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!
