Welcome back, Julie Arduini!

Welcome back, Julie Arduini!

Linda:  Thanks for stopping by. Congratulations on your newest release, You’re Brilliant (Book 3, Surrendering Stinkin’ Thinkin’). What was your inspiration for the story? Is this an ongoing series you plan to continue for the foreseeable future?

Julie: Thank you, Linda! The series is the brainchild of our teen daughter, Hannah. She has some health issues that make life a little more challenging than for most, and when she finished middle school, we were both drained from the experience. She was processing it by sharing how she wished there was a way to encourage girls younger than her before things start that make girls believe lies about themselves. As she shared, I realized she was sharing a story. It was good. I told her if she continued, I’d work with her and get it published. You’re Brilliant is the last book in the series. We started with You’re Beautiful, and there was also You’re Amazing. I’m really proud of the series, and of Hannah.

LM: How long does it take you to write a book? Do you write lots of drafts or does the manuscript just need some “tweaking” and editing to be ready?

Julie: It depends on the book. For You’re Brilliant, it took a few months. The quarantine really helped us as we were both home to work on it. When I write romance, that definitely takes me drafts and drafts.

LM: Does your writing energize or exhaust you?

Julie: Yes. Seriously, when I am in that zone where I know where the story is going and I’m deep in the character world, it energizes me. That doesn’t happen as often as I wish. Typically I’m drained because I’m in that gap between plot points and I need to fill it, and the characters aren’t talking to me!

LM: You co-author young adult books with your daughter and write contemporary romance for adults. How do you balance the two careers, and how is writing in the two genres different? The same?

Julie: I thought when I started the series with Hannah I could write both genres, but that did not work. I pushed the current romance series I’m working on, Surrendering Opinions, out until I finished the series with Hannah. I don’t have what it takes to juggle more than one book at a time, or different genres. I think what’s the same about writing in two genres is the process---creating characters, plot, writing, revising, editing, publishing, and marketing. What’s different is the story world. With You’re Brilliant, I observed the teens in my life and was intentional about knowing their world. What triggered them. What issues come up for them that my age might not notice. When I write romance, I’m still in a story world, but the characters are older and their goals are different.

LM: If you could tell your younger writing-self one thing, what would it be?

Julie:. Don’t let the fear of what others think hold you back. That fear kept me from writing for decades. God healed me from that, and a wise mentor encouraged me to have the “skin of a rhino and heart of a dove.” It has helped me overcome and move forward.

LM: Here are some quickies:

Julie:

Walk, bicycle, or drive: Drive. The other two aren’t bad options, but my favorite moments are when I visit my mom and have 300 miles to drive alone.

Cookies, pie, or cake: That’s hard! That answer could change by the minute. Overall, I’ll never turn down a good piece of cake.

Favorite shoe style: Flat and comfortable. I have bad knees and have never worn heels. Shoes aren’t my thing, I’m pretty low-key about footwear.

LM: Can you tell us what writing projects are on your plate right now?

Julie: I am writing a new contemporary romance series called Surrendering Opinions about a group of sextuplets who stay in the national spotlight because of tragedy. Now that they are adults, they are each trying to find a love that was as strong as what their mom and dad shared. Each sibling will have their own book, and it starts with the oldest, Jordyn Collins, and the title is Anchored. My hope is for a winter release.

Linda: Where can folks connect with you?

Julie: I love when readers connect!

Facebook: http://facebook.com/JulieArduini

Twitter: http://twitter.com/JulieArduini

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/JulieArduini

Instagram: http://instagram.com/JulieArduini

Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/JulieArduini

Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/JulieArduini

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Julie-Arduini/e/B00PBKDRSQ/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/julie-arduini

Monthly Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/321e32f02e17/juliearduininewsletter

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About You're Brilliant:

Amazing things happen when a group of high school students and women discover they are more than competent.

Bethany's not excited to start high school in a new community where she doesn't know anyone. She quickly befriends KJ, a popular sophomore, and it looks like the transition will go well until Bethany discovers KJ's boyfriend is a bully. With a strong sense of justice, Bethany challenges Brent Sullivan, and he's determined to make her suffer.

Cheri takes on an additional job in a school to help pay for Sabrina's wedding. It's a different atmosphere than at the church where she feels more comfortable as the pastor's wife and mentor with the Linked ministry. After several mishaps, Cheri feels like she's found an assignment where she can make a different until a teacher belittles her work.

Can Bethany and Cheri resist the lies about their competency and hold on to the fact they're brilliant?

Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0874Y5B4C

Talkshow Thursday: Meet April Smith

Talkshow Thursday: Meet April Smith

Linda:  Thanks for joining me today. Congratulations on your debut novel Loving Grace. What was your inspiration for the story?

April: Thanks for having me! I’m happy to be here. As far as inspiration goes, I knew I wanted to write Christian fiction for teens pretty much from the start of my writing adventure. That part was easy. Figuring out where I wanted the story to take place was also a pretty easy choice for me to make. All of these one liners (mostly said by Grace) kept popping into my mind. And because most of the things were in some way related to a watermelon farm or a watermelon queen, I knew where Grace’s story would take place. So in some ways, the inspiration came from my time working in my best friend’s family watermelon farm during the summer and my time as a watermelon queen.

LM: The age old question for writers – are you a planner or a “pantster,” and what is your favorite part of the writing process?

April: For the most part I’m very much so a planner. I have a color coded outline and each scene is mapped out. I use a notebook for each manuscript, and I record things that I might need to remember or pictures I see that inspire me for a particular scene. I like to see where the story is going and know what my ending will look like too. But with that being said, it’s very important to leave yourself room as a writer for inspiration.  Even with Grace’s story, entire scenes got switched around from their original outlined order. Some scenes were not even in the original outline, but I’m thankful that I allowed myself a little bit a “pantster” attitude so that when inspiration hit I was free to go with it. This is also one of the things I like most about writing—getting an idea and seeing where it takes the story.

LM: How did you get started as a writer, and how did you decide to seek publication?

April: Well, it really started in high school when my high school English teacher saw something in my writing. And then again in college when one of my professors mentioned it. And then as a middle school English teacher myself, writing is pretty much a large part of my day—every day. But as far as writing my manuscript, it started a couple of years ago when I was reading a book, and it inspired me, that maybe I could do this too. I knew I wanted to write Christian fiction, and that I wanted to write for teens. So I wrote a manuscript, went to a conference, had the manuscript critiqued, and most excitingly of all, the person doing the critique liked it! That gave me the courage to submit it, and to begin the road to publication.

LM: Other than being a watermelon queen, is there any part of yourself in Grace?

April: I wouldn’t say there is any particular part of me in Grace. I do always try/hope to create characters that people can identify with though.

LM: Here are some quickies:

April:

Favorite childhood book: The Secret Garden.

Favorite food: Watermelon salsa…it’s the truth, that stuff is so good.

Favorite vacation place: The beach! Warm sand and the sound of crashing waves is my favorite way to relax.

LM: What is your next project?

April: I’m working on two right now. One that is also set in the world of watermelons. There are some new characters as well as old characters in that one. The other one is about two totally different people who have to work together to achieve their separate but equally important goals.

LM: Where can folks find you on the web?

April: You can connect with me on Instagram (aprilsmith_books) and Twitter (@aprilsmithbook). I also have my website: www.aprilsmithbooks.com or my Facebook page.

Book Blurb:  Loving Grace

Grace Summer lands herself in a melon load of trouble when she becomes torn between the boy of her dreams and the boy almost next door. As the newly-crowned watermelon queen, she is thrust into the spotlight, meets the dreamy Warren Hartley, and continues trying to get oven an accident that rocked her world. Mix in working with Beau Baron who Grace happens to fight with just about as much as breathing and the metaphorical sparks fly.

Like most things in life, Grace must learn to take the good with the bad. While the good is the handsome and fun Warren Hartley, the bad is Beau Baron—or at least being around his annoying and rude self way more than she would like. For Beau, Grace is nothing more than aggravating and an irritating reminder from the night of the accident. Tensions soar as Grace and Beau fight to love themselves and maybe, just maybe, each other.

Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B079P56KDT

Talkshow Thursday: Sit down with Sharon Rene

Talkshow Thursday: Sit down with Sharon Rene

Linda: Welcome to my blog. Congratulations on your recent release, A Mixed Bag of God’s Grace. You write children’s/middle grade and YA fiction. Why did you select that genre? Have you always have a heart for kids?

Sharon: I’ve taught Sunday school for over fifteen years in both the children’s and youth departments. I enjoy working with this age group because they’re fun and eager to learn. I tried to make my lessons as creative as possible and I think that gave me the desire to write for children and youth.

LM:  Where do you get your inspiration for stories?

Sharon:  The biblical section of A Mixed Bag of God’s Grace was easy because I had the entire Bible for inspiration. I chose old England for the historical section because I’ve always been fascinated with English history. The contemporary section was more difficult. A couple of the stories I originally wrote for magazines according to their theme lists. Unfortunately, the stories weren’t accepted by the magazines but they landed in my book.

