love to travel and hope to do more of that in the next year after my husband retires.

What is your favorite novel and what made it special?

I love lots of different novels, but one stands out—Hawaii written by James Michener. The book was rich in history and real life drama, which is my favorite type of book. It’s been many years since I read it, and I keep promising myself that I’m going to reread it—soon I hope.

How do you think reading the work of others helps you as a writer?

It’s always helpful to experience the creativity and richness of other writers. Sometimes I’ll read a portion of a scene and stop to marvel at an original expression or a particularly good choice of words. And when I read inspired writing it motivates me to try harder to create something spectacular.

Tell us a little about your latest release:

Here is the back cover copy. I think Revell did an excellent job of capturing the overall feel of the story.

She went looking for adventure . . . and found more than she bargained for.

Kate Evans is an adventurous and independent young woman with a pioneering spirit. When she leaves her home in Washington State to follow her dream of being an Alaskan bush pilot, she knows it will be an uphill battle. But she never expected it to be quite like this. As the lone woman in a man’s world, she finds that contending with people’s expectations is almost as treacherous as navigating the wild arctic storms.

When she crosses paths with a mysterious man living alone in the forbidding wilderness, she faces a new challenge. Can Kate break through the walls he has put up around his heart? And will fear keep her from realizing her dreams?

Touching the Clouds will draw you in with raw emotion and suspense, all against the stunning backdrop of the Alaskan wilds.

Where did you get your inspiration for Touching the Clouds?

My mother grew up on a homestead in Alaska. There were no roads in and out of their place so her family relied upon bush pilots to deliver their mail and sometimes they traveled by air. She had great respect and affection for the pilots and spoke of them often. Whenever she came across a book about Alaskan bush pilots, she’d buy it. They ended up in my personal library.

One day while reading about these courageous people a glimmer of a story flickered to life. Soon I was jotting down notes and before I knew it, I had my story.

Which character is most like you?

I don’t think any one character is most like me, although I’d like to think some of Kate is in me. What I most admire about her is her determination to chase after a dream, even if there’s a cost to be paid. And I love that she’s willing to stand up to the norms of her day and be who she is rather than who she’s expected to be.

Who is your favorite character and why?

I have a couple of favorites. Kate, for the reasons I stated above, including her penchant for adventure. I’d love to be more adventurous.

I really like Nena, an Alaskan native who lives in Kotzebue. She is a genuine, transparent woman who takes life as it is, without complaint. She finds goodness in people and in life. I admire those qualities.

Did you know how Touching the Clouds would turn out? Were you surprised by any of the plot twists or characters?

I had the ending in my mind when I began, but by the time I wrote “the end” I wasn’t happy with it. So, with some encouragement from my editor I made a major change to the ending. I’m much happier with it.

When I begin a book I have an outline that works as a guide. It’s a help, but I always wander into unexpected terrain. And there are characters who pop up that I don’t expect or a character who is supposed to have a minor role grows into someone who plays a more important part.

I think in this series the one character that is surprising me most is a pilot named Jack. He’s not a very nice guy, and he’s continuing to transform into someone I hadn’t expected. I don’t want to give anything away, but watch to see what happens to Jack. I think you’ll be surprised.

What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?

Listen to and follow God-given dreams. Believe in Him and in the abilities and desires He’s planted inside of you. Shut out the voices that say, “You can’t”, and listen to the only one that matters—God’s. Never give up, but believe in the One who makes all things possible.

What kinds of things have you done to market this book? Have you found anything that works particularly well?

When it comes to marketing I’m still a babe. It’s something I’ve only just started doing in the last couple of years.

I thoroughly enjoy the interaction on facebook. I’m not sure how that relates in numbers of sales, but it’s fun to touch base in a personal way with readers and other writers.

For my new book I’m very excited about my Take Flight contest. I wanted to offer a hands’ on flying lesson to readers but didn’t know how to make it happen. My web guru, Kelli Standish, knew how to make it happen. If readers go to my website at www.bonnieleon.com a box will pop up and they can enter. The winner will receive:

A 40 minute flight lesson with a FAA Certified Instructor
A 25 page eBook covering all the details of your flight
A training video to prepare you for your flight experience
2 Ground School lessons credited toward your pilot's license
A pilot's log book to keep record of your flight time
A certificate of accomplishment for flight completion
A 6 month subscription to a leading flight training magazine
A CD copy of The Airplane Flying Handbook
A CD copy of The Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge

We will draw for a winner on July 25th and make an announcement on the 26th.

