Posts
Q: First of all—coffee, tea, soda, or vitamin water?
EM: Hot tea, iced tea, sweet tea, unsweetened tea, black tea, herbal tea. I love all tea! Something romantic about tea, don't you think? "Tea for two and two for tea. Me for you and you for me" is a sweet song I love to sing.
Q: When did you first know you were a writer?
EM: When my husband was preaching a sermon on the Parable of the Talents. In that parable, God is angry at the lazy servant who buries his talent. With no coaxing from me, God spoke to my heart, What good are your writings buried in a file cabinet if no one reads them? I laughed, but I knew I was to write a book. I was in my 50's and had no clue how to write a book, but here I am in my 60's with three published books.
Q: How does upstate NY play into your writing?
EM: This question made me laugh. Winter is my favorite season. It's my writing season because my world is blanketed in snow and quiet. I tuck myself into my office and write away! When the sun shines and the weather is warm, I run outside to play. Oh dear, I'd never finish a book if I lived in the South.
Q: If you could sit down and interview any person, fictitious or real from any time, who would that be and what is the first question you would ask?
EM: I'd sit down and enjoy a cup of tea with my grandmother. She was the first (and the only) person to sit me on her lap and read the Bible to me. After her death I found one page of a journal written in her own handwriting. In it, she prayed for her five children to believe in Jesus Christ. Her journal inspired me to write so my great grandchildren would know of my faith one day when I'm gone. I'd ask her how and when she believed in Jesus Christ as her Savior. Then I'd bask in her love and soak in all her wisdom.
Q: Who have been your mentors, and how did they help you most?
EM: I didn't believe in Christ until I was 32. Immediately, I joined a Bible study and have participated in Bible studies for most of my life. Meeting weekly with those women mentored me spiritually. They taught me through their lives and studying the Word what living a Christ-life looks like.
I've read every book written by Hannah Whitall Smith and Linda Dillow. Those dear authors mentored me spiritually as well.
As a writer, I have always been in a monthly writer's group. Love these women who read my work with new eyes and make my words shine.
Q: What do you hope your readers will take away from your books?
EM: Hope. We live in a world that lacks hope. We give up too soon on people and on circumstances and on marriages. I pray my readers' take away is seeing Jesus Christ as the hope they search for and desperately need.
Q: Do you have a question you would like our blog readers to answer?
EM: Who was the most inspirational person in your life? I'd love to read your story. Please share.
I'd love to do a book give away for the readers. The winner can choose one of my three books, We All Married Idiots: Three Things You Will Never Change About Your Marriage and Ten Things You Can, Splashes of Serenity: Bathtime Reflections for Drained Moms, or Splashes of Serenity: Bathtime Reflections for Drained Wives. If you leave a comment to enter, be sure to tell us if you are following any of Elaine's social media or have shared this on fb, twitter, or Google+ for extra entries. Possibility of up to eight entries. ENDS FRIDAY 8PM
KM: Thank you so much, Elaine, for being with us this week. I wish you every blessing as you write for His glory!
I really enjoyed reading more about Elaine. Looking forward to meeting her in Montrose this summer! Love that she started writing in her fifties. That gives me hope! The person who influenced me most spiritually was Katy, my daughter's first babysitter. She mentored me and invited my daughter to Awanas. I was saved at twelve but never had any one come along and disciple me.
ReplyDeleteHi, Tiffany. So nice to have you come by today. Your story is so familiar--I was self-discipled and read through the whole Bible as a teen. It's wonderful when you finally meet people who take a personal interest in you and beautiful how the Lord aligns those divine appointments in your life. Many blessings!
ReplyDeleteHi Elaine (the "other Elaine" here!), What a lovely interview! Thank you for sharing about your writing and it being an obedience to God, using the talent He has blessed you with. I feel that same responsibility, that it is not something to "hide under a bushel" but to let it shine, for HIS glory. I think one of the most inspirational people in my life was someone I never met—Corrie ten Boom. Her life story and her ability to forgive her persecutors in the Concentration Camp astonish and amaze me. She is truly an an inspiration! And I would love to win any of your wonderful books! Blessings!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your Corrie ten Boom story. I love her too. What an amazing woman who inspired many. As writers we have that same platform. Let's take it seriously by writing well and living lives that reflect Christ. Hugs to you, Elaine Marie!
DeleteThank you for sharing this interview, Kathleen, and for obeying the call to start writing, Elaine! It's hard to choose the most influential person in my life ... my mum taught me to pray & took me to Sunday School, my Sunday Achool teacher kept praying for me, as well as my grandmom, and my youth pastor was a great example and a role model, I admire the integrity of my husband ... God has sendt the right person's on my path, thankful to Him for his loving kindness! My prayer is that I could be used for His purposes - that I would be attentative and listen to His voice, so He could use me for those in need.
ReplyDeleteNina
Nina, thanks for sharing about those important people in your life. <3 I love that your husband makes that list. Mine does, too, in my life.
DeleteThank you for this wonderful interview. I love reading interviews because I get to know something about authors I never knew before. The most influential person in my life is a fellow Religious Sister Maria in my community. She is a true woman of much wisdom. When I am anxious, she reminds me to breathe. When I feel unworthy, she replies" who really is worthy?" When I feel burdened she tells me " do what you can, not what you can't". When I have trouble praying she tells me a similar thought"pray as you can" not "as you can't". She has always encouraged me and supported me and affirmed me and been there in the hard times. Right now I am blest to have her as my boss and best friend.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed what you wrote about the parable of the talents and how that got you started on writing. Thanks for the chance to win. I would especially love the book "Bathtime Reflections...". thanks for considering me in your contest. Blessings! Mary Lou K flowersmarylou85@gmail.com
I have shared this on google and facebook.
