Southern-Style Meet & Greet with Tricia Goyer Plus Giveaway

As always, thank you for joining me for another week of Southern-Style Meet & Greet!  You all know the drill...stay tuned to meet our featured guest plus a giveaway at the end!  :o)

First off, last week's giveaway winner.  Thanks to Random.org, the winner of a copy of Desired by Ginger Garrett is...

Megan (inspiredbyfiction@...)

Congrats, Megan!  Desired will be on it's way to you shortly...you're gonna love it.  :o)

And now, for this week's featured author--Tricia Goyer!

Tricia is the author of thirty books including Songbird Under a German Moon, The Swiss Courier, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from ACFW, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer's Conference in 2003. Tricia's book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion in 2005. In addition to her novels, Tricia writes non-fiction books and magazine articles for publications like MomSense and Thriving Family. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences, and has been a workshop presenter at the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International Conventions. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife.

Welcome, Tricia!
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When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

It began when I met Cindy Martinusen Coloma in church, 20 years ago. Cindy was also a young mom. We got to know each other, and Cindy told me about her dream to write. Something struck a chord in me. I had grown up loving to read, but I never considered writing. We encouraged each other. We attended our first writer's conference in 1994 at Mt. Hermon in Northern California. I was 22-years-old and pregnant with my third child at that first conference. Being at that conference I knew that's what I wanted to do!

Through the years, Cindy and I have encouraged each other, and God has led us down amazing paths. Cindy also has many novels published now: www.cindycoloma.com

What genre do you most like to write?

I love writing historical fiction, but I'll qualify that...because I also love writing Amish fiction. Maybe because it feels “historical” to me. The Amish have been able to keep the traditions of their ancestors—traditions and a lifestyle that many of us have lost in our technology-filled busy lives.

You're not the only one...Amish fiction feels historical to me, too.  :o)

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?

Yes! Every book has personal stories woven into it. One of my novels, Beside Still Waters is inspired by the Eash family who moved from Indiana to Montana to be part of an Amish community there. When I signed the contract to write the story I had NO IDEA our family would soon be moving from Kalispell, Montana to Little Rock, Arkansas. I never thought I'd find myself living in the South, but I had to admit I REALLY enjoy it!

In another novel Along Wooded Paths, Marianna builds friendships with people very different than herself. As I wrote that novel, I was making friends with “Southerners”--some of whom were very different than me, and it the process I met some amazing people. I'm learning that most things that enter my life end up in one of my novels.

One funny story involves my husband. He loves making up sayings, and his favorite is, “A wet tick in a watermelon patch.” He uses it ALL the time! For example, “I'm happier than a wet tick in a watermelon patch,” or “I'm fuller than a wet tick in a watermelon patch,” even “I'm more tired than a wet tick in a watermelon patch.” It doesn't really make sense, and I think that's the point. The fun thing is that I included the phrase in one of my novels! (Send me a note through my website if you find it! LOL.)

His phrase reminds me of another one I've heard quite often (down South, mostly), "I'm as full as a tick on a hound dog's ear!"

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

I hope they put down my book inspired. I hope they see God in new ways. I hope they understand better how God uses ordinary people in extraordinary ways!

What is your latest book release?

My newest novel is the second book in my Big Sky Series, Along Wooded Paths. Book #3 is Beyond Hope's Valley and it'll be out April 2012!

All she wanted was a simple Amish life . . . But now Marianna Sommer finds herself depending on Englisch neighbors. Although proud of living apart from the world, she and her newly relocated Amish family have discovered that life in the remote mountains of Montana requires working together.

As Marianna begins helping those different from herself—and receiving their help—her heart contemplates two directions. She’s torn between the Amish man from Indiana whom she has long planned on marrying and the friendly Englischer who models a closer walk with God than she’s ever seen before.

Who should have young Marianna’s heart? What is God asking her to sacrifice? Her traditions? Her community? The answer is found along the wooded paths.

