BLOGWORDS – Thursday 29 June 2017 – CHAT THURSDAY – SERIOUSLY WRITE INTERVIEW BLITZ – AUTHOR INTERVIEW – TERRI WELDON
CHAT THURSDAY – SERIOUSLY WRITE INTERVIEW BLITZ – AUTHOR INTERVIEW – TERRI WELDON
“This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: “Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you. – Jeremiah 30:2”
“I’m Terri and while my regular life is really pretty mundane, I’ll refrain from calling it dull. I live with my family in Oklahoma. I have two adorable Westies – or they have me, I’m never sure which.”
rem: Hello, Terri, welcome to my little nest. Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
TERRI: I’ve lived my entire life in the same town in Oklahoma. Obviously, I must like it!
rem: Wowzers! I have no idea what that’s even like! Tell us three things about yourself.
TERRI: Hmm, only three? LOL! I’m the librarian at my church. It is a job I absolutely love. Being the librarian affords me the opportunity to introduce readers to Christian fiction. I have two West Highland White Terriers – Crosby and Nolly Grace. They’ll both be ten soon and if I may say so myself, they are adorable and fun. This last tidbit I probably shouldn’t admit to. I love shoes! I have way too many pairs, but they draw me in every time I’m at the store. Guess that means I should stay away from the store.
rem: Oooohhh, I love little quirks like that—shoes, huh?? Coffee or tea? Sweet or un? Flavored or not?
TERRI: Tea – sweetened with Sweet’n Low. And I enjoy flavored teas. Peach is my favorite.
rem: Hello, my name is robin, and my blood type is… A-tea-positive… What do you do as a hobby?
TERRI: I garden. Being outdoors and working in the garden is a great stress reliever. I love to go out every day after work and see what is blooming. Daylilies are my favorite flowers. I also love to travel – anywhere – anytime.
rem: I love being outdoors! And love gardening. What’s your all-time favorite movie? Favorite TV show?
TERRI: Oh, that’s an easy one. Pillow Talk with Doris Day and Rock Hudson. I’ve loved that movie since I was a child. The chemistry between the two is perfect.
rem: Love me some good ol’ Doris Day movies! Your movie snack of choice?
TERRI: Popcorn and anything chocolate. I’m a bit of a chocoholic.
rem: Chocolate you say? Sharesies? If you could go back in time, what era would you choose and why?
TERRI: Prohibition Era in the United States. Odd one I know, but I love the fashions, dances, and reading about “gangsters”. I wouldn’t really have wanted to live then, but it’s fun to dream about. I’ve been tempted to write about the era.
rem: Oh, yes, I love those gorgeous gorgeous dresses! And the hats / headpieces! If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
TERRI: Okay, this will sound corny, but it is true. My sis. We spend a ton of time together and I love every minute of it. We’re the best of friends.
rem: What a blessing for you! What do you think is significant about Christian fiction? How has being a novelist impacted your relationship with Christ?
TERRI: Christian fiction is a chance to show the world- both Christian and non-Christian – that God is there in every moment of our lives. Done correctly it can be a teaching tool to help people; to remind them to reach for Jesus no matter what the situation. Hopefully, I’ve learned the same thing I want to show readers, that Jesus is always with me and that He uniquely created me the way He wants me to be.
rem: YESSS!!! Just this morning, Father whispered that’s pretty much my writing manifesto, for believers and non-believers to see that thread in my stories! (methinks this is confirmation!) When reading, what makes or breaks a story for you? Your fiction pet peeve?
TERRI: I read a lot of suspense. So keeping me on the edge of my seat with heart pounding, page turning intrigue makes a story for me.
rem: Ya, kind of important in thrillers! Which is more important: plot or characters?
TERRI: Characters! If I can’t fall in love with the characters then it doesn’t matter how good the plot is.
rem: Very good point. What would you do if you weren’t writing?
TERRI: Create a Christian Fiction Reader’s Group at my church where we could discuss a book once a month.
rem: Can’t you do that anyway? You are the librarian after all… 😉 What are you reading right now?
