I’m delighted to have Michelle Sutton here today. Michelle, can you tell us a little about your background?

My background in writing is that I started writing inspirational fiction in August of 2003. Never wrote a word before. Never liked writing at all before.

That’s interesting how you never wrote before 2003. You’ve done great. I enjoy reading Christian romances. What makes your inspirational romances different from the other ones on the market?

All romances must have a HEA (happily ever after) otherwise they are just love stories (think Nick Sparks) and Christian, or Inspirational romances have a spiritual theme as well. I can’t imagine writing something with no spiritual arc at all.

How did you and your husband meet? Did you fall for him first, or was it the other way around?

Our story is kinda weird. We were just friends. He is almost 20 years older than me so it wasn’t something either of us expected. I think we fell for each other at the same time. I was 22 and he was 41.

That’s a good way to start - being friends first.
Name the one item in your closet that is a constant favorite - the one that always gets worn even though you might have something newer or better?

I have favorite jeans and they are the stretchy kind that let you overeat without cutting into your tummy. Ahh…comfort.

I like my stretchy jeans, too. What kinds of books do you like to read? Who is your favorite author?

I don’t really have a favorite author. I have many favorites. I read almost 100 books last year. Most were inspirational and most were fiction. Maybe two or three books fell outside that genre. I love to read historical romance (inspirational), women’s fiction, and regular romance. I just hate a boring story.

On days when you are bone tired, but know you must get at least a few pages done, how do you motivate yourself to get going?

I read a book instead. If I don’t have “the muse” then it’s wasted time for me to try to write.

What is the best piece of writing advice you didn’t take at first, but then realized it made a lot of sense?

Be ready to work hard because selling the book once it is written is much harder than writing it.

Good advice, Michelle. Humans tend to be creatures of habit. Which habits do you have that you like, and which ones would you like to change or get rid of?

I have a habit of despising Mondays (I have to go to my day job) and I should probably try to be more chipper about it. But honestly, I would rather be reading great books or writing some.

No interview of a writer would be complete without this question: what is your favorite comfort food?

Chocolate, of course.

Michelle, thank you for a wonderful interview! Readers, visit her website and blog!

BLURB:
Upon her fiancé’s death, Laney became a recluse who only left her home for emergencies. She managed to survive - barely - on food delivery service and her work-at-home job. When she tries to move on from her grief, the commemorative meal she orders is ruined. However, it leads to an unlikely friendship with an attractive man, Bojan, who speaks little English.

As he befriends Laney he continually says the wrong things, but he doesn’t give up trying to win her trust. Meanwhile, she has this strange feeling of being watched and wonders if she’s losing her mind.

Complicating things further, every time she leaves her house something bad happens, confirming that she is safer at home. Can Bojan convince Laney she’ll be safe with him, or will his presence put her in further danger? Will he be able to protect the woman he loves before it’s too late?

To purchase DANGER AT THE DOOR, please go to: Desert Breeze Publishing

Here is another book of Michelle’s:

Sand Dunes 450 ft. from our condo in Corolla.

April and Amanda

Sun was in our eyes but love the ocean in the background.

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Remember the novella I finished and submitted to The Wild Rose Press. I emailed the editor about the status this week and here she had emailed me back on July 21st that she enjoyed the story. She thought the ending was too rushed so said to rewrite it and resubmit. I never received this email and this has happened a few times now. I need to figure out why I’m not getting some of my emails. I don’t even have a junk file on Outlook. Anyhow I started rewriting the ending and want to email it to her on Monday. I’m hoping she’ll like it enough to offer me a contract.

This Sunday I am a guest blogger at Evie’s blog. No author interview but will write an article. Hope you visit on Sunday!

And my second announcement is about the talented Christian writer, Michelle Sutton. She will be here on Monday, August 31st! I hope you get a chance to stop by and learn more about her books and writing.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

Val Pearson will receive a download of Allie Boniface’s new release, ONE NIGHT IN NAPA. I drew her name for my latest blog contest. Thank you again to those who visited during my virtual blog tour and left comments on my blog here. I really appreciate it! I am going to have my sister contest in September instead of August, so I can spread the contest expense a bit. My website contest ends on September 15th so if you haven’t entered that one, there’s still time. I’m giving a $10 GC to Desert Breeze Publishing to the lucky winner!

If you haven’t bought a copy of WHITNEY IN CHARGE, I hope you will consider buying it. DBP is a brand new publisher so when they make a profit, some of their e-books will go into print. Many of you have asked me if Whitney will go into print. I don’t know at this time but I hope Whitney will be in print, too!

Join DBP’s Book Club - If you purchase 10 books, you get the 11th one free. Then it starts all over again so each time you get 10 books, you will get the 11th one free. You need to join their book club this year to take advantage of this offer. Go here to learn more about this fantastic opportunity.

