Today we welcome B. J. Bassett to my blog. Thank you for
stopping by, B. J. Tell us about the book:
During a break
from writing novels, I felt a call from God to write a devotional book.
In The King’s Daughters—A Women’s Devotional, I share my personal experiences as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. I welcome readers into my home, offer them a cup of tea, a comfy chair, and guide them through my spiritual journey.
I convey not only my
walk with my personal Savior, but stories of other Jesus followers—Corrie ten
Boom, Franklin Graham, Susanna Wesley, Franklin Roosevelt, and others.
The reader will
discover a closer walk with God through the meditations, Scriptures, and
prayers in The King’s Daughters—A Women’s
Devotional.
Do you read your reviews? Do you respond to
them, good or bad? Do you have any advice on how to deal with the bad?
I was told once by a
writer and literary agent never to read my reviews. I'm afraid I have to
disagree.
Writing is an alone
business, and I’ve always done better with encouragement. It makes me want to
do even better. Therefore, I do read my reviews. Of course, I like the positive
ones. The reviews that are not positive could discourage me, but I’ve been in
the business for a long time, developed a thick skin, and know not everyone
will like my writing.
If a bad review discouraged
someone from moving forward, I would encourage them not to read their reviews.
If you had to choose, which writer would you
consider a mentor?
I was blessed to have
Jane Peart as my mentor. She passed away a few years ago. Jane was a Southerner
and wrote wonderful historical and contemporary novels like her series Brides of Montclair and The Orphan Train Trilogy.
What book are you reading now?
Alex Trebek—The Answer is . . . Reflections of
My Life
What books have most influenced your life
most?
Too many to count.
Of course, the Bible.
And my favorite devotionals are My Utmost
for His Highest and Streams in the
Desert. Eugenia Price and Catherine Marshall were my favorite authors for
many years. More recent books include Called
to Create by Jordan Raynor and anything by Ann Voskamp.
Who is your favorite author and what is it
that really strikes you about their work?
I tend to read secular
authors like Robyn Carr, Susan Wiggs, Debbie Macomber, Elin Hilderbrand, and
Nicholas Sparks. I believe their books go more in-depth into real-life conflicts
that Christian authors do not, and the writing is better. (I skip the sex
scenes.)
If you didn’t like writing books, what would
you do for a living?
Being eighty, I’ve
done everything I dreamed of doing. My dream was to be a wife and a mother. I
was married for sixty years, the mother of four children, and a grandmother. My
husband and I owned a mom and pop grocery in the Redwoods of California. I was
a bookkeeper, Children’s Ministry Director, and today I continue to teach
writing classes at the community college and travel as a speaker. My goal was
to have three novels published by the time I was eighty. I did it all because,
with God, all things are possible.
Can you share a little of your current work with
us?
I’ve very excited
about the current novel I’m writing, Girl
with a Heart of Gold. It’s the story from the viewpoint of a birth-mother,
the adoptive mother, and the adopted child.
My fifty-seven-year-old
daughter was adopted at birth and recently found her birth family. My daughter
said, “Mom, you know if my birth mother ever needed a place to live, I’d take
her in.” Yes, I did know that. My daughter has a heart of gold. That’s when I
decided to write a novel about the triangle of adoption.
What book do you wish you could have written?
Probably Margaret’s Story by Eugenia Price. I
read it at least three times, and I use it as an example in my writing classes.
***
Bio and Book Orders:
B. J.
Bassett encourages others as an author, teacher, and speaker.
Her books include Lily, Gillian’s Heart; Sweet
Charity; and co-author of a children’s devotional, My Time with God, which sold 55,000 copies while in print.
She
teaches writing workshops at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon. As a
speaker for Stonecroft Ministries, she tells her story of rejection and
acceptance, not only in life but also as a writer. She also offers book talks.
She
enjoys reading, jigsaw puzzles, knitting, munching warm scones oozing with
butter and strawberry jam, and sipping earl grey tea. A native Californian, she
now lives in Roseburg, Oregon.
Her books are
available on Amazon. Or: e-mail or PM her on Facebook with your info and she’ll
ship a signed copy to you.
B.
J. Bassett
106
Matthew Lee Court
Roseburg,
OR 97471
B J Bassett@bassett106
4 comments:
The devotions in B.J.'s book are encouraging and reassuring. I recommend it.
A love your devotional and your advice here is spot on. Thanks for sharing, Bunny.
I love author interviews. I learned a lot! I loved Jane Peart's work.
Thanks, Laura, once again you've blessed me.
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