CFBA Blog Tour - Virginia Smith and Stuck in the Middle

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Stuck in the Middle
Revell (February 1, 2008)
by Virginia Smith

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Virginia Smith left her job as a corporate director to become a full time writer and speaker with the release of her first novel Just As I Am. Since then she has contracted eight novels and published numerous articles and short stories. She writes contemporary humorous novels for the Christian market, including Murder by Mushroom (Steeple Hill, August 2007) and her newest release, Stuck in the Middle (Revell, February 2008), book 1 in the Sister-to-Sister Series.

Her short fiction has been anthologized, and her articles have been published in a variety of Christian magazines. An energetic speaker, she loves to exemplify God’s truth by comparing real-life situations to well-known works of fiction, such as her popular talk, “Biblical Truths in Star Trek.”Virginia is a speaker, and an avid Scuba diver. She and her husband Ted, divide their times between Kentucky and Utah, and escape as often as they can for diving trips to the Caribbean!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Joan Sanderson's life is stuck. Her older sister, Allie, is starting a family and her younger sister, Tori, has a budding career. Meanwhile, Joan is living at home with Mom and looking after her aging grandmother. Not exactly a recipe for excitement-or romance.

That is, until a hunky young doctor moves in next door. Suddenly Joan has a goal--to catch his eye and get a date. But it won't be easy. Pretty Tori flirts relentlessly with him and Joan is sure that she can't compete. But with a little help from God, Allie, and an enormous mutt with bad manners, maybe Joan can find her way out of this rut and into the life she's been hiding from.

Book 1 of the Sister-to-Sister series, Stuck in the Middle combines budding romance, spiritual searching, and a healthy dose of sibling rivalry that is sure to make you smile.

"A gentle story of one young woman's season of growth, deftly blending the tangle of family relationships with gifts of whimsey and revelation. A joy to read." ~SHARON HINCK, author of Renovating Becky Miller and Symphony of Secrets

"Virginia Smith has created a charming and humerous novel that celebrates small-town life, generations of women caring for each other, and the value of finding a deeper, more active faith." ~SHARON DUNN, author of the Bargain Hunters mysteries

CONTEST INFORMATION

My publisher and I are conducting a contest to promote Stuck in the Middle. I'm giving away a $500 shopping spree on March 31st. All you have to do is subscribe to my bi-monthly eNewsletter to be entered into the drawing. And if you refer someone, you can get more entries. Just tell that person to state your name as the referral when they subscribe. Details are here: www.virginiasmith.org/contest.html

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. This is book 1 in your new Sister-to-Sister series. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

The initial thread of inspiration for Stuck in the Middle came during a family gathering at my mom's house. My sisters and I are very close, but they have so much in common with each other that I sometimes feel left out. They have children the same age, while I had mine ten years before. They're both very much into dramatic arts – they're actresses, directors, and choreographers – while I have never set foot on a stage. They're both really bubbly and outgoing and energetic. I'm by far the quietest person in my family (which some find hard to believe!) So during this gathering, my sisters were holding court in their usual energetic, boisterous way, and I found myself sinking quietly into the background, just watching. I know they love me as deeply as I love them, every bit as much as they love each other. It's just a difference in our personalities, but at times I feel a little left out.

So I decided to translate those feelings into a story. But I wanted to reflect all my feelings about my sisters – the deep love we have for each other, the sense of belonging, the certainty of acceptance no matter what. All those things come from sharing a lifetime of struggles and joys and tears and laughter. My relationship with my sisters is one of the most precious blessings God has given me. They've been with me through. . . well, everything! I wanted to write a book that reflects how important sisters can be to each other.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced the characters of Allie and Tori and Joan? What aspects became traits that were theirs and theirs alone?

The main points of this book all come from my own experiences. Joan and her sisters are twenty-something adults who are experiencing the ripple effect of their parents' divorce when they were young. My parents divorced when I was nine years old, and I have struggled to overcome the effects of that divorce as I tried to establish lasting relationships as an adult. In Stuck in the Middle, Joan's father deserted after the divorce was final, so she's also trying to work through the impact of those feelings of desertion. Though I still did have contact with my father after my parents' divorce, it was sporadic, and I felt emotionally deserted.

But as you are well aware, fiction takes on a life of its own. I became a Christian when I was twelve, but Joan never had a real relationship with her heavenly Father – which, of course, is an important part of the book! Plus, Joan isn't close to her mother, while my mom and I are extremely close. Joan falls for a gorgeous doctor, which I've never done. And I have never in my life paid $250 for a pair of jeans!

