Monday, September 5, 2011

Southern-Style Meet & Greet with Laura Frantz Plus Giveaway!


Y'all, we're gonna have a great time this week!  I am so excited that Laura Frantz is here for a Southern-Style Meet & Greet that I can hardly contain myself!  In the past few weeks, I've had the enormous pleasure of reading all three of her books, and let me tell ya....they are not to be missed!!

Oh, but I'm getting ahead of myself....  First, let's start with the winner of last week's giveaway of She Makes It Look Easy by Marybeth Whalen.  The lucky winner is:

Patricia (plb1050@...)

Patricia, I've sent an email to you to get your mailing addy.  :o)

So, let's get right down to business, shall we?  :o)  I think y'all are gonna love this week's Meet & Greet.  Laura is an extremely gifted writer, and I have soaked up all three of her novels like a sponge.  And apparently, I'm not the only one!  She has been nominated this year for a Carol Award for Courting Morrow Little, a well-deserved honor, for sure.  That book right there will make your heart flutter, I guarantee it!  I hope y'all enjoy our little chat on my front porch with our pitcher of tea.  Thank heavens that Laura likes it sweet, too.  :o)
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When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

Since age 7, before I really knew what a writer even was. :) But I think God gifts you early oftentimes and there’s an awareness there even in childhood. I was always scribbling stories and have many that will never see the light of day. Thank heavens!

What genre do you most like to write?

Historical fiction. There’s just something so intriguing about the past and realizing we all came from people who lived centuries ago. Quite humbling and inspiring!

Laura, you do it so well, I hope you'll never cross over to a different genre!

Do your own personal experiences, or those of family and friends, ever find their way into one your stories? If it’s not too personal, do you have a funny one you can share with us?

Oh, I wish I could do funny. :) My stories are so dramatic and intense I have a hard time inserting much humor. I do think all of my novels echo family and friends. I even use historical tales passed down in my family through the generations. For example, in The Frontiersman’s Daughter I have my great-grandfather who lost a leg by wearing a too-tight boot. Character names are often taken from my family, too, such as Roxanna in The Colonel’s Lady, the name of my great-grandmother in Kentucky.

What do you hope readers “take away” with them after they read one of your books?

That God loves them despite their flaws and fears and that He can overcome any obstacle.

What is your latest book release?

My latest release is The Colonel’s Lady: In 1779, a search for her father brings Roxanna to the Kentucky frontier – but instead she discovers a young colonel, a dark secret…and a compelling reason to stay.

Are you currently working on another novel, and if so, can you give us a snippet about it?

How’s this for short and sassy ;) -

“Two sisters. One man. When he chooses one will the other destroy their love?” This is my first series which spans 100 years, or 4 generations, in one family. It begins in 1785 with an apprentice and two sisters. Sort of a mail-order groom story. I hope you and readers like it!

Oh, my!  How will I (and all your other fans) live until that one releases?!

What was the last Christian Fiction book that you read that you couldn’t put down?

Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs. Nobody writes historicals like Liz, IMHO. :)

You know, that one book gets more recommendations than any other I've seen in a long time.  It must *really* be good!

Where can readers find you on the web?

I love hearing from readers at LauraFrantz.net

What is your most favorite thing about the South?

I love big front porches, gracious people, sweet tea, hot weather, open windows, and thunderstorms. And cornbread dripping with butter. :)

Oh, yum. :o) My grandma could make some of the best.

Iced Tea—sweet or un-sweet?

Sweet, please, with a twist of lemon. :)

Coming right up!

BBQ Pork or BBQ Beef?

I have BBQ Pork in the crockpot right now.

Crockpot BBQ is the best!  (I'm so hungry now!)

Dolly Parton or Elvis Presley?

Dolly is tops. She has such a beautiful, distinct voice and is one savvy businesswoman.

Historical House—Plantation or Log Cabin?

I write a lot about cabins but most love plantations with those beautiful porches and gardens. Sigh.

Sigh is right!  I'd take one in a heartbeat if I didn't have to clean it all the time.  :o)

Country gal or city gal?

Country all the way.

You, you all, or y’all?

Y’all.
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Oh, I just had the loveliest time today!  I hope you did as well.  :o)  Laura, thank you so much for joining me today, and chatting about books and Southern things.  I hope you didn't get too homesick.  :o)

And folks, Laura has been so gracious to offer a copy of her newest book, The Colonel's Lady, to one person.  (And since last week's entry form didn't go as well as I'd planned, we're gonna keep things as simple as possible for contest entries.)