LM: What was your favorite book while you were growing up?

Sharon: I loved Nancy Drew. I think I had about every Nancy Drew written at the time.

LM: What’s the quirkiest thing you’ve ever done? 

Sharon:  Dance with a feather boa in prison.  Please, let me explain. I worked with my church prison ministry for a while. We performed a powerful mime drama for the prisoners before the pastor spoke. My character danced with a feather boa around my neck. It was an unusual but awesome experience.

LM: Here are some quickies:

Sharon: 

Favorite season:  Fall

Favorite Place to vacation:  Hawaii

Favorite Food:  Red beans and rice with cornbread. Can you tell I’m a southerner?

LM: What are your passions outside of writing?

Sharon: I’ve been involved in church ministry for years. I’ve taught Sunday school, worked with puppet ministry (which was the inspiration for one of my contemporary stories), worked in prison ministry and been on mission trips.

LM: What advice can you give to not-yet-published writers?

Sharon:  Don’t give up.  Many times I want to stop but God always spurs me on. Everything you write has value even if it just helps you improve your craft. I’ve been published in flash fiction and nonfiction. Keep submitting articles, entering contests and querying publishers. And above all – pray.

LM: What are you working on now?

Sharon: I am currently working on a young adult speculative series, tentatively called the “Divine Destiny” series. I’m writing the third book now.

Linda: Where can folks connect with you?

Sharon:  My email is sharonrene17@gmail.com.  I would love to hear from my readers and fellow writers. I also have a website: www.sharonreneauthor.com.

Talkshow Thursday: Victoria Kimble, YA Author

Talkshow Thursday: Victoria Kimble, YA Author

Linda:  Thanks for joining me today. You recently published book four in your Choir Girls series? Where did you get your inspiration, and did you set out to write a series, or did that idea come later?

Victoria: Choir was a big part of my life from eighth grade all the way through college, so having a story revolve around friends in a choir just came out naturally. The first story, Soprano Trouble, follows Summer and how she responds to finding herself in the group with the bully. I didn’t set out to write a series, but after getting good feedback on Soprano Trouble, ideas just popped into my head about how Summer’s friends were feeling and responding to their seventh grade year as well.

LM: How do you come up with your characters? Are they based on any real people in your life?

Victoria: They’re not based on anyone I actually know. Summer is probably the most like I was back when I was in Junior High. Her friend Maddie (Alto Secrets) is someone I would have wanted to be friends with. Brittany (Harmony Blues) and Cammie (Solo Disaster) are simply girls that I imagine would be typical friends that Summer would have in choir.

LM: Why did you decide to write for kids, tweens, and teens rather than adults?

Victoria: Middle school is burned into my memory. There are a lot of things I've forgotten about my childhood, but I remember middle school vividly. So my heart goes out to every single kid who is entering the murky waters of seventh grade, especially the girls. I was not a popular kid during those years, so I spent a lot of time reading. Those books shaped much of my thoughts and beliefs about life. Because of that, I've always wanted to write stories for those kids who are deep in the trenches of middle school themselves.

LM: What do you do to prepare yourself for writing? For example do you listen to music or set up in

a specific place?

Victoria: The very first thing I do is listen to a worship song. I know that my writing ability and creativity comes from the Lord, so I always want to connect with Him every time I start to write. Then I switch to my writing music, which is generally some soundtrack. My current favorite writing soundtrack is The Secret Life of Pets. That music is plucky and fun.

LM: What one thing would you like to learn how to do?

Victoria: Play the cello. I play the violin, but I would love to learn how to play the cello. I love the deep notes that come out of that instrument.

LM: What advice can you give to aspiring writers?

Victoria: A writing career is a marathon, not a sprint. If you desire to write, you should start now. They say it takes ten years to become an overnight success, so just start and keep going, especially when you don't see any success right away. I always think of it as planting seeds that will hopefully grow in the next five or ten years. If you have that mindset, then it's easier to keep working during the long dry spells of not seeing any fruits of your labor. It'll come, if you keep at it.

LM: What is your next project?

Victoria: I’ve been working on a story for a bit younger audience, probably ages 7=10. It’s about a fourth grader named Daisy who plans on being a chief meteorologist when she grows up. You know, the person on TV who tells about the weather. Her aunt is actually a chief meteorologist, and she wants to follow in her footsteps. But then her aunt says she is leaving the TV station, and Daisy’s fame and future are doomed.

LM: Where can folks find you on the web?

Victoria: www.victoriakimble.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victoriakimbleauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/victoriakimble
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16329155.Victoria_Kimble