Blog Tour - Suzanne Woods Fisher and Copper Fire

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Suzanne Woods Fisher's just-released historical novel Copper Fire, is the sequel to the three-time award-winning Copper Star, a World War II love story inspired by true events. Fisher was a contributing editor to Christian Parenting Today magazine. Her work has appeared in Today's Christian Woman, Worldwide Challenge, ParentLife, and Marriage Partnership. She has contributed to ten non-fiction books, including Chicken Soup for the Soul: Children with Special Needs.

A wife and mother, Fisher lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and raises puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. The best thing about being a writer, she feels, is that all of life becomes material for writing. It's all grit for the oyster.

Suzanne can be found at http://www.suzannewoodsfisher.com/.

During the month of June, Suzanne is running a book-a-day-giveaway contest. To enter, scoot on over to her blog (http://suzannewoodsfisher.blogspot.com/).

COPPER FIRE
by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Published by Vintage Romance Publishing

ABOUT THE BOOK

Copper Fire is the sequel to Copper Star, picking right up at the very end of World War II. On a summer day in 1945, my main character, Louisa, receives a telegram from the International Red Cross Tracing Service. She discovers that her cousin, Elisabeth, has just been released from Dachau. Louisa is determined to go to Germany to get Elisabeth...and that's where the story begins.

Buy your copy of Copper Fire today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

I try to write about interesting people who have been overlooked. In Copper Star, I wrote about Louise Tracy, wife of Spencer Tracy. In 1942, Louise Tracy started a foundation (The John Tracy Clinic) to teach oral communication (lip reading and speaking) to pre-school age children. She and Spencer had a deaf son, John. Louise ignored the conventional wisdom of the day (sending John to an institution to learn sign language) and had remarkable success teaching him to communicate. In both Copper Star and Copper Fire, a deaf child named William steals the show.

The other interesting person in these stories is Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the theologian who tried to assassinate Hitler. He plays a very significant role in both books.

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

I wish I were more like my main character in Copper Star, Louisa, the young resistance worker smuggled out of Germany by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. She's funny, determined, smart... and flawed. And she knows it! She has an ability not to take herself too seriously.

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

There is a phrase that Louisa uses that is the theme for this book: "Everybody wants to be found." Ironically, it comes back to slap Louisa in the face when her former love track s her down and complicates her life.

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

Writing Copper Fire was much easier than writing Copper Star because the main characters were already developed. They had already set up housekeeping in my head and had rearranged the furniture to their liking. (Uh oh...I sound a little crazy, don't I?)

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

In late August, Grit from the Oyster: 250 Pearls of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers, will be released from Vintage Spirit. I wrote Grit with three other very talented authors.

In February 2009, a love story set in 1969, For the Love of Dogs, will be released by Vintage.

And another piece of great news! I just received a contract from Revell/Baker for a non-fiction book called Amish Peace in an English Life. It won't be out until 2010...but it is taking up 90% of my brain right now.

Thanks for hosting me today!

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Thank you, Suzanne, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Copper Fire.

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 there is a way to contact you. Otherwise, you won't be entered. 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 box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. 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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Other Blogs on the Tour

6/16 - http://forstrose.blogspot.com/ - Bibliophile's Retreat
6/18 - http://miraleesdesk.blogspot.com/ -
Coming Home—A Christ Centered Blog by Christian Writer Miralee Ferrell
6/19 - http://denadyer.com/ - Dena Dyer
6/20 - http://www.ambermiller.com/ - A Fiction-Filled Life by Amber Miller (Writer & Author) 6/23 - http://portraitofawriter.ginaconroy.com/ - Portrait of a Writer…Interrupted
6/23 - http://teresaslack.blogspot.com/ - Theresa Slack
6/24 - http://dianewylie.blogspot.com/ - Diane Wylie
6/25 - http://christysbookblog.blogspot.com/ - Christy's Book Blog
6/27 - http://triciagoyer.blogspot.com/ - Tricia Goyer
7/08 - http://2nd-cup-of-cofee.blogspot.com/ - 2nd Cup of Coffee

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Spotlight on Delia Latham and Goldeneyes

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Delia Latham is a former newspaper Staff Writer and an occasional contributor to her hometown’s regional publication, Bakersfield Magazine. She also writes greeting card verse, short stories, articles, and songs. Her editing and proofing skills have been utilized by numerous authors, including Dr. Chuck Wall, founder of the Random Acts of Kindness movement.

