Author Behind the Story Blog Series - Heather Greer

There are two things I have learned in all this Coronavirus madness. First thing: Don't trust the experts. Isn't that sad? Men and women who are supposed to be the leading experts in this and that, with more PhDs than we cars in the driveway, have been so far off on model predictions, recommendations, and precautions. Oh, as even the proverbial blind squirrel can find a nut now and then, these "experts" were right on some things. However, one thing they have done that is detrimental to future pandemics is hurt their credibility. Now, when a REAL pandemic hits us, one that has an incredibly high mortality rate and no known cure across all age levels - a pandemic that even current drugs cannot touch - we won't believe the experts because they got this one so wrong. Now, with the labor report news that came out last week, it seems even those fears of a recession and possibly an economic depression sending us off a monetary cliff have been misleading as well. Makes you wonder what's really going on, doesn't it?

The second thing I've learned in all this is God didn't lose any credibility. In fact, during this pandemic, He showed just how fragile everything mankind has built and put stock in is. He also used a man-made tragedy to draw His people back to Him. I know I'm one of them. I'm seeing "the words in red" in an entirely new light. I'm being called to a depth of relationship I've never experienced before. The Sermon on the Mount has become such a focal point for me. And with all this pandemic talk and subsequent aftermath, I'm seeing God at work in the midst of the lies, the misinformation, and the lost souls searching for answers. Then, when you add the divides that exist racially, ethnically, and religiously around the world (they don't just exist here in America, folks!), you see how far away from God we really are.

Thank you, God, for never giving up on us. Thank you, Jesus, for making this all possible. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for counseling us on the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Speaking of this Way, Truth, and Life, our next guest on the Florida Front Porch talks about such things in her books as well. Without further delay, let's welcome to a humid, sticky, summer-like pattern in late spring, our next Author Behind the Story guest, Heather Greer! Heather is a fellow, former Mantle Rock Publishing author. I say "former" because MRP was just purchased and renamed Scrivenings Press. So, we are both now Scrivenings Press authors, along with all the other authors who make up this new family.

Heather, in ABTS tradition, we ask the writer to give us a quick bio. We tell the author to imagine being on a elevator with Jimmy Fallon (not sure he's the best choice, but we'll run with it), and he's looking for average Joes & Janes with not-so-average lives to interview for his next new show segment. He then looks at you and says, "And you’re name is?" Ding! The door just shut. You have twelve floors until you reach the lobby. Go! In fifty words or less, who is Heather Greer?

I’m the girl you walked past in school because I was too introverted to notice. But if you’re one of my closest friends, you’ll see a different me. I like baking, reading, sci-fi, Hallmark, comic books, and crafting. No sports. I’m a klutz. But I do like watching wrestling.

That's an eclectic grouping, for sure. Kind of Rosie from the Jetsons meets Rosie Greer (no relation, right?). And I have to ask, real wrestling (NCAA, Olympic type) of fake wrestling (WWE)?

Ok, moving on, what educational background do you have?

I went to the same grade school and high school that my brothers and my parents went to in Carbondale, Illinois. I spent my first year in college at SIU-C because I had a scholarship and then transferred to John A. Logan Community College. It’s a good two-year school, and a lot less expensive. I was one semester away from a certificate in early childhood education when I switched majors and got my associates in psychology the month before my first child was born. I’ve taken a few classes since then, but I’ve not really felt like going back to school is what God would have me do.

Are you married? Single? Have kids? 

I met my husband twenty-six years ago at Hallmark. Yes, we have a real life Hallmark story! We have four wonderful children, but only one still lives at home. And I have the most adorable, precocious six year old grandson who adds tons of laughter and fun to all our lives.

You need to tell our fans more about this Hallmark story in the comment section below. Were you both looking for cards as patrons? Did one or both of you work there? Did one of you knock over a display and catch the attention of the other? Was it a slip and fall accident? Inquiring minds are going to want to know. :-)

Do you have a favorite line from a movie or book? If so, what is it and explain why it is special to you?

“Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something.” From The Princess Bride. This quote reminds me we all face hard times. Maybe my hard times are different from yours, but they all bring pain. It may seem a little pessimistic to look at life that way, but even scripture promises hard times and pain. As a believer, I can know pain is part of life while holding onto the hope of God’s promises to work in me through the pain. I think that makes it less pessimistic and more realistic, don’t you?

Of all the stories/books you have written, which one is your favorite? And what compelled you to write this story?

