INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR ALLLISON WELLS ~ When Waves Break

Hi, everybody! Please welcome author ALLISON WELLS who has graciously gifted us with an interview and a spotlight of her new release WHEN WAVES BREAK. So grab a cup of your favorite beverage, sit back and enjoy!

How do you go about finding names for your characters?

I am a HUGE name nerd. I adore names, symbolism and meaning behind names, and just the sound of names. So when it comes to the characters in When Waves Break, I wanted names that were distinct. When dealing with twins, especially twins born in the late 1940s, matchy names were very en vogue, but I wanted to get away from that.

Eve is the older of the twins, and the Biblical Eve is the first woman, so that’s why I chose the name for her. The name means to breathe or live, and Eve has need to take a lot of big breaths in this book - she’s in for a rollercoaster.

Juliette is the younger twin, and she’s the one who has it in her head that the free love movement is the way to go, though it conflicts with her Christian upbringing. Of course, we are all familiar with Romeo and Juliet, and that romantic background is why I chose this name for her.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how did/do you overcome it?

My biggest obstacle, I think this is true for most writers, is time. I have four very active children, so finding the time to sit down and focus on the story before me is hard. Not only from the standpoint of distraction but the ability to actually be in front of my computer. I think I spend ⅓ watch my children participate in their respective sports and activities.of my life in the car! Of course, my kids and husband come first, so they are a welcome diversion, but that is certainly my biggest obstacle.

Besides writing, what other hobbies do you enjoy?

Well, I love to read! Who doesn’t? I also enjoy baking, it’s a great way to spread love. Bible study groups are a wonderful way to enjoy fellowship and dig into the Word, so I relish my time in my group. I also love to

When reading, what is your favorite genre?

I think Christian romance is my favorite, but I will read just about any fiction. I really love Steampunk and wish there were more Christian books in that genre. I wish I could write it - but alas, it is not my forte. I will read most any fiction, especially if it has a strong female lead.

Is research something you enjoy? To what extent do you go to find answers?

I love to do research. I think you have to love it if you’re a writer. I find myself looking up the strangest things. For When Waves Break, I was trying to figure out how someone would do a pregnancy test in the late 1960s. This was before at-home tests, and I discovered they would use rabbits, and if the rabbit died, the woman was pregnant! What a shock. I’ve also researched how refrigeration worked at the time of a book, when a variety of things were invented, and the common slang of the time.

Now let’s talk some about the book. Give us:

Title: When Waves Break

Author: Allison Wells

Publisher: Ambassador International

Release Date: Feb 18, 2020

Genre: Women's Fiction

Series/Stand-Alone: It is a sequel, but you don’t have to read the first one to read this one.

Target Audience: Women 18+ (might not be suitable for young teens due to adult situations)

From the Back Cover:

Set during a time of racial instability, When Waves Break sheds light on the equality and redemption we all have in Christ.

One summer, one night, one mistake, and everything changes for Eve and Juliette Nicholas.

For the Nicholas twins, life is just beginning, until one summer of misguided love forces the twins to doubt everything they've ever believed. Eve and Juliette are the daughters of a preacher, raised to hold love in high esteem, although they may disagree on how to share it. As high school graduation looms, they must question the cost of love, and what it may mean for their futures.

The summer of 1968 is one of change for both the Nicholas twins and the nation. With Martin Luther King, Jr.'s speech fresh in everyone's minds, racial tensions are high and threaten to shake the very foundation that once held the twins together. Through it all, will the bond that Eve and Juliette share be broken? Can love truly endure all things? Or will their mistakes always haunt them?

What take-away value do you want readers to gain from your novel?

I really want the reader to know that no matter what happens in your life. what mistakes you might make, what trials may come your way, God loves you. And you can overcome anything as long as you have God in your heart.

What can we expect to see from you in the future?

Later this year I will have a new novel come out called Bell of the Night. This is a stand-alone book that takes an honest look at how a hard life doesn’t mean God has turned His back on you. Be looking for it in late summer/early fall!