3. What themes exist in Stuck in the Middle that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

The major theme in Stuck in the Middle is God's desire to be a real Father to us. He's not just 'out there' somewhere, loving us from afar. He's right here with us every single moment of every day, loving us intimately and intensely.

The thing that developed as I wrote isn't a theme per se, but it supported the central theme. God will go to great lengths to prove His love for us, even miraculous lengths. One of my favorite scenes is when God sends a very powerful and clear message to Joan through her sister Tori in a simple action. I get chills every time I read that part!

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

The most difficult part for me was the medical detail I needed to include to make the hero believable. Ken is an emergency room doctor, and I don't know the first thing about ER treatment! But thank goodness for ACFW, where I found help from Ronda Wells M.D. and Crystal Laine Miller. They served as my subject matter experts for medical treatments, and also for the process of becoming a doctor.

My favorite part was a scene that takes place in a contemporary mega-church. Joan has been raised in a conservative, ritualistic church and ventures into a worship service like she's never seen before. I had a terrific time writing her reactions to the service. Like when she thinks, "If anybody does anything weird, like drop to the floor and roll, I'm outta here!" She had no idea what to expect, and thought somebody might even pull out a box of snakes or something. It made me laugh out loud as I wrote. And then, a missionary lady stands up in the service and talks about God's miracles on the mission field, and I got goose bumps right along with Joan. When I do readings from this book, that's the part I read. I just love it!

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

The next Sister-to-Sister book, Age before Beauty, comes out in February of 2009. But I have two being released before then. Sincerely, Mayla is the sequel to my debut novel, Just As I Am, and follows my wacky heroine as she faces some unpleasant facts about her family and herself. Namely, that being a control freak is an inherited trait. It's an edgy book, which is appropriate since Mayla is such an edgy character, and since her friends are pretty 'out there.' This book answers the question so many readers have e-mailed and written to ask me: "What happens between Mayla and Pastor Paul?" The wait to find out is over – Sincerely, Mayla comes out in March.

And A Taste of Murder is a romantic suspense novel being released in October from Steeple Hill. In that one, a classical violinist goes to a barbeque festival in Kentucky, and when she checks into the hotel she finds a body in her bathtub covered in barbeque sauce. (Yes, I did say it's suspense, but I had to put something wacky in there, too!) This is the first of a 3-book series, so I'm excited about it.

Thanks so much for hosting me on your blog! I really appreciate the opportunity!

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Thank YOU, Ginny, for the bonus interview and the spotlight. :)

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE copy of this book. If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book.

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the 'email follow-up comments' box when you leave a comment and fill in your email address there if it isn't already showing. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

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Spotlight on Julie Lessman and A Passion Most Pure

*** Don't forget to read about Jill Elizabeth Nelson from Wednesday's spotlight. No comments yet. Wouldn't want y'all to miss out on a FREE book. :) Read below today's spotlight. ***

Today, I have the privilege of introducing a brand new author to you. She has a great story to tell and a fantastic book to share. As a new author myself with a book releasing in February, I'm honored to have Julie with us today.

Enjoy!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Julie Lessman is a debut author who has already garnered writing acclaim, including ten Romance Writers of America awards. She is a commercial writer for Maritz Travel, a published poet and a Golden Heart Finalist. Julie has a heart to write "Mainstream Inspirational," reaching the 21st-century woman with compelling love stories laced with God's precepts. She resides in Missouri with her husband and their golden retriever, and has two grown children and a daughter-in-law. Her first book, A Passion Most Pure, was released January 2008. Visit her Web site at http://www.julielessman.com/.


A PASSION MOST PURE
by Julie Lessman
Published by Baker Publishing Group, Revell

BUY YOUR COPY TODAY

ABOUT THE BOOK

Refusing to settle for anything less than a romantic relationship that pleases God, Faith O'Connor steels her heart against her desire for the roguish Collin McGuire. But when Collin tries to win her sister Charity's hand, Faith isn't sure she can handle the jealousy she feels. To further complicate matters, Faith finds herself the object of Collin's affections, even as he is courting her sister. The Great War is raging overseas, and a smaller war is brewing in the O'Connor household. Full of passion, romance, rivalry, and betrayal, A Passion Most Pure will captivate readers from the first page. Book 1 of the Daughters of Boston series.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. This is your first novel. Congratulations! And what a cover! Already the buzz is zipping around the Internet and publicity airwaves. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

Initially my inspiration was Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara, because from the moment I read Gone With the Wind, I was hooked on romance. So much so, that I immediately set out to write (along with thousands of other love-struck young girls, I'm sure), what I hoped would be "the great American novel." Obviously my dreams of grandeur didn't go anywhere (grin), but I did write 150 single-spaced pages of a story that is actually the basis for my debut novel, A Passion Most Pure. Unfortunately (or fortunately, however you look at it!), almost forty years passed before God breathed new life into that early attempt and inspired me to finish my childhood novel of passion—only this time the "passion" would be for Him!

