Southern-Style Meet & Greet with Lynn Austin Plus Giveaway

Thank you so much for coming over for this week's Southern-Style Meet & Greet! I am so excited about today's guest as she's been a favorite of mine for many years. :o)

But first, let me announce the winner of last week's giveaway for Along Wooded Paths by Tricia Goyer. Thanks to Random.org, the winner is...

Candace (cbetts@...)

Candace, I'll see to it that your book is on it's way to you very soon. Congrats!

Now, for this week's guest!

Lynn has written across many genres in Christian fiction, but lately, her books have been historical in nature. She is the popular author of the Biblical fiction series, Chronicles of the King, and I won't lie...it's always been a favorite of mine. :o)  Hope you guys enjoy our visit!

Welcome, Lynn!! :o)
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How did your journey begin as a writer?

I love to read but it seemed like so many well-written books gave readers very little hope. Too many themes seemed to be “Life is hard and then you die.” I agree that life is hard—but God is good! So I sat down one day 27 years ago (I was a stay-at-home mom with a new baby) and decided to write the kind of book I enjoy reading—one that makes me laugh, makes me cry, and helps me learn something about myself and my faith. I knew nothing about getting published (that would come later) but I found that I enjoyed writing so much that I knew I wanted to keep doing it.

If you were not a published author, what would your dream job be and why?

Writing IS my dream job! When I first started writing, I used to think, “Oh, if only I could write books full-time and find a group of readers who love my books.” My dream has come true! But if I had to choose another job….I’d probably be an interior designer. I love to tour beautiful homes and I’m always painting or changing something in my own home. I love reading decorating magazines and watching the decorating channels on TV whenever I’m in a place that has cable TV.

Those design shows suck me in every time.  Before I know it, I've lost 2 hours of my day!

You’ve written across several genres over the years. Is there a particular genre that is your favorite?

I loved writing my biblical fiction series, “Chronicles of the King.” Those books are still my favorites. Someday, hope to write more biblical fiction set in Israel.

I hope you do, too, and I'm sure I'm not alone.  :o)

You had the privilege of having one of your books, Hidden Places, turned into a movie. What was that experience like for you?

Well, it came about with no effort on my part. Hallmark contacted my publisher, Bethany House, and made all of the arrangements. But I did have the opportunity to fly to California and watch them film part of the movie. What an amazing experience! I was blown away to see my fictitious setting and fictional characters “come to life” in so much detail. As I watched hundreds of people racing around with cameras and microphones and all sorts of equipment I was overwhelmed. I never realized how much work went into filming one tiny scene. It really was a thrill of a lifetime.

What is your latest book release?

My newest book is called Wonderland Creek and will be in bookstores sometime this month. Here is a synopsis:

Alice Grace Ripley lives in a dream world, her nose stuck in a book. But the happily-ever-after life she’s planned on suddenly falls apart when her boyfriend breaks up with her, accusing her of living in a world of fiction instead of the real world. To top it off, Alice loses her beloved library job because of cutbacks due to the Great Depression.

Longing to run from small-town gossip, Alice flees to the mountains of eastern Kentucky to deliver five boxes of donated books to the tiny coal-mining town of Acorn, a place with no running water, no electricity, and where the librarians ride ornery horses up steep mountain passes to deliver books. When Alice is forced to stay in Acorn far longer than she planned, she discovers that real-life adventure, mystery—and especially romance—may be far better than her humble dreams could have imagined.

Where can readers find you on the web?

My website is www.lynnaustin.org

If you could visit anywhere down South, where would it be and why?

I would love to return to Charleston, South Carolina. What a beautiful city! The people I met were so warm and gracious—and helpful, too, as I gathered research for my novels, Fire by Night, and A Light to My Path. If I went back, I would like to tour more of the beautiful old homes, inside and out. What a feast for the eyes.

Charleston is one of the few places I've not visited down here.  Some day I'd like to see it for myself because everyone has such great things to say about it!

Iced Tea—sweet or un-sweet?

Sweet, of course! There’s nothing like it.

Historical house—large plantation or log cabin?

I loved touring the plantations around Charleston and Beaufort.

Country gal or city gal?

County gal—I love the woods and the peace and quiet of the country. But I would have to live in a country mansion on a gorgeous estate.
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If you'd like to be entered to win a copy of Lynn's latest book, Wonderland Creek, simply fill out all of the required fields in the giveaway form in their entirety. Please leave any thoughts regarding the interview in the comment section (as we seem to always strike up a conversation down there). :o)

Giveaway is open to US residents only, and void where prohibited. All entries must be received before Sunday, October 30, 11:59PM CST to qualify, and the winner will be announced on next week's SSM&G. Odds of winning are contingent upon number of entries.