Today we welcome Beth Vogt to my blog. Thanks for stopping by, Beth! Beth is willing to give away one copy of her book to one commenter. Please leave contact information. To enter answer the question that is in bold print below.
I love your contemporary romances, Beth. Why do you write the kind of books you do? My contemporary romance novels are all driven by the belief that relationships are messy – and yet relationships are still worth it. God desires relationship with us. He loves us enough to step into our messy lives and heal our hurts so we can love him and love others.
How has being published changed your life? Being published has enabled me to say, “I’m living my dream!” I’ve always wanted to be a writer, although that dream has changed from being a nonfiction writer and editor to being a novelist. I’ve also learned that “living the dream” means doing the work: meeting deadlines, rewriting, being willing to tear up a manuscript because I know it’s not working, and repeating this process for every book I write.
How has being published changed your life? Being published has enabled me to say, “I’m living my dream!” I’ve always wanted to be a writer, although that dream has changed from being a nonfiction writer and editor to being a novelist. I’ve also learned that “living the dream” means doing the work: meeting deadlines, rewriting, being willing to tear up a manuscript because I know it’s not working, and repeating this process for every book I write.
What advice would you give to a beginning author? Find a mentor. My mentors have made all the difference in my writing life. And no, I didn’t find a mentor right away;there were some years I was on my own. But classes can substitute for a flesh and blood mentor, and so can craft books. While you’re reading books and attending conferences or local workshops, be praying for a mentor. See what relationships you develop with other writers farther along the writing road. Don’t be afraid to ask someone to consider being your mentor – but realize their answer may be yes or no. Know what you want from a mentor and be willing to let the relationship bend and flex to your personalities.
Tell us about Almost Like Being in Love – a brief blurb:
She’s won an all-expense paid, luxurious, dream wedding—all she needs now is the groom!
Winning a destination wedding would be a dream come true…if Caron Hollister and her boyfriend were engaged. How is she supposed to break the news that she’s won their dream wedding when he hasn’t even proposed? Sure, everyone says they’re perfect for each. And he’s likely to pop the question any minute. But will it really work if he can’t even see why she likes the idea of a destination wedding?
Realtor Kade Webster has put his past heartbreak with Caron behind him. His thriving real estate company keeps him busy and now he’s secured a big win with the Colorado Tour of Homes. Then his home stager cancels, leaving him in the lurch…just as Caron shows up in his life once again. She can help him with the Tour as long as they keep things purely professional.
Spending time helping Kade while she should be planning her dream destination wedding has Caron in knots. They broke up for good reasons, yet she’s still embarrassingly attracted to him, even if he sometimes drives her crazy. How can she be feeling such things one man when she’s imagining a wedding with another man? Can she say “I do” to one man when she’s wondering “What if” about another?
What one question would you like us to ask your readers? If you had an unlimited budget to make over one room in your house, which room would you focus on? Any specific details you’d focus on?
Tell us about the giveaway you’re offering. I’m giving away one copy of Almost Like Being in Love, which is the second novel in my destination wedding series.
How did Almost Like Being in Love get started? I introduced the heroine, Caron Hollister, in Crazy Little Thing Called Love, my first destination wedding novel. Caron is Logan Hollister’s little sister – he was the hero in Crazy Little Thing Called Love – and I just scratched the surface of her story in the first book. It was a lot of fun to discover who she was and what was going on with her romance with Alex as I wrote Almost Like Being in Love – and to also bring back Logan and Vanessa. Tell us about your research process. I’ve learned writing a novel isn’t always writing what you know. It’s about writing what you research. Both Caron and Kade Webster, main characters in Almost Like Being in Love, are Realtors. I know nothing about buying and selling houses – except for the fact that my husband and I have done that several times. I’m thankful I have several friends who are Realtors, and they were wonderful resources for me. One even read my entire manuscript for me and gave me feedback. Alex, who is Caron’s boyfriend, is an AC/Heating technician. Once again, I have no personal experience with that field of work, but I one of my writing buddies who runs that kind of business with her husband. She answered all my “What would Alex do?” questions.
How do you handle distractions? I write in between the interruptions in my life. That means during my teen daughter’s club volleyball season, I take my laptop with me to tournaments and write in between her matches. Some nights I stay up late and write when everyone else is sleeping or I get up way-early and write while the house is still quiet. Some days are family-focused and my imaginary characters are ignored. I don’t complain about insomnia. A night of not sleeping equals a good writing night. And Bose headphones? They’re one of my best writing tools ever.
What’s on the horizon for you? What will you be writing next? I’m working on a novel that examines the relationships between sisters – and yes, there are twin sisters involved. As a twin myself, I’m intrigued by that dynamic.
Where can readers find you online? I love connecting with my readers. One of my favorite things to do is to ask “I’m curious” questions on my Author FB page and to host contest giveaways, too. Oh, I guess that’s two favorite things!
15 comments:
I'd redo my kitchen. It's in the middle of the house with an open floor plan. You can see it from every direction. I'd redo the cream with cream tile countertops to granite and redo the oak cabinets to cream or gray (chalk paint).
With an unlimited budget, I'd create an "outdoor room" -- a water element of some sort (e.g. water tumbling over natural stones), a fire pit, an outdoor stove, and refrigerator, and a heater to use on cooler evenings.
I'd redo the kitchen. It's so dark. It needs brightening up!
If I had an unlimited budget I'd love to create some sort of reading room/library that I could escape to when I need some me time!!
The Bedroom. Big room with walk in closets. Everything pink. angelachesnut246@gmail.com
I would make over our master bathroom with new flooring, a walk-in shower, new tub, new cabinetry, and new lighting.
texaggs2000 at gmail dot com
I would love to make over our guest bathroom. It needs help for sure. I would like beige and green to be the color theme.
marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
I would make over the hall bath as it is very narrow. I would redo everything from top to bottom!
psalm103and138 at gmail dot com
If I had an unlimited budget, I would redo the kitchen. My focus would be more cabinet space!! 😀
I would redo my kitchen with more counter space and cabinets. I would keep the area open to allow visiting with family and friends to be easier. But definitely bigger as it's hard to have more than a couple in my kitchen when it's time to clean up after a meal due to very little counter space. .
Forgot my email address
mo1202007ATyahooDOTcom
Hmmm, if I had an unlimited budget I would create a calm peaceful reading room in our spare bedroom. No tv or electronics, except for my Kindle. lol I would put in a chaise lounge chair and good lighting. Some music and a bookcase for all of my books and a place to charge my Kindle to read e-books. Thanks for letting me dream. And your book sounds great!!
Denise
Too much dreaming about my dream room and I forgot to add my email address.
neecykay@gmail.com
I have an unlimited budget I would make over my living room. It would be a lot larger with lots of sitting room. I don't have company now because we have nowhere for them to set.
Congratulations to Britney!
Post a Comment