Here are the rules in a nutshell:

1.  Leave a comment with your email address disguised like "yourname at yourdomain dot com" or something similar.  If you do not leave an email address, I cannot include your name in the drawing...sorry.

2.  All entry comments must be left by Sunday, Sept. 11.

3. Contest is open to US residents only.

4.  Become a follower/email subscriber for an additional entry, and let me know in your comment if you're a new one or an existing one.  (No need to create a separate comment for this.  Combining everything into one comment is much easier.)  The upside?  You'll know what's happening here with future Meet & Greets...a win-win, for sure.  


38 comments:

  1. Christy Thank you for hosting the giveaway I am looking forward to reading my new win, She Makes It look Easy.

    Laura, Thank you for writing such good reads and for providing a copy of your book for the giveaway.

    Hope it is alright to Enter this Giveaway as well. I have had THE COLONEL'S LADY on my wishlist for awhile.

    plb1050 at gmail dot com

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  2. Another lovely and unique interview! It's just fabulous learning more about you, Laura, and you know I just can't wait for anything else that you right!! Your books are wonderful! :D

    No need to enter me in the drawing, as I am the proud owner of my very own copy of TCL. :) But I did want to say yet again that these Southern Meet & Greets are just awesome, Christy!

    ~Amber

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  3. Oops! *Write* not *right.* Of course, you write right, IMHO, Laura. ;)

    ~Amber

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  4. Wow. Laura's new series sounds really interesting and I look forward to reading it!

    Please enter me in the giveaway! I'm already a GFC follower.

    frequentreader19 (at) gmail (dot) com

    Christian Bookshelf Reviews

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  5. O sounds goood.
    (not an entry)

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  6. You're the hostess with the mostest, Christy. Loved the interview, love Laura, LOVED TCL. And Laura I'm still counting the blessings of Bella. What a character! And what a genious you are to have created her!

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  7. Thanks for the interview and the great giveaway. msudawgtooATcomsouthDOTnet

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  8. Oh, Christy and readers, SO HAPPY to be here today! I've been looking forward to it for some time as it's fun to meet new folks and makes me feel, for even a few minutes, that I'm down south again;) Bless you for your beautiful blog and you readers for taking time to stop and say hi and enter the giveaway. Y'all bless me!!

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  9. Great Blog...I have read TCL already but thank you. I will have to check into your blog to check out your reviews and meet and greets!!

    Stacie

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  10. Great interview Christy...but then again they always are. ;-)

    Laura, I love all your answers. I really love log cabins as there are some great old ones in this area but I have to agree those plantations are lovely with their grand porches.

    Please don't enter me I already am a proud owner of all of Laura's books.

    XOXO~ Renee

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  11. Oh Christy, you had such a treat reading all three of her books in just a few weeks. And I'm on pins and needles already to get my hands on her next series. Knowing Laura, it's going to be great!

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  12. You ladies rock! Thank y'all for all these wonderful comments this morning, and once again, thanks to you, Laura, for stopping by this morning! I may need to FedEx you some cornbread and Southern sweet tea. ;o)

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  13. Laura is definitely a southern gal :) I've seen her new book all over the blogoshpere and would love to read it!!!

    You know I'm a follower. I wouldn't miss the Meet & Greets for anything!

    homesteading[at]charter[dot]net

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  14. I appreciate your twist on this interview! I'm new to Laura Frantz and I hope to read this book soon! Thanks for giving me yet another reason to read this book!! :)

    faithfulgirl4[at]gmail[dot]com

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  15. I have the first two books in the series, so I'd love to add the third one. Then I could read them straight through and not have to wait. ;)

    Great interview!

    bluerosesheart at yahoo dot com

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  16. Oh my word...I left a comment without my email. So sorry, Christy! Can you just delete the old one? I'll copy it here.

    Hey, Christy, please enter me! I am/was an existing follower. :)

    Hi again, Laura...it's wonderful to be learning about you on these blogs! :)

    Thanks. :) photographer4ever832[at]gmail[dot]com

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  17. Hi! We have Laura on over at Colonial Quills today, too! We are having a Tea Party with her, MaryLu Tyndall, and CJ Chase and doing some giveaways of their books. Lovely interview and I signed on as a follower!! http://colonialquills.blogspot.com

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  18. Enjoyed the interview! I'm making the rounds from Laura's blog. All of the Southern things seems so familiar to me that I think I would have a difficult time living without them. Laura, you should see the houses in South Georgia that didn't burn from Sherman's march. There's some areas around here, like Theodore Roosevelt's mother's area that revolves around all of those older homes. gasweetheart211[at]netscape[dot]net

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  19. Wonderful interview, ladies.