Tell us what new projects you’re working on.

I’m working on book three in the Alaskan Skies series. I’m loving the story. It has a really terrific ending!

Do you have any parting words of advice?

I live with chronic pain and disability from an auto accident back in 1991. I sometimes find myself wishing I’d done more while I could. None of us knows what tomorrow holds so we need to live full out today—it may be the only day we have.

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Want more? Be sure to stop by The Borrowed Book on Thursday for an excerpt from Touching the Clouds by Bonnie Leon!

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From Darkness to Light

After much howling and whining, Lisa has sprung me from my prison of sub-pages and allowed me to come blinking and squinting into the bright light of my very own front page post. Thank you, Lisa!

So who am I and what am I doing here? Simple. I'm here to nudge you toward better writing one post at a time. As for the answer to the other question, well, here's my official bio:

Sandra Moore writes as S. Dionne Moore. She is the multipublished author of three cozy mysteries and a new trilogy of historical romance. In addition to writing, she is an interviewer for Novel Journey and a contributing columnist for The Borrowed Book. Living in the Tuscarora Mountain area of Pennsylvania, she makes her home with her husband, daughter, and a Maltipoo who thinks he is a chick-magnet but is really a tick-magnet. Visit her at her Website http://www.sdionnemoore.com.

Now that that's out of the way, my plans are to teach you based on the lessons I have learned since beginning my writing career in 2000. Our first set of lessons will cover the much maligned and ugly-stepsister subject of Backstory.

Listen here for a short snippet about Backstory. Click play button to load. Have fun listening!

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July Giveaway ~ Week 2

We're continuing our month long celebration of the release of Love Finds You in Calico, California with the perfect gift for book lovers...

Spend the day at Barnes & Noble and enjoy a Starbucks coffee on us! ($20.00 B&N gift card and a $5.00 Starbucks gift card, plus one signed copy of Love Finds You in Calico, California).

To Enter: Simply leave a comment after this post AND GET ONE OF YOUR FRIENDS TO LEAVE A COMMENT. Be sure your friend mentions you in their comment. Both of you will be entered, each of you will have a chance to win. You must leave a comment each week in order to be eligible to win that week’s prize. For example, winners for the week of July 4-10 will be drawn from the comments left that week, and so on.

Winners will be announced on Mondays. Check the sidebar for information on future giveaways. Good luck, and thanks for helping us celebrate the release of Love Finds You in Calico, California.

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Debut Author ~ Cynthia Ruchti

Cynthia Ruchti writes stories of “hope that glows in the dark.” She writes and produces The Heartbeat of the Home, a syndicated drama/devotional radio broadcast, and is editor of the ministry’s Backyard Friends magazine. She also serves as current president of American Christian Fiction Writers. Cynthia married her childhood sweetheart, who tells his own tales of wilderness adventures.

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When did you decide to be a writer?

I think it was decided for me. As a child, I alternately wanted to be a florist, a chemist, a bassoonist in a symphony, the owner of a tourist agency, the owner of a quaint book store/tea room, and an elementary school teacher, and a quintessential wife and mom. The only way I could accomplish all that was by letting my characters choose those careers then living the experience vicariously through them. The quintessential wife and mom? I had to settle for “pretty good” and focus on becoming the quintessential grammie.

How long did you write before you sold your first book?

I’ve written short fiction through radio drama for 31 years for The Heartbeat of the Home radio broadcast. It wasn’t until a decade ago (seems like yesterday) that I thought seriously about becoming a novelist. I read, read, read and wrote, wrote, wrote, and studied, studied, studied then attended writers’ conferences, joined ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), networked with other writers and industry professionals, and began to grow as a fiction writer. I entered the Genesis contest for unpublished writers, became a finalist (not the first time, mind you), and grew a little more.

They Almost Always Come Home was purchased by Abingdon Press in the fall of 2008 and releases May 2010. The process of writing, though, probably started when I was still in bobby sox and saddle shoes, letting my imagination weave stories that were written on the lining of my brain rather than paper.

Everyone’s journey to publication is different. Now that you’ve walked that road, what tips can you give to authors still hoping for that first contract?