This is incredibly difficult. I love Faith’s Journey because it’s my first book. But Grasping Hope and Relentless Love really touched issues that are close to my heart. One I’ve not published yet called Cake That was the most fun to write and let me develop a couple characters I really fell in love with while I explored a lighter tone throughout the story. I’d say it’s between Grasping Hope and Cake That. Grasping Hope came from a desire to share the hope I found in a really dark time in my life so that others might have encouragement as they walk through their dark valley. Cake That was my way to loosen up and have fun after writing a series dealing with the serious side of life. I wanted it to encourage readers with truth while providing a really lighthearted story.

Tell us about what project you are currently working on. 

Right now, I’m completely demolishing my writing comfort zone by branching out into historical fiction. I’m not a history lover, though I enjoy historical fiction. I wouldn’t even attempt it, but two author friends and I decided to do a series of stand-alone novels that intersect each other through a family and a stained glass window. Erin is a fantasy author. So, she got to write the dystopian romance novel. That left a contemporary and a historical romance to complete the set. Amy and I both write contemporary. After much discussion, I volunteered to take the historical. It’s set in the 1920s in Harrisburg, Illinois. Getting to include gangsters and bootlegging is a lot of fun. But the research to get the tone, setting, and activities right for the time period is a never-ending chore. As much as I’m enjoying the story, I’ll have to think long and hard before tackling historical fiction again. I’ve gained a lot of respect for those authors who do it well.

More power to ya. You definitely should get the bigger royalty. Ha!

How do you come up with the names for your characters?

I’m not sure I have a process. As I think about who the character is as a person, that helps direct the name. Sometimes, I run potential names by friends for their input. Nathan, a character in Grasping Hope and Relentless Love got his name that way. For the historical book I’m writing, I did have to put in some research. I needed names that were popular in the 1920s. And for my male lead character, I needed an Irish name that was popular then. The secondary characters needed names too, and I had to repeat the process with them. Even choosing common names from a time period, I still had to give thought to the people behind the names. Beulah may have been popular (I don’t know. I’m making that up for the sake of the example.), but it would be hard to sell her as the main character I want my readers to relate to and fall in love with. I needed a 1920s name that would sit well with a 2020 reader. In case you’re wondering, her name is Evangeline Grace.

Names are so important. Some characters become memorable because of that alone. Others not so much because their name was so mundane. In my humble opinion, Charles Dickens was a master at naming characters. When your characters' names become adjectives to describe people, you have succeeded.

Next question. What’s the craziest thing you have ever done? 

I’m not a risk taker. Crazy is not in my vocabulary. I’m afraid the extent of my adventures is pretty childish, but to me, it was petrifying. While on a mission trip with a group of teens including my children, we stopped for a side trip at an indoor amusement park. It had an indoor ropes course. My children went through it like they were born to be dangling above the ground. Even my oldest son, who is scared of heights, went across. He may have moved a little slower, but he went. I’m not exactly scared of heights, but I like security. The course did not look solid enough for my liking. But I wanted to be a good example for my kids. Face your fears and all that. I got to the final three sections and froze completely. I’m embarrassed to admit, I actually had tears on my cheeks by the time the poor guy running the course met me and guided me through those last three parts of the course and back to the safety of the ground. Next time, I’ll let someone else be the example. I will keep my feet firmly on the ground!

When you are looking for a book to read, what are the things that are important to you?

I’m a sucker for a great cover. There’s this one author, who will remain nameless, that writes first person and every little detail is told to the reader. There’s way too much telling without showing. I know this, and I’ve still read two of her books and have to convince myself not to get another. I love her covers! But other than that, I’m drawn in by the back cover copy. I read a little bit of everything in the Christian fiction genres, except horror. Right now, I’m reading more contemporary romance. I’m especially happy with fun, quirky, or lighthearted stories. There’s enough heaviness in real life right now, that I want what I read to serve as a pick-me-up. But even with these types of stories, I want spiritual, scriptural truths woven into the stories. My faith is who I am all the time, and I want to see that in the lives of the characters I read about.

Hmmm...I wonder if this is the place for an unofficially official, shameful shameless plug for my latest novel, The Letters? Eh, maybe not.

Heather, is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers about you, or anything we didn’t cover before we wrap things up?

I love what I do. But if it’s only about writing something, then I’ve missed the point. Writing is my ministry, and it’s one I feel blessed to enjoy. Ministry is about people, and I have a heart to help encourage and challenge people in their faith. That’s why I write. Because I feel that’s the way God would have me share His message with others. Because of that, I love to hear from readers. If they need prayer, I’ll pray. If they have a question, I’ll try to answer it. If they took another step in their walk of faith, I’ll celebrate with them. I don’t say that as one who has it all together. I’m a mess like everyone else. I say it as one who is right there beside them, trying, failing, learning, and growing every single day.