DBP has a blog now - http://www.desertbreezepublishing.blogspot.com

My laptop and internet has been giving me problems. I keep trying to download pictures from our vacation and just not happening! I’ll try again on Wednesday.

I’m thrilled with Stephanie Burkhart’s review of my new release, WHITNEY IN CHARGE! She gave me a rating of 5 stars. If you haven’t purchased it, I hope this might encourage you to buy my Whitney book! Also don’t forget if you leave a comment on my blog, you are entered in my drawing for Allie Boniface’s new release, ONE NIGHT IN NAPA. I’ll draw the lucky winner on Wednesday.

Buying link for Whitney in Charge: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-32/Whitney-In-Charge/Detail.bok

Steph’s review:

Whitney Takes Charge! An engaging read!

Craver crafts a wonderful tale about sisterhood, friendships, and falling in love with “Whitney In Charge.” The Taylor Sisters are passionate, caring, and a total hoot thanks to Craver’s careful storytelling. Shannon is the oldest, about to turn forty and facing that number isn’t a pleasant thought. Regan is the middle sister and has to balance motherhood, sisterhood, and being a wife, but it’s Whitney who shines as she learns to mend her broken heart with the help of her concerned sisters.

The story starts with Shannon and Regan offering Whitney skydiving lessons in the hopes that she’ll meet a man. Whitney’s husband was a war correspondent in Iraq and lost his life there. Whitney, who was a producer for a news show came back to her home town to take care of her mother, who was dying. She’s spent the last couple of months grieving her husband and mother, and her sisters want to her to open a new chapter in her life.

While Whitney agrees to tentatively date, she does get her sisters to agree to open up a business with her. What that business is, there’s much debate. Whitney meets a neighbor, Ben, with a young son, Adam. Ben is divorced. Whitney also meets a paramedic, Jack, through Regan. Let the best man win.

Craver’s writing style is engaging and easy to read. The opening chapter grabs the reader right away as Shannon and Regan show concern and love for Whitney. Craver’s characters are quirky and fun. Whitney is a heroine that modern women can identify with. There are no love scenes in the book, just a few hot kisses and a sensual touching scene, which are tastefully done. If anything, I would have loved more sensual scenes between Whitney and Jack. “Whitney In Charge” is a nice romantic interlude that will leave the reader with a smile.

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My book trailer for A FIERY SECRET is the featured video at Blazing Trailers. Isn’t that cool…I’m thrilled - it’s one of my favorite books and trailers - I really want to write another mystery sometime!

Buying link for A FIERY SECRET: http://samhainpublishing.com/print/a-fiery-secret-print

Amanda and April

me, Sara, and Tom

Beach at Corolla, NC

Made it - it was one of my destinations! Some time ago, I listed places I’d like to visit - one was Outer Banks! Woo hoo - I’m here and love it. I might not return tomorrow to Ohio. Just kidding, April. Our daughter April drove back to Ohio yesterday so Emily could return to college last night. She also took Sara and Amanda so they are back at our house. Tom and I leave tomorrow.

I’ll post more pictures on Monday!

BONUS GIVEAWAY for HERE and for VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR! If you leave a comment here and/or at any of my stops during the first week or second week of blog tour by Goddess Fish Promotions, your name will be in a drawing for the new release of one of my favorite authors, Allie Boniface. I’ll buy Allie’s ebook, ONE NIGHT IN NAPA in any download format. And don’t forget my drawing on Sat. night for a print copy of my NEVER THE SAME and a $5 GC to Amazon. I’ll draw for Allie’s ebook on Wednesday morning and post it here in the comments section. Then as soon as I hear from winner I’ll announce it in a post here! To see my tour schedule, click here.

Here is the blurb for ONE NIGHT IN NAPA:
Journalist Grant Walker has one chance to salvage his job and his relationship with his domineering father. Terrorists have kidnapped a fading film star’s son, and Grant has scored the first interview with the grieving mother. Even better, a new twist has just arrived on the scene-an illegitimate granddaughter who hasn’t been heard from in seven long years. It’s the story of a lifetime, and all Grant has to do is deliver.

After discovering a terrible secret about her birth, Kira March left home vowing never to return. With her father kidnapped and her grandmother cracking under media pressure, it’s up to her to find and destroy all evidence of that secret. Trouble is, a reporter has weaseled his way into the house looking for answers-and he isn’t leaving until he gets them.

Yet as the hours pass, Kira finds herself falling for the very man who could destroy her. And when Grant comforts her in the wake of a midnight tragedy, he remembers why it’s a bad idea to get emotionally involved with an interview subject. Especially when the family name is on the line.