About Allison:

Allison Wells is a graduate of Clemson University. She is a wife, mother of four blessings, and loyal friend. She became a believer at the age of sixteen and never looked back. Allison's motto is "Life is short, eat the Oreos."

Purchase Links for When Waves Break:

https://www.amazon.com/When-Waves-Break-Allison-Wells/dp/1620207214/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1581694497&sr=8-1

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-waves-break-allison-wells/1135985186?ean=9781620207215

Where to find Allison “Out There”

·       facebook.com/allisonwellswrites/

·       www.allisonwellswrites.com

·       Twitter & Instagram: @OrangeAlli

·       https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18239522.Allison_Wells

·       https://www.bookbub.com/authors/allison-wells

Thank you, Allison, for being my guest today.

May God continue to bless you write for Him.

It is my pleasure to welcome back Glenn Haggerty to Whispers in Purple and a reprise of his first book in his Intense Book series for our Everything Old is New Again feature. Take it away, Glenn!

Escape, Intense Book 1

by Glenn Haggerty

I write for middle school and teenaged students because I want to provide serious entertainment from the Christian worldview. It’s tough being a tween or teen today, there’s so much bad stuff in our culture, and secular entertainment often offers only despair. I write to give kids hope that they too can make it through this difficult period of life. So I wrote Escape.

Escape, Intense Book 1 began as a scene in my mind featuring three boys biking in the sweltering Florida summer heat. From that scene, my imagination took off, and by God’s grace the story came together—an intense action/suspense adventure packed with relational angst. With its high action, Escape is a good read for reluctant readers, especially boys. And because it is only 127 pages with most of the story occurring in a single day, it is an easy read as well. The eBook version is free, and the print copy is inexpensive at $6.99 from either Amazon or B&N.

Escape Back Cover Copy

“I’d never seen a dead body before, but I was pretty sure the guy in the car trunk was dead.”

Middle school's tough, and Tyler Higgins just wants to hang with the cool kids. But Dustin’s idea of quality entertainment is spying on parked cars on Lover’s Lane. When two creeps show up with a body, Tyler doesn’t want to stick around. Then again, he might not have much choice.

BUYING LINKS

Amazon Free Kindle Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075X2SF8S

B&N etc. https://www.books2read.com/u/m2oRQ7 

Other Books in the Intense Series

Run, Intense Book 2

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Run-Intense-Book-Glenn-Haggerty-ebook/dp/B015QP5YY0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1518111604&sr=8-2&keywords=Run%2C+Intense

B&N https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/run-glenn-haggerty/1122803977?ean=9781940727172

Chase, Intense Book 3

Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B0792JP7Z2

Barnes & Noble Nook, iBooks, Kobo and others https://books2read.com/u/3yZOW6

The next book in my Intense Series is tentatively titled, Hyde, which follows the theme of the first three books and once again also serves as the name of the main antagonist. It is also set in Florida where Tyler is vacationing with his cousins. Once again, they get caught up in a mysterious disappearance that has to do with modern-day pirates and treasure buried in plain sight. I’ve done some research on the Spanish gold fleet of Seventeen-fifteen and discovered some interesting possibilities. I’m targeting a late fall 2018 release for this book.

And, I will also be releasing a Bible study companion for Run, Intense Book 2 which provides Biblical tips for finding friends and dealing with bullies on July 1, 2018.

About Glenn 

Glenn writes inspiring adventures with an edge. No matter how dark the day, finding hope to pursue the prize is the core of all his novels and studies. He is a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), a graduate of Vision Loss Resources and Bethel Seminary, the father of six and grandfather of seven. Glenn likes tandem biking, kayaking, and daydreaming and lives in Minneapolis with his wife. He is also an award-winning author who combines his love for teaching God’s word with his passion for writing exciting fiction.