2. How much of your own experiences influenced the characters of Faith and Collin? What aspects became traits that were theirs and theirs alone?

With the heroine, Faith O'Connor, quite a bit. We both have hot tempers and get our "Irish" up more than we should. Also, you might say that Faith is my spiritual self. She has an intimate relationship with God—she talks and prays to Him as naturally as if He is her best friend, but she gets angry with Him too. I like to say that she (and I) are emotionally engaged with the God of the Universe—we laugh with Him, tear up at His goodness to us, and worship Him with all of our hearts. As a matter of fact, Faith and I are so much alike in the spiritual aspect, that a good friend once told me that reading A Passion Most Pure was "like going to lunch with me." I hope that's a good thing!

As far as the hero goes, Collin McGuire is shaped and molded by his anger toward God, much like I was before I came to the Lord. His bitterness changes him from a loving, caring human being into a womanizer who has a grudge against religion and morality, not unlike me as a wild child of the 70's. But God gripped my heart, just as He does Collin, in a way that changed both of our lives forever. Yeah, God!

As far as traits that were theirs alone, I can't really think of any. Mmm...apparently I'm writing about myself in these books … :)

3. What themes exist in A Passion Most Pure that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

Well, the most important theme I want readers to see is how natural and fulfilling an intimate relationship with God can and should be. Like breathing. He should be a first resort, not a last one, and a best friend as well as Lord of your life. That's how He is to Faith and to me, and eventually to Collin as well.

The main theme of the book is based on the original title, which was A Chasing After the Wind, from Ecclesiastes 2:26. For me, "wind" is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. Throughout the book, Faith is "chasing after the wind," that is, the Holy Spirit or God's leading in her life. Collin, too, is "chasing after the wind," but in his case, it is the wind of futility, chasing after his will (sin) rather than God's, which according to Solomon, is "meaningless" and nothing more than "a chasing after the wind."

The most powerful theme of the book, in my opinion, is the message of Deuteronomy 30—the choice between life and death, blessing and curse. Simple application of God's Word—choosing to do things His way rather than our own. Whether it's praying for someone who just cut you off on the road rather than flipping them off, or choosing to remain silent when a morsel of gossip is salivating in your mouth, a decision awaits each of us every minute of every day. But, oh my, the benefits attached to our obedience are PHENOMENAL!! Blessings will overtake you, which is a lesson my heroine in A Passion Most Pure learns, and eventually each of the sisters in the series as well.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

Well, there weren't any "difficult" parts to write in this one (now book 3, A Passion Denied is another story altogether, but I digress), but there were parts that were easier and more fun to write, such as love scenes—my all-time favorite!! I like tension, lots and LOTS of romantic tension, so when I write those scenes, my keyboard is smoking because my fingers fly. In fact, one of my friends wanted to know why I couldn't just write a nice, "sweet" love scene. Duh, because I would fall asleep! :) Even my husband noticed the fast and furious pace of my love scenes—he said he would be meandering along in a nice, easy passage and then, bam! A love scene would hit, and before he knew it, he was 20 pages down the road! :)

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

Book 2, A Passion Redeemed, will be released in September 2008 (in time for the ACFW book signing at Mall of America, I hope!). Book 2 is Charity's story, a woman who puts her faith in her beauty rather than in God. It is a story of redemption and faith rising from the ashes of temptation, desire and shame. Here is a brief description:

Depth of beauty...shallow of heart, Charity O'Connor is a woman who gets what she wants. She sets her sights on a cantankerous Irishman who has stolen her heart. But although the sparks are there, he refuses to fan the coals of a potential relationship with a woman who ruined his life. She burned him once; he won't play with matches again. But Charity has a plan to turn up the heat, hoping to ignite the heart of the man she loves. And she always gets what she wants—one way or another.

Thank you, Tiff, for having me as your guest—it's been fun!

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Thanks, Julie, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE copy of A Passion Most Pure. If you don't wish to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile, since many of you don't return to check the winner notification. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.