Her debut novel, Almost Like a Song, was released in June 2006; Goldeneyes will be released in March 2008 by Vintage Romance Publishing. Delia's work is also included in an upcoming short story anthology, The Shortstack: 20 Stories to Fill You Up.

The author lives in Bakersfield, California with her husband, Johnny, a Pentecostal minister. Her four adult children and four "beautiful, absolutely perfect" grandchildren daily light up her life. She loves to hear from her readers. Contact her through her website or her blog.

GOLDENEYES
by Delia Latham
Published by Vintage Romance Publishing

ABOUT THE BOOK

A man's eyes are the windows to his soul . if he has one. Deep in the darkness of a Depression-era night, a man addicted to alcohol sells something precious to obtain it. His vile action impacts the lives of two entire families, and it will be over two decades before the horrible wrong begins to be made right again. Two young women - strangers to each other - unknowingly enmeshed in a Pandora's Box of secrets that could prevent them from finding happiness with the men they love. Two adoring mothers who know more than they are willing to say. A newsman with a story he cannot tell. What is their connection, and who is the golden-eyed stranger who moves in the shadows of their broken lives?

Buy Your Copy Today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

I grew up in a tiny California farming community called Weedpatch. I have always wanted to write something and set it in that locale. Believe it or not, I think I actually worked the story around the setting, rather than the other way around - which is by far more usual.

One aspect of my inspiration I can't share because it would give away an important twist in the book. Want to talk again a few months from now? :)

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

I may be wrong - God knows I have been before! - but I truly believe every author writes a bit of themselves into their characters. Sometimes we don't even know we're doing it. One of my heroines (there are two in Goldeneyes) shares a relationship with her father that mirrors my own with my Dad. Their manner of speaking and the honor they show their parents is most likely influenced by my own upbringing. I just wrote into them the kind of respect parental respect I feel a Christian should have.

I think that's probably the extent of it. Who knows, though? Both of my boys tell me the heroine in my first novel, Almost Like a Song, IS me! That was not my intention at all (and I don't think it's quite as definitive a resemblance as he thinks! LOL ), but it is easy for a writer to allow his/her characters to be influenced by their own upbringing, environment, personal beliefs, etc.

One of the Goldeneyes heroines has an extreme fear of the dark. That's entirely her own, not mine. She's also a good artist. Again, totally her - I can't draw a stick figure and make it straight. But the other twin is a writer. Okay, that's me. She's also kind of shy around people she doesn't know, and yeah, I can relate to that, too.

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

I just shared this theme with someone else this morning - and it did develop as the story progressed. It is simply this: Never stop believing that God has a reason for every incident in your life. He does, and His purpose will be manifested in time, always to your good and His glory.

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

I loved writing about the golden-eyed stranger who managed to bring to light the connection in the lives of my primary characters. Those parts just seemed to flow. I was so into this mysterious person, I could actually see him in my mind. Because he's not one of the characters we see on every page, I had to curb my enthusiasm and be careful not to paint him too prominently, allowing him to overshadow my heroines. Having him show up in odd places and times worked best - it made him more interesting to the reader.

To my surprise, writing about Weedpatch was difficult. As much as I wanted to use that setting, I found myself struggling to separate myself from the reality of the place enough to fictionalize it. I encountered a huge writer's block at one point that I feared would be insurmountable. But with many tears and a lot of prayer, God broke down the barrier. When He gave me that release, He also gave me the inspiration, and the rest of the story flowed well.

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

Whenever God wants it to happen. You can all help me pray that my manuscripts find favor with an editor and are contracted quickly!

I've completed a short novel called Karissa's Dream which is being pitched to several publishers now. Currently, I'm working on a storyline that (to my utter surprise!) will make a connection between Almost Like a Song and Goldeneyes.

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Thank you, Delia, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Goldeneyes.

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 box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. 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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