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If you haven't had the pleasure of reading one of Tonya Ashley's stories yet, get ready. She's guesting today to talk about the inspiration behind her newest novella in Romancing the Elements, Grit and Grace. Read on, because you're going to see from the beautiful writing below that you don't want to miss this sweet and inspirational story.  The first time I hiked to Fuzzy Butt Falls, it was late autumn.
A couple of days’ rain had left the ground soft and messy. The trail isn’t maintained, but worn enough follow without getting entirely lost. A horse trail crosses through it, and the ground had been churned to thick mud. My boys and I skirted around those spots, stepping carefully along the edges, brown leaves plastered to our boots. Most of the trees had already surrendered their leaves. The landscape felt hushed. Gray trunks, gray rock, brown leaf litter bathed in golden autumn. Only the evergreens held their color. The air was cool and crisp. I remember wearing a thick plaid flannel and being grateful for it.
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 I first read Pride and Prejudice back in high school. It took me about six weeks to get through because of the older language and it was harder than a lot of other books I had read back then. In college, I took multiple courses that led me to read more novels written in that era, including several others of Jane Austen. Having a professor to help me walk through it led to a greater understanding and a greater appreciation of it.
Since graduating, I have read all six of Jane Austen's novels (only six!) more than once. And seen several of the movie adaptations. And you know what? I'm happy to read them again and again. Hard topics, while it's good that they're mentioned in short shows and commercials, sometimes need a deeper dive for us to really appreciate everything they entail. My friend Heather Greer does an excellent job of showing the hard side of alcoholism in her new book, Hope Even After. But she does more than that too. Read on to see why she chose to deal with something so hard in her newest romance.  What I’ve seen and experienced in my life prompted Luke and Daisy’s story in Hope Even After. It’s a different story than I usually tell, but I hope you’ll stick with me for a few minutes as I share my heart about why their story is so important for those in our churches today.
I grew up in the era when Jessie got hooked on caffeine pills to cope with the pressures of Bayside High and DJ was wrongfully accused of drinking by her dad and uncles when a drink was spilled on her. In those days, a brain on drugs looked like a fried egg, and we all understood that kids who used drugs could learn it by watching parents who used them. Each of us went through the D.A.R.E. program at least one time in our middle to junior high years. A few weeks ago, Ellen Withers was my guest author interview. She spoke about her newest novella, and today, we're blessed to have Jenny Carlisle here to tell us about her story in this fun collection. Warning, cute dog photos ahead! Do you love pets in stories?  A novella calls for focus. No time for extra storylines or a large cast of characters. My readers know this is a problem for me. For the second time in my fiction writing journey, I have been asked to place a spotlight on the romance between the main characters. Fortunately, my research for my latest story inspired a couple of companions who enhance the action, and even play a part in bringing my protagonists together.
 For all of January, I edited. For the last few days, I also edited. I made it through two full-length novels for other authors, a novella, my line edits for Fairest Inn All, and my final read-through for Fairest Inn All, all in January. Then, this week, I knocked out content edits on my own novella (releasing September). Needless to say, I'm ready for a change for a few weeks. And boy am I glad I don't have to do it all by hand like people used to. I love editing, but this was a lot all at once.
So, for the next few weeks, I am happy to shift gears and focus on a few other things. Need a taste of the familiar mixed with some unfamiliar? If you're like me and from the South, our guest today may have just what you're looking for. Jennifer Hallmark joins us today to chat about why she loves the South, what inspires her, and ... chickens? Read on to find out more!  Welcome Jennifer! Where do you get your inspiration for your stories?
Jennifer: Everyday life and deep-seated memories. Life seems to form the basics in my stories: from growing up in the South in the 70s to being a published writer and grandmother of six. My memories, both good and bad, tend to emerge in my books and I hope make them richer. And I always feel like God and I write together when I put my hands to the keyboard. 😊 What is it about the speculative world that draws you to write stories with supernatural elements? Jennifer: There is just something about a world unlike our own that draws me. I prefer stories with deep allegory, books that speak to my soul that I often find that in speculative reads. Think The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Star Wars. |
This is a place for me to tell you about what I'm writing, talk about the process or where some of my ideas came from, or even have other authors come in and talk about their books.
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