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?

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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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Spotlight on Jill Elizabeth Nelson and Reluctant Smuggler

Today, I am happy and honored to host another one of my web site clients as a spotlight author. Jill has been a good friend and thanks to her husband, she provided me with my first real good picture of my husband and me before we were even involved in a romantic relationship. It's my pleasure to feature her latest book, the third in her To Catch a Thief series featuring the unique world of art thievery rings and detectives trying to stop them.

Enjoy!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jill Elizabeth Nelson writes what she likes to read—tales of adventure, pathos, and intrigue spiced with humor and faith. She and her husband of over 25 years live in rural Minnesota and have raised four children. They love to camp, hike, and participate in short term mission trips. They've been to Jamaica, New Orleans during Mardi Gras (a most bizarre and challenging mission field), and Thailand. For more about Jill, her books, and a chance to win a signed copy in a monthly contest, go to http://www.jillelizabethnelson.com/.


RELUCTANT SMUGGLER
by Jill Elizabeth Nelson
Published by Multnomah Publishers

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ABOUT THE BOOK

They say keep your friends close and your enemies closer...but what if you can't tell the difference?

For security consultant Desiree Jacobs, the assignment is simple: make off with an ancient Mayan artifact, and hand it over to the good guys in time to plan her wedding to ultra-fine FBI agent, Tony Lucano.

Yet, in a world where no one is as they seem, Desi must decipher who the good guys are—before she ends up in the hands of a ruthless enemy.

Suddenly, artifact recovery turns into archaeological espionage, and the woman who finds all the answers must now ask questions. Who's looting priceless antiquities underneath the nose of the baffled Mexican government? And what does a violent gang of drug and human traffickers have to do with missing artifacts?

Even with Tony on her side, she'll need way more than luck to survive against the odds. She'll need the truth—not just to set her free, but to liberate many innocents caught in the snare of calculating evil.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. This is book 3 in your To Catch a Thief series, and you continue with the story of Desi and Tony. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

Each book in the series stands alone as a complete story that will be understandable to readers starting anywhere in the series. The main characters and some of the secondary characters continue from book to book. Of course, relationships develop as each tale unfolds. In Smuggler, I drew together a number of on-going character threads, which was a lot of fun. The plot idea came from current concern in the news media regarding the spread of gangs and the tragic issue of slave trafficking, which can be a gang activity. I dedicated Reluctant Smuggler to the International Justice Mission (http://www.ijm.org/), a ministry that works tirelessly throughout the world on behalf of the captive and the helpless.

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

I share Desiree's task-oriented focus, but in many ways she's what I wish I was rather than what I am. Her quick wit and boldness in the face of opposition inspire me. Most of the time, the snappy come-back occurs to me after the fact, and I tend to avoid confrontation. In Tony, I worked to create a strong man with a deep faith that affects his daily life. Then I threw into the mix a poignant vulnerability that makes him human and relatable. My husband shares all these traits, plus he likes his easy chair in the living room. He is not, however, a martial arts expert and has never arrested a crook in his life.

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

The core theme in Smuggler is the vital role of hope in the health of an individual and society. Gangs develop as a false and negative answer to the hopelessness and powerlessness experienced by certain segments of society. I trust readers will see the ultimate hope anyone can have in Jesus Christ. Truth is also a theme in the book, because it will take Desi and Tony discovering the truth for any of them to survive and be free. Tony's search for personal identity after a crisis event was a theme that developed as the story unfolded. I hope readers will apply his new understanding of self-worth to themselves.

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

I struggled with Tony's medical crisis to give him believable and character-consistent reactions to his unaccustomed helplessness. Most guys make very bad patients, and Tony needed to be real in that way, while illustrating a healthy resolution to his issues. I loved writing a long-awaited culmination in Desi and Tony's relationship. I strove to achieve deep emotional resonance for the reader without dripping over into sappy. My readers will have to let me know if I succeeded.

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

I have a two book contract with Steeple Hill for their romantic suspense line. Evidence of Murder comes out in February 2009 and the second book in June of 2009. Here's a short summary for Evidence of Murder: When a new business owner discovers on her property photos of a decade-old mass murder, she and the surviving son of the massacre become the target of a powerful and desperate killer.

Thanks for hosting me on your blog, Tiffany. You ask great questions!

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

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE copy of Reluctant Smuggler. 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.