TERRI: Lancaster County Reckoning by Kit Wilkinson. I’ve been on an Amish Suspense kick. I just finished Amish Refuge by Debby Giusti.
rem: Love a good suspense, Amish not so much… What do you munch on while you write?
TERRI: I try not to munch while writing, because if I do I catch myself reaching for the chocolates. Did I mention I’m a chocoholic?
rem: Give me the chocolate and no one gets hurt… Tell us a little about your writing journey.
TERRI: My writing journey has been going on for so long I don’t even know where to start! The first book I penned was a sweet romance. Not long after that I began writing Christian fiction. That’s what I’ve written ever since. That’s been a lot of years and every time I’d be ready to throw in the towel God would do something that stopped me from quitting and got be back on track. I’m so thankful!
rem: Tenacious. Yup, I know that one well. (He wouldn’t let me quit if I tried.) How long have you been a member of the Seriously Write team?
TERRI: Good question. I actually had to check. This is my second year as part of the Seriously Write Team.
rem: I think every one of ya’ll have had to check! LOL What do you like best about Seriously Write blog?
TERRI: I love the fact that it is geared toward helping writers. rem: me too! But for me the best part is Angie, Annette, Dawn, and Sandie. Those gals rock. I’m so blessed to be part of their team and to count them as friends.
rem: I love the networking and new friends I’m made in writing! You’re one of them, ya know. How often do you post on the blog?
TERRI: Thursday is my day at Seriously Write. I either host someone (rem: ahem) or write a post. I try to find lots of guests. I’m blessed to have Susan Tuttle as a regular contributor the first Thursday of every month.
rem: Your tagline has quite an impact, “Faith filled fiction because life without Jesus is no life at all.” Tell us how you came up with it.
TERRI: Thanks! I wish I could tell you exactly how I came up with it, but the truth is I don’t know. I just know Jesus is what gives my life meaning.
rem: He does drop some nuggets in us sometimes, doesn’t He? You volunteer at your church library, and you “have the great joy of introducing people to Christian fiction.” Tell us the most memorable sharing experience, what book was it and what was the response?
TERRI: The Bible. I run a Read the Bible in a Year program and I love it when people who thought they would never read the entire Bible make it in a year.
rem: I’ve done different read the Bible programs. I am now doing what I call camping out, hovering in a single verse or passage for several days.
The shoe collection. We want to know about the shoe collection. hee hee
TERRI: Well, the shoe collection has a life of its own! I plead the 5th on the number of pairs I own. What can I say? I love shoes; every color and style. I recently added an adorable pair of blue and white checked ones to my collection. The minute I walked into the store they caught my eye. Now I need a cute top to go with them. I won’t mention the two other pairs I bought at the same time. They were on sale so that makes it okay. Right?
rem: Caught sight of my daughter’s shoes the other day, lots of ‘em! I suggested she purge some since she never wears them and got the puppy dog eyes and mock wailing about never parting with her shoes! (ps, she’s grown) What is your Writing Routine? Where do you write: In a cave, a coffeehouse, or a cozy nook?
TERRI: I wish I had a routine! Right now I have a demanding day job so I write at various times in a multitude of places. That will all change in a little over a year and then I hope to hole up in my office and write for a couple of hours every morning.
rem: I didn’t think I had a routine, but seems I was wrong… What makes you struggle as an author? How do you handle it?
TERRI: The day job definitely makes me struggle. Usually a deadline of some type forces me to overcome it.
rem: Ya, drat the day job! LOL Do you prefer the creating or editing aspect of writing? Why?
TERRI: I definitely prefer creating. Developing new characters is such fun! I love seeing the mess they can make while “trying” to get things right. Although I no longer consider editing the enemy I used to. Now I realize how much better it makes my story.
rem: What do you enjoy most about being a writer?
TERRI: Storytelling. It is just plain fun.
rem: It so much is! What was the hardest thing about publishing? The easiest?
TERRI: Getting published and I’m not joking. The easiest, I haven’t found that out yet. J
rem: LOL What are your top 3 recommendations for a new writer? What 3 things would recommend not doing?