(See previous paragraph.) Reading, writing (whether it ever sees the light of publication day or not), studying books on the craft of writing fiction, attending as many good writers’ conferences as the proceeds from a mega-garage sale will allow (my favorites are the ACFW conference, Write-to-Publish, and the Quad Cities Christian Writers Conference), joining an online writers’ group or two, entering contests, and taking the process seriously without taking yourself too seriously… Two essential tools—a teachable spirit and endurance—are must-haves for a successful writer.

Was there something about the experience of getting published that was a surprise to you?

It startled me to discover how much I adore each stage of the process. No matter the task—writing, rewriting, editing, marketing, publicity, networking—I can appreciate them all. The tricky part is when they all fall on the same day’s to-do list.

Are you a disciplined writer or do you just write when you feel like it?

Much of the writing I do is on assignment…for the radio ministry, book deadlines, ACFW responsibilities. A blissful day for me is one in which I’m allowed the freedom to write just for the fun of it. And as book deadlines increase, I’m discovering that I need to jettison some of the clutter in my office, my life, and my schedule in order to stay afloat.

What kind of activities to you like to do that help you relax and step away from your deadlines for a bit?

My husband and I live in the northwoods of Wisconsin. It is soul-satisfying to me to sit on our deck and bask in a quiet so deep I can hear hummingbird wings beating. I love to travel and find my batteries recharge best when big water is near—Lake Michgan, Green Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, any number of oceans.

What is your favorite novel (not written by you) and what made it special?

My “favorite” novel changes like my “favorite” worship song or “favorite” Scripture verse. I usually call them my current favorites. I dove deep into The Help by Kathryn Stockett and appreciated that it challenged me on levels I didn’t realize needed…help.

How do you think reading the work of others helps you as a writer?

Because I spend a good deal of time editing the work of others, I find myself slipping into editor mode when pleasure reading too. But I analyze for the sake of studying and improving, rather than fault-finding. “How did she do that?” “Why didn’t he hold that detail until the following chapter?” “This could have been stronger if the author had…” All those lessons boomerang onto my own work. But additionally, reading a great novel stokes the fire of my creativity. I can write better if I’ve been reading better. If I smell the stale breath of writer’s block polluting my office, I know it’s time to stop writing and go read something worthwhile.

Tell us a little about your latest release:

They Almost Always Come Home follows Libby Holden through the agonizing realization that her husband isn’t just late coming home from his solo canoe trip to the Canadian wilderness. He isn’t coming home at all. And she’s relieved. She’d planned to leave him, but how can she do that if she can’t find him? And where is this guilt coming from if it was all his fault in the first place? Accompanied by her father-in-law and her best friend, Libby retraces the path through the wilderness, searching for what happened to her husband, her marriage, and her faith.

Where did you get your inspiration for They Almost Always Come Home?

They Almost Always Come Home began with a not-uncommon what if…?—the writer’s favorite diving board. A few years ago, my husband headed off on a canoe trip to the Canadian wilderness, a trip that almost ended his life. He was mere minutes away from death when the rescue team reached him after a dangerous illness threatened to steal his final breaths. He came home to me, but he returned a changed man. My writer brain eventually began to tease the idea of developing a novel based loosely on some of the concepts.

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Unlike me, what if a wife wasn’t sure she wanted her husband to be rescued? What if she didn’t want him to come home? What would make her unsure? What pain would be horrible enough to cause a couple to lose their devotion to making their marriage work? Is pain like that survivable? All those questions led to this novel.

Which character is most like you?

Although I’d like to think I’m most like Libby’s friend Jenika, who always seems to have her act together and her faith on straight, I’m introspective like Libby and sometimes mask pain with humor or take a convoluted approach to something that could be simple, if I let it.

Who is your favorite character and why?

They’re my “children.” How can I not love them all? I do appreciate Libby’s many layers, the depth of her character, the way she discovered that she was both stronger and more vulnerable than she dreamed.

Did you know how They Almost Always Come Home would turn out? Were you surprised by any of the plot twists or characters?

I was caught by surprise by the ending, and by one twist in particular—the one my husband suggested. It changed the outcome and opened my eyes to see how the story itself had led up to that moment so clearly that I could go back over the manuscript with a highlighter and underscore clues I missed as I wrote.

What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?

It’s tied to my tagline: Hope-that-glows-in-the-dark. Hope often shows up best against a dark backdrop. It may hide, but it’s there. I pray that my readers close the last page with a satisfied sigh, but that what the characters experienced and learned won’t let them go. It’s my hope that many readers will say, “Someone understands my pain and found a way to put it into words.” And I long for readers to write to me with reports of how God met them in the pages and infused their lives with a hope they thought would never come home again.

