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Author Interview: S. Smith

11/30/2013

Meet S. Smith, Author of the Seed Savers Series

S. Smith grew up on a farm with a tremendously large garden. Though she lives in the city now, her love of growing vegetables and flowers endures. Her first published series, Seed Savers, was born from this desire to plant each spring.A licensed ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher, Ms. Smith has enjoyed teaching students from around the world. She gardens and writes at her home in the beautiful and green Pacific Northwest. (Amazon)

BBB: What inspired you to become a writer?

SS: I’ve always been a writer. Even when I was a little kid I liked to write stories and tell stories. In high school I wrote a lot in journals, but I also contributed stories and poems to the school’s creative writing publication. I started my first novel about six years ago and it is still not finished because when I thought of Seed Savers I just had to write it down! (And I was working full-time as a teacher). I am no longer teaching and am really enjoying being an author!

BBB: How did you come up with the idea for your book series, Seed Savers?

SS: It was from watching the documentary Food, Inc. The part about seeds being owned and patented. About seed cleaners losing their occupations because they wouldn’t be needed anymore. It got me thinking about where things might be headed if people no longer could save seeds. The big What If? Would the very concept of seeds, themselves, be forgotten?

BBB: For those who have not read the first two books, Treasure and Lily, can you give us a brief synopsis of those books?

SS: Sure. In book one Treasure, we meet the main characters Clare and Lily (age twelve), Dante (age 7), and Ana (age 80+). The children have no idea about what real food is or where it comes from because in this future U.S. all food is super-processed and gardening has long since been outlawed. Ana, however, remembers and has been saving seed. She begins teaching the children about food and gardening until the government agency GRIM is seen lurking around. After Clare and Dante’s mom is arrested for the tomato plant the children have secretly been growing, they take off and look for help among Seed Savers. The second half of the book details their journey.

Book two, Lily, explains what happened back at home after Clare and Dante left. It is told in first person POV by Lily. In Lily, new characters are introduced and more is learned about the history of Seed Savers. Lily also struggles with what she should do after being left behind by her friends. Clare and Dante are not in book 2.

BBB: Tell us about your newest book in the series, Heirloom.

SS: Heirloom is the best of both worlds. The chapters switch back and forth between Clare and Dante’s story (told in third person POV) and Lily’s story (first person). Both parts of Heirloom continue the gardening theme with topics such as edible weeds, hydroponics, and seed banks, as well as the food politics theme. While the Clare and Dante chapters are short and gentle, the Lily chapters see more action and adventure as she travels cross-country in search of her father. As the name implies, Heirloom is about our connections to the past. While Lily connects with her own family’s past, Clare and Dante reconnect to their forgotten cultural past.

BBB: What do you think readers will find most appealing about Heirloom?

SS: It really depends on the reader. Some of the ‘tweeners might like the adventure and light romance. Some of the adults might be more drawn to the gardening and the politics. I like to think of it as Little House on the Prairie meets Fahrenheit 451. Heirloom is a fun and interesting book that takes on important issues of our time

BB: Do you have ideas for a fourth book?

SS: Oh yes. And I need to get started. I only have about one page written! There are already people after me to get it done. :) I’m pretty sure the title is going to be Keeper. That’s what I’ve been telling people, anyway.

You can find out more about S. Smith and the Seed Savers Series by visiting authorssmith.com.

The Seed Savers Series is available for purchase on Amazon.

View the Seed Savers Blog Tour Schedule by visiting authorssmith.com/2013/11/14/seed-savers-heirloom-book-blog-tour.

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Author Interview: Diane Mayer Christiansen

11/11/2013

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Meet Diane Mayer Christiansen, Author of Snub Club

Diane Mayer Christiansen graduated with a Biology degree despite her struggles with dyslexia. She worked at both the University of Chicago and Northwestern University doing genetic research. Christiansen is now a published author writing young adult fantasy and middle school chapter books. Her characters are based around children with special needs such as dyslexia and Autism Spectrum Disorder. She speaks to parents and teachers about learning to celebrate those things that make our children different and her journey with her son and his ASD.

BBB: What inspired you to become a writer?

DMC: It was something that I never thought I could do. Having struggled with dyslexia throughout academia, I wasn't even reading until long after college. But I had so many stories in my head. Once I began reading for the joy of the story, I realized writing was what I wanted to do. I wanted to overcome the obstacle of dyslexia and prove to myself that it was possible. I was inspired first by the classics; Charlotte Bronte, Thomas Hardy. Now I really love all of the teen Sci-Fi stuff.

BBB: How did you come up with the idea for your book series, SNUB Club?

DMC: My publisher actually came up with the SNUB Club idea. We were getting ready to publish my son's book, Jackie's Journal, a book centered on his autism. My publisher had the idea to take our message a step further with Snub. I thought it was genius. Reaching out to Elementary School age children is important. Getting words like autism, ADHD and ASD into their vocabulary is key to creating inclusion and acceptance. The book is really great for all kids. It's a face-paced mystery with a lesson built in.

BBB: Tell us about one of your main characters, Jackie.

DMC: The character of Jackie is fashioned after my son. He is a boy facing the challenges of Autism Spectrum Disorder daily. Mix in middle school and the challenges increase. He has issues with loud noises and chaotic hallways and he's faced a bully or two. In the book, I try to focus on all the great abilities that he possesses, like his amazing memory, while giving the reader a glimpse into what ASD is like. My message is always about celebrating the good. Every child has something that they can celebrate. Jackie may have a hard time understanding social cues, but he's a wiz at chess. His real friend Cameron is also a main character. The struggles in the book are based on real issues and the talents are also real.