Thanks for visiting, MaryLou. Your freind gives wonderful advice. I will take those gems of wisdom to heart in the moments when I feel overwhelmed, too.
DeleteBest of luck and blessings on the giveaway!
Woo Hoo Mary Lou! You won!!!
DeleteLovely interview! I also love to learn about the real lives of the authors I read about. I would love to talk to my grandpa. He died when I was only 7, but to hear everyone talk about him and what a Godly man he was makes me sad I never knew him growing up. I would love to pick his brain and hear what inspired him!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the thought provoking memories. :)
Susan P
farmygirl at hotmail dot com
Hi, Susan. Thanks so much for coming by and sharing about your grandfather. Heaven is going to be such an amazing place when we get to meet these people we've heard so much about. Good luck on the giveaway.
DeleteHey Kathy and Elaine! Elaine, I had to laugh, too, at your response to how NY plays a part in your writing. Because while I was reading it and you were saying winter is your favorite season, I'm thinking, OMGoodness! I'd be freezing! I'd be curling up in front of the fireplace with a heating blanket. I do love the beauty of the world blanketed in snow if it just didn't come with the cold weather! LOL> But you made me smile when you said you would never get anything done if you lived in the south. I was thinking oh you probably would it would just be in July and August when the temperatures are in the high 90's. Inside is the only place one can find relief.
ReplyDeletethanks for coming by, Debbie Lynne. We just had a weekend in the 90s and it was enough to send me scurrying for a spot beside the AC. :)
DeleteI would love to win the book, "Splashes of Serenity for Drained Wives".
ReplyDeleteThanks for the opportunity to do so.
Janet E.
von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks for coming by, Janet. And thanks for all you do to share great Christian books with others.
DeleteMost inspirational person? That would have to be my adopted mom, Lou Anne,(she had no choice and she's stuck with me) she had a challenging life and raised six wonderful kids and has been widowed for 14 years now. What inspires me is that she lives life fully. She didn't retire from full time ICU nursing till she was over 70! She travels she serves and more importantly she listens when I struggle and reminds me again and again of God's faithfulness and that even when I can't see it now, enduring my trials will have a bit impact on my children. She doesn't minimize my pain and sometimes she challenges me, but I can always be honest with her. I told her she can never die. If I were to win a book I would want We all Married Idiots. I've told so many people about that book yet don't have it myself! LOVE the title! (most people do when I share it with them and they "get" it - that if we married idiots - so did our spouses!). Blessings to you, Elaine!
ReplyDeleteHi, Susan. Thanks for sharing about Lou Anne--she sounds like an extraordinary woman. Good luck on the giveaway.
DeleteTea is definitely my favorite, too. I love peppermint tea!I'd love to be entered. katieclarkbooks @ charter . net
ReplyDeleteHi, Katie. Thanks for coming by! Best of luck and blessings to you!
DeleteI would say most of the inspirational people in my life were the people surrounding me at different points, like my mother and father. Also, my dear friend, Dee, who really taught me so many homemaking things I wanted to learn but didn't know anyone who knew how. (She was a 4H girl and they seem to know how to do everything). But being the imaginative reader person that I am, I found great inspiration from fictional characters as well. For instance, Scarlett O'Hara. I sort of feel a piece of her is a facet of all our personalities, even the negative traits. She was a success in business, had an amazing amount of true grit, was afraid of a lot but did it anyway, and by her own selfishness, foolishness, taking others for granted and her immaturity and manipulating, was a failure at her relationships. Yet she was hopeful, even in the face of her greatest disasters. She also slipped brandy in her tea, Elaine. teehee. By the way, I really do recommend Elaine's books. She is a wise woman. Thea
ReplyDeleteAhh, I never thought of Scarlett like that before. I agree, Thea. Wonderful answers. Thanks for sharing!
DeleteThea, you are a hoot! One day when we are very old we should have tea together! wink! thanks for the comments.
DeleteMy inspiration was Princess Diana. I can still remember by BFF Nancy waking me out of bed at zero dark thirty to watch this fairy tale wedding of an ordinary girl who became a princess. While it may not have been the fairy tale she envisioned, in the too short time she was here she rose above her circumstances and chose a servant's heart. She may have been insecure, but as a young woman watching her, all I saw was strength. The compassion she showed to soooo many despite all that was going on in her life, to this day amazes me and reminds me life is precious, not all about me and the short time we're here, life should never be taken for granted!! It's no wonder the people dubbed her queen of hearts :)
ReplyDeleteOops, I forgot to add, I follow and share Elaine's posts on FB. I don't do any other social media and I was able to hear her speak at Big Flats Wesleyan Church recently!! Wonderful speaker and thoroughly enjoyed listening about her book We All Married Idiots.
DeleteThx for the comment Trish. My weekend at Big Flats was a blessing to me!
DeleteBe blessed,
Elaine
And the winner via random.org is MaryLou! Congratulations, and I will be sure Elaine has your contact info so you can choose which book of hers you would like.
ReplyDeleteThank you to everybody for coming by this week and showing such wonderful support for Elaine. It's been a pleasure to interact with you all and learn about your inspirations.