What kinds of things have you done to market this book? Have you found anything that works particularly well?

No matter how fancy we get, how much funding we invest, how advanced technology becomes, the best marketing tool for a book is a satisfied reader. I’m working hardest on that, offering my readers a story they can’t help talking about, a story they recommend to others, a story they bring up in conversations on Twitter, Facebook, airplanes, in waiting rooms, and in their text messages. It’s important to me to offer something meaningful in each marketing approach—a word of encouragement coupled with a reminder about the book’s release, an idea for practical living in addition to an announcement about a book signing, a workshop paired with an appearance, a nugget of food-for-thought married to a promotional opportunity. It’s early in the game, but I hope to report that the plan worked well!

Tell us what new projects you’re working on.

This fall, my second book—The Heart’s Harbor—will appear in A Door County Christmas novella collection by Barbour Publishing. It’s a romantic comedy set in the charming Cape Cod-like villages of Door County, Wisconsin. I’m also working on fleshing out five other women’s fiction projects that all deal with intensely challenging issues for which Hope-that-glows-in-the-dark is the only answer.

Do you have any parting words of advice?

I appreciate the opportunity to chat with you and your readers. Thank you for the time and consideration. Parting words? How about a blessing? May you never be farther than arm’s reach from a great book! We can talk about that more if you visit me at http://www.cynthiaruchti.com/ or http://www.hopethatglowsinthedark.com/.

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Cynthia is giving away a copy of her book They Almost Always Come Home. Be sure to stop by The Borrowed Book on Friday for your chance to win!

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Sunday Devotional

“You kids fight like cats and dogs.

Mom used to tell us that all the time. I never really understood it until I had my own kids. I understood it better when we got Max, and my daughter got a cat.

Those two go round and round. The pitter-patter of little feet? It’s more like the growling, hissing, and tromping of sworn enemies. Up the stairs, down the stairs, through the kitchen, over the couch—they fight and chase until one of them gets exhausted, or until one of them wins.

After a particularly extended brawl, Max came trotting down the stairs, a tell-tale bit of fluff dangling from his mouth. He looked downright smug, and the cat had a little less fur. Don’t worry. The cat got her revenge one day when Max lay on the floor napping. With all the stealth and cunning cats are known for, she climbed onto the couch above Max’s head, timed her leap, and pounced! Woken from a peaceful slumber, Max yelped, jumped up, and the chase was on.

It was so funny, so ridiculous, and so. . .familiar. Instead of being the brothers and sisters Christ wants us to be, we sometimes squabble amongst ourselves over trivial things. We allow little issues to disrupt the unity of our fellowship, and we put our own wants and desires above the needs of our brethren. How it must grieve the Lord to behold our selfish attitudes, when He specifically commanded us to love and care for one another. I hope we consider His words when we’re tempted to fight…like cats and dogs.

Romans 12:9-21 (New International Version) Love 9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"says the Lord. 20On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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Winners!!

It's always so much fun to give away great books!! Congratulations to this week's lucky winner:

Beth - The Crimson Cipher by Susan Page Davis
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Beth, please use the button in the upper right side of this page to email me with your mailing address so I can forward your information to the author. Then, sit back and wait for your book to arrive.

Thank you all so much for stopping by The Borrowed Book and thank you, Susan Page Davis, for your generosity in providing a book!

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Weekly Drawing

Entering our weekly drawing is easy:

1. Leave a comment on Fridays or...

2. Sign up to follow The Borrowed Book. Followers will automatically be entered for a chance to win that week's drawing!

This week, The Borrowed Book is giving away this great book:

The Crimson Cipher by Susan Page Davis ~ A female Navy cryptographer seeks to save lives...and uncover her father’s killers.

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In 1915, German sympathizers escalated acts of sabotage in the United States to keep the nation from joining in the war. Following the mysterious murder of Emma Shuster’s father, Lt. John Patterson invites Emma to become a Navy cryptographer because of the expertise she gained in helping her father develop a cipher system. Emma finds new strength in her faith as she strives to outwit her adversary, known only as Kobold - German for goblin. Can Emma and John find love in the midst of turmoil as America plunges toward war?

Winners will be announced on Saturday, 07/10/10.

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