    Laura, I have to agree, I much prefer Dolly Parton to Elvis Presley.

    mchapman (at) windstream (dot) net

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  20. Oh, Christy, lol! Just an hour ago at our BBQ, my mom turned to me and said, "All this meal needs is a little cornbread!" I should have said, "WAIT! Don't take another bite! Christy is sending some!"
    You're a sweetheart and I couldn't wait to come back over here. The comments are all precious and I will remember them. Wish I had a book for everybody here. Christy does have one of the best blogs out there!! And it's an honor to be here. Bless you all!

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  21. Wonderful interview! This period of time has always interested me.

    Blessings,
    Jo
    ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

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  22. Haha, Laura! I would love to send you some, but it would be hard to keep that cornbread nice and warm and buttery between here and Washington state.

    Thank you so much for your visit here, and I hope we'll have the chance to do it again in the future!

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  23. Fun interview, Laura and Christy. Laura, you always sound like you're sitting on one of those big verandas welcoming everybody up to sit with you. But can I have my tea without sugar? I know that's just unsouthern and me as country as you can get, too. Don't throw my name in the hat. I already have Laura's books.

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  24. Christy, Yes, that cornbread would be pretty dry by the time it reached my mailbox:) But the thought was sure sweet. Thank you again for letting me be your guest. It means so much and I had a wonderful time!! God bless you till we meet again:)

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  25. Ann, So happy you're here! You are the dessert for me tonight:) I must say I have to take my tea without sugar, too, as my waistline keeps expanding:( Must be all that sitting and writing. Hope to see you soon, dear friend!

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  26. Thank you for the entry, Christy. I'd love a chance at winning Laura's book. Enjoying your blog and I am a new email subscriber. Have a blessed day!

    Sandee61
    Muzzley56[at]aol[dot]com

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  27. I truly love Laura Frantz as a writer, and as a church librarian, I always show the ladies that like historical fiction her books. We have each one. I can't wait for the next one. I would love a copy of her book for the jail library. Keep up the good work, Christy!
    Candace

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  28. Laura's books are the best historical fiction books that I've read in a long time!
    ~Lauren

    Lbookworm531 at bellsouth dot net

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  29. Thanks for sharing the story of the book. Can't wait to read it! I love the colonial period in history. My fav!
    Gail
    bookwurm70 at gmail dot com

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  30. Great interview and fun giveaway of what looks to be a really interesting book. I'd love to enter!

    literaryobsession (at) me (dot) com

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  31. Oh, I just love this Southern Meet and Greet series, Christy.

    And I have a question for y'all. :)

    I just got back from a road trip through several southern states and I was impressed by all the "yes ma'ams" and "no ma'ams" from everybody. People were just so polite.

    Which got me to thinking, when you meet northerners visiting the area and they don't say "ma'am" at the end of a yes or no question, do they come off as rude?

    Laura, I loved your book and I can't wait to read what you're working on next!

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  32. Joy, I feel so bad saying this, but it's been a LONG time since I've been up north. The last time I went up that far, it was for my senior trip to DC. I've never been up any farther than that, or anywhere up there since then. Almost went to PA over the summer, but too many other things came first. :o(

    But the "yes and no ma'ams" around here are to be expected all the time...unless you're talking to someone that truly has no manners (which means their mama must've missed trainin' that child in the early years...just my opinion).

    When I met my husband, I was sooooo impressed with his manners, especially toward his mama. Yep, didn't take me long to take him off the market. :o)

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  33. I too couldn't put down Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs. Very nice interview.

    pamo321(at)comcast(dot)net

    Thanks!

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  34. What a lovely cover! I wanted to read the book by the description alone, but I'm a sucker for a beautiful cover!! Thanks for an amazing giveaway! :D
    jwitt33 at live dot com

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  35. I have been looking at this book. It is on my to be read list. I love books from this time period. Thank you for the chance to win

    griperang at embarqmail dot com

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  36. I would LOVE to win this book! I can't wait to read it!! I loved Courting Morrow Little so much, but I bet this one is better! :)
    marissamehresman at aol dot com

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  37. I look forward to all of Laura's books The books in progress sound really interesting. I'd love a chance to win The Colonel's Lady.

    I"m a subscriber.
    worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com

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  38. We have Laura's books in the church library. Looking forward to reading her newest edition.
    von1janet@gmail.com

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I love your comments!! They make me happier than cold sweet tea on a hot summer day! :o)