We're all a mess, aren't we?

Heather, it's been great having you on our Author Behind the Story series!

Readers, if you are looking for a new author to check out, or if you've already known about Heather and are wishing to stay up to date on new releases, etc., here's where you can find her!

http://heathergreer.com

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorHeatherGreer

https://www.twitter.com/Heather_Greer1

https://www.instagram.com/1heather.greer

 

Until next time, may God bless America, and more importantly, may America bless God, in a "words in red" way,

Kevin

www.ckevinthompon.com

 

Author Behind the Story series - Candace West

Wow! What a difference a month makes, eh? Last time we did an Author Behind the Series blog post, everybody had toilet paper in the stores. I saw a meme a couple of days ago showing a toilet paper aisle in a store filled with all the different types. The caption read: Throwback Thursday. Funny stuff.

However, not all of it has been fun and games. "Online learning," "social distancing," "flattening the curve" are all new words and phrases that will surely find their way into Merriam-Webster's Dictionary soon. Doomsday reports of catastrophic death totals will make even the most ardent introvert clean some things that haven't been wiped down with a clorox-laced wipe in a while. 

We are praying for safety and health during these troubling times. Those of us who take reasonable precautions should weather the storm, regardless of your political affiliations.

With all this extra time on our hands (Have you noticed we are getting by okay without rich sports stars bouncing, hitting, or kicking balls around?), one of the things we can do more of is read. I'm hoping for a uptick in the number of people getting turned on to reading. Never before has there been such a plethora of material out there. Surely, everyone can find something that interests them. All they have to do is look. And this blog site is one of those places where readers can find out about authors and their writing and possibly find a "new favorite author."

With that segue, I want to welcome a newer author to me. She is part of the Mantle Rock Publishing family, of which I recently became a member. She has been with MRP longer, having just published her second novel with MRP. Please welcome to the virtual Florida front porch (we are keeping our CDC protocols in place), Candace West!

Candace, as is our custom, give us a quick bio to get us started. In fifty words or less, who is Candace West? 

I’m a recovering tomboy. Growing up, I was a strange blend of Tom Sawyer and Anne of Green Gables. Mississippi mud flows through my veins, but the Arkansas Ozarks captured my heart. Jo March understood me better than most of my friends. She introduced me to historical fiction, by the way, which is what I write!

Before you ever got a notion of becoming a writer/author, how old were you, and what were you doing in that time of your life? 

When I was twelve, I loved exploring the woods and playing in the mud. Mama instilled in me a love of reading when I was little. I also loved hearing a good story. Before we moved into the country, we lived in a small town. Most of the people on our street were retired. Often, I would migrate from house to house, sit on the porches or carports of my elder neighbors, and ask them to tell me a story. And what great stories! My grandpa and granny also enriched my childhood with stories of their formative years. Storytelling was inevitable! I stumbled upon writing on a long car trip to Colorado one summer. To pass the time, I penned my first short story, “Following Prairie River” in my notebook. The rest is history.

That's cool. What educational background do you have? 

My parents homeschooled me from the third grade until graduation, and I consider it to be one of the greatest blessings of my childhood. Through school, my relationship with my parents deepened. Being a preacher’s kid, I didn’t have social problems because I had a church full of friends. After graduation, I attended the University of Arkansas at Monticello and graduated with a B.A. in English. I chose Monticello because it was close to home. I could commute and keep my part-time job working at a crop duster service.

What makes you cringe? 

Unacknowledged text messages. If I send a friend a text message, I don’t expect them to answer immediately. Everyone has busy lives, and sometimes we forget. I understand it. But neither do I expect the message to go completely ignored. I guess I’m old school. It feels the same as being snubbed in person. If someone speaks to you, be polite and speak back. Text messaging is someone speaking to you. Even a simple thumbs-up would be better than silence. That’s just a pet peeve of mine.    

Besides storytelling, what talents do you have? 

I sing and play the piano, bass guitar, and acoustic guitar. You would have to ask my friends their opinions of it, though. Hearing myself sing is another thing that makes me cringe, by the way. I try to do it for God’s glory, though. My piano playing is okay, though my mom has the real talent there. I’m much more comfortable playing the bass or guitar, sitting more in the background.

We are our own worst critics! I play the drums and sing too. I get it. 

Besides the usual things authors face, has there been an unusual event that changed your perspective about being an author?

I quit writing for a time after a good friend of mine was tragically killed. Every time I tried to write, the process was too painful. The words would dry up before I could write them. Even though I didn’t accomplish a lot of writing in that season, I learned words and emotions would return with patience and a little courage. The act of writing during or after tragedy heals the writer…and the reader. The most important thing in the process is never to rush it. Don’t force the writing. Many times, it’s better to let the words come to you, if that makes any sense.