You can visit him at http://www.glennhaggerty.com  and reach him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GlennHaggertyAuthor, and on Twitter, @grhaggertyjr

A Texas Christmas Mystery ♦ Book Spotlight ♦ Anne Greene ♦ Giveaway

 A TEXAS CHRISTMAS MYSTERY

by Anne Green

 A lady Coastguardsman searches for a killer. An oil rig Troubleshooter accused of murder races to clear his name. The murderer strives to silence them both.

Sparks fly as Amber Meredith seeks to arrest Derrick Darbonne. She needs to solve her first case, but the handsome Cajun suspect makes her heart race and her toes tingle.

Derrick has worked all his life for his high-paying, adventurous job. When the past threatens his future, will he endanger the woman he loves in order to save himself?

Visit with Anne at www.AnneGreeneAuthor.com, www.facebook.com/AnneWGreeneAuthor, @TheAnneGreene, on Pinterest at The Anne Greene, on Book Fun Magazine at www.bookfun.org/profileAnneGreene, and at www.anneswritingupdates.blogspot.com.

                                      

About Anne:     

My home is in the quaint antiquing town of McKinney, Texas, just a few miles north of Dallas. My dear husband is a retired Colonel, Army Special Forces. My little brown and white Shih Tzu, Lily Valentine, shares my writing space, curled at my feet. I have four beautiful, talented children, and eight grandchildren who keep me running.

I’ve traveled in every location of each book I’ve written, and each book is a book of my heart. Besides my first love, writing, I enjoy travel, art, sports, reading, sailing, snorkeling, movies, and way too many other things to mention. Life is good. Jesus said, “I am come that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly.” Whether writing contemporary or historical, my books celebrate the abundant life Jesus gives.

I love writing about alpha heroes who aren’t afraid to fall on their knees in prayer, and about gutsy heroines. I hope my stories transport you to awesome new worlds and touch your heart to seek a deeper spiritual relationship with the Lord Jesus. Buy my books on Amazon

Visit with Anne at www.AnneGreeneAuthor.com, www.facebook.com/AnneWGreeneAuthor, @TheAnneGreene, on Pinterest at The Anne Greene, on Book Fun Magazine at www.bookfun.org/profileAnneGreene, and at www.anneswritingupdates.blogspot.com.

About the giveaway:

Anne is offering a free eBook copy of A Texas Christmas Mystery to THREE of my readers. Entering is easy: Leave your name and email address (disguised) in the comment section below, and answer this question from Anne:

Do you prefer to read contemporary or historical romance?

 Giveaway ends one week from today on December 26 at Midnight, CST.

 

  

Behind the Story with Roger Bruner

Hi, everyone! I'm delighted to bring you another "Story Behind the Story" blog post. I love these behind-the-scenes peeks into the making of a novel. They inspire me every time I read one.

Today's post is from author Roger Bruner.  The floor is yours, Roger!

Roger Bruner, Author

When Peg invited me to be a guest on her blog, she expressed curiosity about the title of my newest novel, ROSA NO-NAME. I assured her I’d be thrilled to share the “story behind the story.”

Be forewarned that my explanations are apt to run in several different directions before I make my point, however. Seldom can I answer a simple yes-or-no question in fewer than a a hundred words. And that’s the minimum. Be thankful you’re not married to me. At seventy, I’m getting worse…

One of the so-called rules every novelist learns and occasionally obeys is not to put a novel’s back story—everything that takes place before the story itself—too early in the book. Some “authorities” say not to include it anywhere in the first fifty pages.

Ugh! That’s a challenge when we know our readers are dying to understand some of the things they run into in the first fifty pages. Maybe even on the first page. Accepting the fact we aren’t obligated to explain everything as it happens is tough; we like being kind to our readers. We don’t enjoy frustrating them.

Novelists also aren’t supposed to insert a back story dump when they finally do bring out something from the past. We’re supposed to tell readers just enough…and at just the right time. But never everything at once.

“Okay,” you say. “We’ve been patient long enough. We get it. Go in another direction. Like the right one, please. Why is your novel called ROSA NO-NAME?”