TERRI: Definitely join ACFW, find a local chapter if there is one in your area and attend, and attend conference at least once. Don’t be easily offended when your work is critiqued. Every new author needs help. Don’t worry so much about publication that you lose the joy in writing. Pray about what God wants you to write.
rem: I’m planning to be there this year—gonna take supernatural means to do it, but I’m counting one it! How do you choose your characters’ names?
TERRI: Sometimes their names come to me right along with the story idea. I love it when that happens. Other times I just sit around and make up names until I stumble upon one I like.
rem: Do you think of the entire story before you start writing?
TERRI: No, but I do develop a loose outline. Without something to guide me I end up with a huge mess that drives a ton of editing.
rem: Tell us a little about your latest book? What is your current project?
TERRI: Currently I’m revising a romantic suspense entitled Deadly Assets. It is about a freelance forensic accountant who is vacationing in Yosemite. She’s been followed by a hitman to keep her from being able to complete the job she was just hired to do.
rem: Hate when those pesky hitmen follow you around like that! What is YOUR favorite part about the book or why do you love this book? Why should we read it?
TERRI: I love all the danger I was able to put her in by having the book set in a national park. Yosemite is huge and this is her first time at the park and her first time to try rock climbing.
rem: Danger and adventure! Tell us about why you wrote this book.
TERRI: Because I love suspense and this sounded like a good way to get my heroine involved in a mess.
rem: We are just awful to our characters sometimes, aren’t we? Please give us the first page of the book.
TERRI:
Hailey Carlisle swung her body sideways and grasped for the rock above her. Damp fingers struggled to hold on to the hard granite. Fear kept her from looking down and the glare from the afternoon sun kept her from looking up.
This is nothing like climbing the man-made wall at the gym. The errant thought forced its way into her mind. She leaned her forehead against the cool stone while she waited for her legs to stop shaking.
“A climate controlled environment and a thirty foot wall didn’t prepare me for the real deal.” Hailey muttered, breathing hard. She glanced down, past her feet to the hard ground below, then focused on the gray rock in front of her. At least whoever had threatened her wouldn’t be able to find her in Yosemite.
As she thought of her latest job with a police department in Oregon the sun slid behind a cloud. Hailey shivered at the loss of warmth. She needed a short break, a chance to catch her breath. A large flat boulder fifteen feet to her right looked like the perfect place to rest.
Hailey focused on the gray oval rock with hints of white veins running through it. Her muscles quivered as she struggled to pull herself onto the ledge, lungs burning from the exertion. The urge to sprawl out and rest a few minutes beckoned. She scooted back, stretched out her legs, and shut her eyes. The rocks, the height, the possibility of falling – none of these things scared her like what awaited her in Oregon. She’d received at least a dozen threats on her life. Maybe that kind of thing was normal for people in dangerous professions, but Hailey was an accountant.
rem: “… but Hailey was an accountant.” WOW! What is one take-away from your book(s) that you hope readers identify with?
TERRI: God created us each uniquely. In my novella The Christmas Bride Wore Boots my heroine has to reach the place where she realizes it doesn’t matter what others think about her as long as she is true to how God created her. I’d like my readers to realize that about themselves.
rem: Oh boy, that girl and I could talk!! Where can we find you online? (provide links)
TERRI:
www.terriweldon.com
https://www.amazon.com/Terri-Denise-Weldon/e/B00R75DRE2
www.seriouslywrite.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/terri.weldon.5
twitter.com/@weldon_terri
rem: Anything you’d like to add?
TERRI: Thanks for inviting me! I’ve had a great time visiting with you.
rem: Terri, thank you so much for chatting with us at my little nest today!
“Why Christian fiction? Because to me, life without Jesus is no life at all. My characters feel the same way, so you’ll find a message of faith in all my books.”
#Blogwords, Chat Thursday, Author Interview, Seriously Write Interview Blitz, Terri Weldon, Misteltoe Magic, The Christmas Bride Word Boots, A Match Made in Sheffield
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