Monday, September 26, 2016

Interview with Candee Fick and giveaway!




Candee is graciously offering to giveaway a copy of her new book to one
commenter. Please include contact information so we can contact the
winner. Leave comment below.

Where did you grow up and attend school? Are there any other authors in
your family? 

I’m a pastor’s kid so our family moved around a bit when I was young, bouncing
from the Los Angeles area where I was born to the plains of Colorado to the Rocky
Mountains to Nebraska and back to Colorado. I attended junior high and high
school in the Denver area before getting a Bachelor’s degree from Oral Roberts
University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I’m the only author that I know of in my family but
not the only bookworm.

How did you get started writing? How old were you? What made you want to start?
What did you enjoy reading as a child? 

As a child I would read anything I could get my hands on but especially loved
The Borrowers, Little House on the Prairie, Chronicles of Narnia, and The
Black Stallion. (Yes, I have an eclectic taste in literature!) My mom has a
clipping of a Christmas story I wrote that was published by the newspaper
when I was in 3rd grade, but I didn’t get serious about writing until high school
when I poured out angst-ridden poetry into a journal. My love of stories
continued to grow, but as I came across more books that left me emotionally
dissatisfied, I decided to try my hand at writing books instead of short stories.
However, as a busy mom, those attempts didn’t get a serious start until twelve
years ago.

How and when did you and your husband meet? Was it love at first sight?
What does he think about your being an author? 

My husband and I met when we were both teaching at a Christian school. I
remember seeing his name on a paper in the office and feeling a strange
inner recognition like I was supposed to know him. Of course, the first time
I actually saw him, he was dressed in shorts and a T-shirt for football practice
and I thought he was cute. However, it took a year of matchmaking students
dropping hints and then a nudge from a mutual mentor teacher to actually get
us on our first date and jumpstart our whirlwind romance. As for my being an
author, he has supported my dream and my book addiction financially for years,
but I don’t think he *got* it until he read my first published novel.

How old are your children? Do they read your books? Have any of them got
the writing bug, as well?

My kids are now 19, 18, and 12 and I don’t think any of them have read my books.
The oldest has a rare genetic syndrome and a limited mental capacity to read or
understand my stories. The middle is an athletically-gifted boy who only reads if it’s
assigned for a class and would never pick up a romance. The youngest is definitely
my bookworm and devours large books beyond his years (he read the Lord of the
Rings trilogy when he was nine) but is also at that awkward age where girls are
icky-ish and reading a book with kissing in it makes him shudder. However, he’s
got a wild imagination and has written several short stories, making him the one
most likely to write a book when he grows up.

How do you research the communities and people you write about? Do you
find yourself having to do a lot of research? 

So far, I’ve tried to write stories involving the community where I live so I’m at
least familiar with the general setting. However, when it comes to writing about
a college football program or a dinner theater or a certain profession, there are
a lot of intangibles to consider including daily schedules and the types of interactions
the characters would experience. I do enough Internet research to get a general
 understanding and then find a person to talk to in order to fill in the gaps with
the specific details that bring a story to life. I also try to spend some time in that
setting to soak it up with all of my senses and have often been surprised with a
new piece of information to add a fresh twist to the story.

Which is your favorite book? Do you have a character in your books you identify
with the most?

Of my books, my favorite book so far is Dance Over Me. The main character,
Dani, is a lot like me. Well, I haven’t been orphaned, in foster-care, adopted,
or been a professional dancer…but I have spent a lot of time on the outside
trying to fit into the popular crowd or searching for a place to belong. There
have also been times during my daily devotions where I’ve felt a frustration
at my inability to express how much I love God and I’ve even attempted to dance
 to an instrumental hymn in order to show that emotion. Like Dani, I’ve decided
there aren’t enough steps, or words, or even musical notes to express my gratitude
that God is at work behind the scenes in my life even when I can’t see Him.



BLURB: Danielle Lefontaine, a fledgling actress raised to the lullaby of Broadway,
searches for her long-lost brother and her place on the stage, but a jealous cast
member and numerous fruitless leads threaten to drop the curtain on her
dreams and shine a spotlight on her longing for a place to belong. Meanwhile,
Alex Sheridan is living his dream except for someone to share it with. When
Dani dances into his life, he hopes he’s found the missing piece to his heart
but fears the bright lights of a bigger stage could steal her away. Will the
rhythm of dancing feet usher in their deepest desires or leave them stranded
in the wings?




BIO: Candee Fick is the wife of a high school
football coach and the mother of three children,
including a daughter with a rare genetic syndrome.
When not busy with her day job or writing, she can
be found cheering on the home team at football,
basketball, baseball, and Special Olympics games.
In what little free time remains, she enjoys exploring
the great Colorado outdoors, indulging in dark
chocolate, and savoring happily-ever-after endings
through a good book.


The verse that inspired the book (and the series) ---- Zephaniah 3:17 English Standard Version
 (ESV) 17 The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over
 you with gladness; he  will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. ----

ENDORSEMENTS: Candee Fick’s sophomore novel is a pure delight with its
combination of true-to-life characters, sparkling dialogue and fascinating
details of the inner workings of a dinner theater. From its heart wrenching
prologue to the swoon-worthy ending, this is a book for readers to savor,
one that left me asking, “What’s next?” ~Amanda Cabot, bestselling author
of On Lone Star Trail

Candee Fick creates insightful characters who navigate the waters of
professional jealousy and insecurity with compassion and restraint.
Filled with theatrical drama and heartfelt romance, Dance Over Me is a
must read that stays on your mind and in your heart long after the last
page turns. ~Audra Harders, multi-published author

If you are looking for a beautifully crafted story, pick up Candee Fick's Dance
Over Me, a contemporary romance. Heroine Danielle finds love when she is
least expecting it. Join her on her journey to love as she copes with heartache, 
disappointment, and betrayal by  relying on faith, hope, and forgiveness. This
will not disappoint! ~ Jane Choate, author of 34 novels, including The Littlest
Witness

Candee Fick brilliantly builds tension in Dance Over Me, adding just the right
amount of romance to balance out the drama. ~Laura V. Hilton, author of
The Amish Firefighter (Whitaker House)

3 comments:

Marilyn R. said...

Candee Fick is a new author to me. Thank you for the interview and opportunity to win a copy of "Dance Over Me'. God bless

Anonymous said...

Oh, I loved the Black Stallion series too! I borrowed them from my school library and public library, and I absolutely HAD to read them in order! A few of them have stuck with me over the years. Do you remember the one about the hidden valley full of horses?

kvwriter said...

I love how Candee always does a lot of research for her story! I read Catch of a Lifetime and was just amazed at how she creates the reality for the reader! Such authenticity! Love her!

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