Interview with Marji Laine and new serial romance A Dozen Apologies, with giveaway links

Welcome Marji! We are so happy to have you here this week, and that you have agreed to share a bit about yourself.

Q: First of all, hot cocoa, warmed mulled cider, or cappuccino?   ;)

Oh that’s easy! Hot chocolate with a little dollop of whipped cream and sprinkled with cinnamon. Mmmm!

Q: What causes are you passionate about, and do they find their way into your writing?

That’s a toughie. It’s not that I don’t have opinions, I do. But I’m a peacemaker. The only thing I’m truly passionate about is sharing the truth and love and grace of the Lord. And, YES, that finds its way into my writing quite a lot!

Q: When did you first know you were a writer?

I’ve dabbled for decades. Started a screenplay when I was 7. Lol! About three years ago, my mom challenged me with the question of what I would do if time and money weren’t an issue. I said, “Write!” without hesitation. I actually surprised myself because I had a strong scrap booking home-business. I didn’t surprise my mom, though. Even my sweet hubby encouraged me to focus my efforts on writing and eliminate as many interruptions as possible. Not an easy thing for a home-schooling mom of 4 to do, but writing became my fulltime career and I haven’t regretted it for a moment.

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?

Mara--main character

So many choices! I’d love to sit and chat with Laura Bush, Angela Lansbury, or Cleopatra. But if I have to ask a specific question … I think I’d like to chat with the main character in this collaborative novella with which I’m involved. I can’t imagine what she expected when she set out to apologize to all of the men she humiliated. But it’s easy to see from the picture why the men fell for her like they did.

Q: Who have been your mentors, and how did they help you most?

Lena Nelson Dooley has been so helpful to me. Not only has she helped me wade through the waters of this publishing realm, but she even encouraged me to pitch to my agent. I don’t think I would have been brave enough without her. Another couple of critique partners who have always been spot-on with their suggestions are Lynne Gentry and Kellie Coates Gilbert.

Q:  What do you hope your readers will take away from your books? And can you hint at any works to come?

In my books, I want my readers to find a character who lives out the faith she professes. Mara has an extraordinary experience in the first chapter of A Dozen Apologies that sets up the entire book based on her dedication to follow the Lord’s leading.

Q: Do you have a question you would like our blog readers to answer?

Yes! This story deals with a lady who is willing to take up almost any job she can find. Some of them are quite humorous. What’s the craziest job you ever had or the weirdest thing you ever did on a job?

 

Thank you for being with us this week. I wish you every blessing as you write for His glory!

Thanks so much, Kathleen! I’m really excited about A Dozen Apologies. It is a unique novella in several ways. First, the chapters are being posted, one per weekday, on the Write Integrity Press blog writeintegrity.com. And the postings started TODAY! Second, there are 12 different authors for this one story, but the transitions are seamless. Third, after the first 13 chapters are posted, the readers have to decide the ending of the book. Each chapter has a different hero. The most favorite hero gets the girl.

And finally, once the ending is determined, the last chapter will only be available in the Kindle book itself. BUT, that book will be FREE for Valentine’s Day and the two days following, so everyone can enjoy the whole story.

You can find me at MarjiLaine.com, on Facebook, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Google+.