BBB: What do you think readers will find most appealing about, SNUB Club?

DMC: I always write with a touch of humor and sarcasm. The story line is simple with a few twists and turns along the way. I think solving the mystery will be fun for the reader, but I love to use trickery to mislead you, so watch out. I also hope that my characters are relatable, both for typical and non-typical children.

BBB: Are you currently working on another book in the series?

DMC: I am not yet working on the next SNUB Club book. I've decided to start something new and have begun a YA cross over Sci-Fi series. I am continuing with my underlying message of autism awareness but I've thrown in some other characters who deal with blindness, MS, and a few other issues. I'm always looking for ways to help children understand these things and add the vocabulary to their language. I sometimes think that we are afraid of things that seem different. I want to show, through my writing, that kids with ASD and ADHD and other issues, are basically just kids.

You can find out more about her and SNUB Club at: http://www.jackiejournal.com.

You can purchase SNUB Club on Amazon.

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Author Interview: Paula Moldenhauer

11/6/2013

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Meet Paula Moldenhauer, Author of You're a Charmer Mr. Grinch (Romancing America Series) and Titanic: Legacy of Betrayal

Paula Moldenhauer is an author and speaker from Colorado. Her first romance, You're a Charmer Mr. Grinch (in the collection, Postmark: Christmas) which was a finalist in the prestigious Carol Awards for Novella of the Year, and her first historical novel, Titanic: Legacy of Betrayal, release in 2012. Paula has over 300 publishing credits in magazines, e-zines, devotionals, and book compilations. She also writes curriculum and parent support pieces for David C Cook. Her article, "The Guilt of a Homeschool Mom," was the #1 article on Crosswalk.com's Homeschool Channel. Offering encouragement to moms and writers makes her happy.

Paula serves as the Colorado Coordinator for the American Christian Fiction Writers, where she was a Nobel Theme finalist, and was named Writer of the Year at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference. She and her husband enjoy homeschooling their four children. (Two down and two to go!) Paula loves peppermint ice cream, fancy rootbeer, and walking barefoot. Her greatest desire is to be close enough to Jesus to breathe His fragrance. (Amazon)

BBB: What inspired you to become a writer?

PM: I'm one of those authors who dreamed of writing books from childhood. In third grade I wrote a story about a pencil and an eraser who were always fighting until they understood how much they needed each other. I was hooked and made the plan to become an author then and there.

BBB: How did you come up with the idea for your book series, Romancing America?

PM: Romancing America is actually the publisher's line of books, not my own brand. I have a novella in the collection Postmark: Christmas. My title is, You're a Charmer, Mr. Grinch. The collection was the brainchild of one of the other authors, but my story sprung to life when my hero sauntered onto the page, speaking with the southern accent of my childhood and spouting Dr. Seuss poetry. The hero, Rick, is sort-of larger than life--a retired policeman with a heart of gold who is willing to dress in green tights and a Grinch costume to help out his little town. He's chased after Christmas, Florida's favorite grandmother, the local postmaster, for more years than any of them want to count. But will Edie learn to trust before Rick gives up on love?

BBB: What do you think readers will find most appealing about the Romancing America series?

PM: Barbour books developed the Romancing America line to appeal to the gentle reader who enjoys sweet romance with plenty of heart. If you enjoy watching characters fall in love while also discovering an inspirational thread, this series is for you. I love all kinds of books, but I've found that when life gets tough a tender, short romance where hope always wins out is just what I need to disappear into for a while. I re-emerged refreshed.

BBB: Tell us about your historical fiction book, Titanic: Legacy of Betrayal.

PM: Titanic: Legacy of Betrayal is a contemporary story with a historical frame. I wrote it with my best friend Kathleen Kovach (www.kathleenekovach.com). We had a blast dreaming about the characters and blending our imaginations and writing styles. I helped develop the contemporary heroine, Ember, while the contemporary hero, Jeff, was Kathy's creation. Initially we wrote the contemporary story line together, but as I got deeper into the historical research and writing, I handed the contemporary story to Kathy so I could focus more fully on the historical line. I loved the research and the writing and sought to make this story line authentic and historically accurate. Here's more:
A secret. A key. Much was buried when the Titanic went down, but now it’s time for resurrection.

April 1912 – Olive Stanford boarded the Titanic determined to protect all she held dear. Her secret will go with her to the grave—but how can she face the afterlife carrying the burden of her actions?

April 2012 – Portland real estate agent, Ember Keaton-Jones, distrusts men, with good reason. Ever since her great-great-grandfather, Thomas, deserted the family after the fateful sinking of the Titanic, every Keaton male has disappointed. Ember is on the brink of a huge sale when a stranger shows up with a key to a century-old secret challenging everything she believes. She meets forward-thinking Jeff Dawson who is working in the family’s musty antique shop and finds an unexpected ally in unlocking the mystery of her past. But can they undo the legacy of Thomas Keaton’s betrayal?

Carefully researched, this engaging tale includes true stories of the Titanic embedded in historical fiction.

BBB: Are you currently working on another book?

PM: I am! Another romance story. It's one I actually dreamed up as an eighteen-year-old when I talked my creative writing teacher into letting me write a novel instead of doing class assignments. I found it when I cleaned out an old file cabinet last spring. It's not the same story now--I'm not the same person as I was at eighteen, but it's fun to build a story on that seed sown so long ago because I had a teacher who cheered me on. The story has matured, and I creative a wonderful new setting for it, a tiny resort town in the Rockies. I'm writing fast and furious because my wise agent put me on a deadline!

You can find out more about Paula Moldenhauer by visiting paulamoldenhauer.com and about her exciting weight loss journey at abenewjourney.com.

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