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

Yes, I'm currently working on Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska. I'm co-writing it with my friend Ocieanna Fleiss and we just traveled up there last month for research! This is the snippet so far, but since it's still a work-in-progress, things might change.

Ginny Marshall is on the verge of having her dreams realized. She's one signature away from signing a major recording contract and she's peaked the interest of Danny Kingston, her agent and one of the most influential men in pop music. Yet something deep inside tells her not to sign. Knowing she needs someone to talk to—someone who'd be interested in her best interest and not just in her notoriety, she travels to Glacier Bay, Alaska to find her ex-fiance Brett Miller.
As soon as Ginny is shuttled into Glacier Bay she has a good feeling about coming. The tidewater glaciers, snow-capped mountain ranges, ocean coastlines, deep fjords, and freshwater rivers and lakes reconnect her with God in a way she hadn't experienced in a while. She finds her way to the address Brett had given her, but discovers he isn't home. A neighbor gives Ginny directions to Brett's grandmother's cabin, surely Granny M. will know where he is.

Granny M. welcomes Ginny with open arms. “So, you're the Ginny I've heard so much about.” Granny M. starts telling Ginny about some letters, when Ginny interrupts and asks where Brett is. Unfortunately he's on a week long kayaking trip with is father and brother. Ginny just missed him.

Staying with Granny M., Ginny reads the letters sent from Glacier Bay, Alaska Territory, 1929. The first letter is from a Mr. Claiborn Maibe asking his friend Rev. Hal Wakeland to choose a bride for him—someone of pleasing companionship and a fine moral conduct who will be a good mother to Clairborne's two children. Ginny is intrigued. Would a man honestly send for a wife and marry the woman who arrived ... without question?

Through the letters—and the new friends she meets at Glacier Bay—Ginny remembers what a relationship with God is all about. She also discovers what—and who—her heart desires most.

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

Good question! I've read a lot of good ones, but I couldn't SLEEP until I finished The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner.

Everybody and their momma is telling me what a great book this is!  Must see what all the fuss is about...and soon!

Where can readers find you on the web?

My website: www.triciagoyer.com
My radio show: www.toginet.com/shows/livinginspired
My Facebook page: www.facebook.com/authortriciagoyer
My Twitter page: www.twitter.com/triciagoyer

What is your most favorite thing about the South?

I've lived in Little Rock, Arkansas for 1 1/2 years and I love it. I love the personalities. People are so fun and everyone has such a great sense of humor, plus they strike up conversations if you make eye contact. I often find myself chatting with someone at Walmart for 10 minutes, and really enjoying myself. My husband and I met one couple at a yard sale and when we left John told me, “I feel like we've known them for years, not just fifteen minutes.”

Don't you just love that?  *smile*

Iced Tea—sweet or un-sweet?

Sweet please!

BBQ Pork or BBQ Beef?

Pork.

Dolly Parton or Elvis Presley?

Elvis, swoon.

Historical House—Plantation or Log Cabin?

Plantation.

Country gal or city gal?

I like to live close to the city but look out my window at the country.

You, you all, or y’all?

It was you all, but if I'm out and about in Little Rock it's slipping into y'all.

That's okay.  You're Southern now, and people might start to look at you funny if you didn't say "y'all!"
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Did y'all have a great time with Tricia today?  I sure did.  ;o)  And thanks to her, we've got a lovely giveaway for this week.

If you'd like to be entered to win a copy of Tricia's latest book, Along Wooded Paths, simply fill out the giveaway form in it's entirety.  Please leave any thoughts regarding the interview in the comment section (as we seem to always strike up a conversation down there).  :o)  If you have any comments for Tricia, be sure to leave them down there as well, and hopefully, she'll be able to stop by to chat for a moment.

Giveaway is open to US residents only, and void where prohibited.  All entries must be received before Sunday, October 23, 11:59PM CST to qualify.  Odds of winning are contingent upon number of entries.