I have to smile—graciously, of course. If you’re one of the 5,000 people who bought or at least read a copy of FOUND IN TRANSLATION, my first published novel, you’ve already met Rosa. You didn’t know her as “Rosa No-Name,” though. You knew her only as “Rosa.”

You knew her as the mother of Anjelita, the eight-year-old girl who was born with half of one arm missing. And as the woman Kim Hartlinger came to think of as a sister in spite of their never-broken language barrier. And as the villager Kim was most concerned about reaching with the Gospel and gave her Santa Biblia to just before leaving.

FOUND IN TRANSLATION left a number of questions unanswered, however. Concerning things that weren’t relevant to the story itself but still made readers curious. Who was Rosa’s husband and what became of him? Was Anjelita’s half-arm a birth defect or the result of an accident? Why were the villagers of Santa María so superstitious about the so-called Passover Church building? Why did the other children think Anjelita was maldita (cursed)? What did the villagers do for a living before the tornado wiped out the village?

Wonderful, tantalizing questions, I thought. So I wrote ROSA NO-NAME soon after completing an early version of FOUND IN TRANSLATION—that was about ten years ago—intending it as the prequel to FOUND—a prequel that would answer those questions and more.

My publisher never did say what she thought of ROSA NO-NAME. She just never expressed an interest in publishing it. The same thing happened with other publishers I submitted the manuscript to. So I finally stuck it away in a virtual drawer and forgot about it for a number of years.

My wife and my adult daughter, however, have always loved ROSA. More than any of my other novels and unpublished manuscripts. Six or eight months ago I dug it out and reread it. And fell in love with it all over again myself.

Click here to purchase

Although I can’t claim God spoke to me audibly and said, “Publish it yourself,” I felt a very strong compulsion to do just that. I’d used Amazon’s CreateSpace and KDP facilities to self-publish a couple of small books of some of my shorter writing, so I had at least some of the knowledge and confidence to proceed with this much larger project.

Calling the book ROSA would’ve made sense—after all, Rosa is the protagonist and she’s also the narrator of the story—but why ROSA NO-NAME?

When you read the book, you’ll learn that Rosa grew up an illiterate, unwanted orphan in the tiny Mexican village of Santa María. The villagers barely provided adequately for her most basic needs. No one loved her and no one would tell her who her parents were. That’s why they called her Rosa No-Name. So Rosa No-Name—as ignorant of her family background as she was of the facts of life—leaves the village a pregnant sixteen-year-old who’s still dying to learn her parentage.

Only when you come to appreciate how important Rosa’s need to learn her true identity was can you fully appreciate the final chapter—a single short paragraph—and weep along with me at seeing how far Rosa has come.

 

I can’t keep from quoting one of Rosa’s endorsers, “You’ll thank yourself for reading ROSA NO-NAME!”

About the Author

Roger Bruner spent his whole work life trying to figure out what he wanted to do when he grew up. Along the way he taught school, interviewed job seekers, and programmed computers. He retired from a temporary stint at Target to write full-time and wishes he could have done that years earlier.

Samples of his poems, plays, short stories, songs, and novels are available at RogerBruner.com.

A guitarist and songwriter, he’s in the church choir and plays bass in the praise team and guitar at a nursing home ministry. Long interested in missions, he’s gone to Romania, England, Wales, Australia, and Nicaragua on short-term mission trips.

Roger likes spending time with his wife, Kathleen. He has a daughter, who lives with her husband and son in Orlando, and stepdaughters in New York City and Las Vegas.

He enjoys reading, photography, web design, and playing Words with Friends. 

So where does Roger hang out?

• Website: RogerBruner.com
• Blogs: OnAgingGracelessly.com
•        AsIComeSinging.wordpress.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Roger-Bruner-author-251304258214743 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/RogerBruner
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rogerbruner/
• Google+: https://plus.google.com/101208883289803245154
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/rogerbruner/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rogerebruner/
• AskDavid: http://askdavid.com/books/11509