Makes perfect sense. Even when you aren't dealing with anything tragic. Rushed writing leads to deleted writing more times than not.

Of all the stories/books you have written, which one is your favorite? And what compelled you to write this story? (I know it's like choosing between your children, but...)

You are right! It is like choosing between your children! Lane Steen is so much a part of me because she came to me at a time when I needed her the most. God used her to bring me through a painful time in my life. We grew together and healed together. But I’ll have to say that for now Valley of Shadows is my favorite. After ending Lane Steen, I ached to resolve the situation between Lane’s parents, Earl and Lorena. But how? The rift between them was a chasm. After all, Earl had kidnapped their daughter and disappeared. They had too much to overcome.

Or did they? I had to find out. The process and adventure of the characters showing me how to overcome was both painful and joyful. At times, they lured me so deeply into the story that I had to remind myself they were fictional characters. Over time, Earl captured my heart. I never expected the villain in the first book to become the hero in the next. No one else in Valley Creek did either. I think I’ll always hold a special place for him. Getting to know Earl was a gift.

Should we have put a "SPOILER ALERT" sign in that last response somewhere? :-)

Tell us about your writing day. How do you go about writing? 

These days my writing is sporadic, if I’m lucky. Raising and homeschooling a nine-year-old boy takes a lot of time. By nature, I’m a night owl, but I reserve those times for reading. Sometimes I do write late, but it’s not a good way to wind down after a long day. Characters sometimes refuse to hush when I’m tired. After housework and schooling, I try to squeeze time in to write. I’m not always successful, though. I have to remind myself to keep trying, to never stop writing. Even though I’m not always typing away, I’m making notes of the stories buzzing around in my head.

Knowing what you know now about writing, publishing, etc., what piece of advice would you give to the person thinking about writing that novel they have always wanted to pursue since they were young, or the person who believes they have a non-fiction book in them that would be helpful to others? 

Just make the time and put those words down on the page. Even if you only have ten or fifteen minutes a day to spare. You might have a busy schedule like me, but don’t let it discourage you. Get those words inside of you on the page. You never know who it may touch. I once had a writer tell me that even if those words never went beyond my desk drawer, it still might touch just one who needed it most. I’m nowhere near being a bestselling author, but I can honestly say that I’ve been blown away by readers who contacted me after reading Lane Steen and now Valley of Shadows. I never knew those stories would stir or bless them so deeply. They, in turn, have blessed me more than I can describe. And it has made the writing and publishing journey so worth it!

How do you come up with the names for your characters? 

This is a funny question! When I first started writing, we still had things called phone books. I would open the phone book and scan names until I found one that sounded right. For my first novel, I think I pulled Lane’s name from the phone book. Most of the other names come from family names. Mr. Wallace was named for my grandpa Wallace, for example. Other names come from a list that I compile. Tabitha was the name of a girl in my Kindergarten class, and it became a favorite name of mine. I used it for Tabitha’s character in Lane Steen. In Valley of Shadows, Ella’s character is named for my great-aunt.

If you had one person you could meet (think outside the Bible here) and could spend as much time as you wanted with that individual, who would it be? 

Oh, that’s a hard one. There’s too many on my list. After some thought, I chose Corrie Ten Boom. From the first time I watched “The Hiding Place,” I was riveted by her story. Here’s a lady who knows nothing about warfare or the underground, yet she and her family are thrust into it. God used her harrowing experiences to fill her with such wisdom, grace, and even humor! How could she even laugh after living through tragedy? Yet, she did and even thrived. I love hearing her tell the stories, especially the one of the Nazi soldier who asked her forgiveness after the war. Wow! Forgiveness is a subject that resonates with me. It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. Only God makes it possible.

If you had one person you could meet (think ONLY Bible characters here) and could spend as much time as you wanted with that individual, who would it be besides Jesus?

Now, this one is easy because I’ve thought a lot about it over the years! It would be Peter! Here is a crude, brash fisherman. Wishy-washy. Opinionated. Bold one minute, cowardly the next. He is the perfect candidate to betray Jesus. The Lord said that Satan desired to have him. Why? Could it be because of these flaws? Yet Jesus calls him a rock. While Judas gave up on Jesus’s messiahship, Peter never did. I love studying Peter’s transformation in scripture. This man who rebuked the Lord for talking about His coming suffering later writes, “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin.” 1 Peter 4:1. I would love to sit with Peter and ask him scores of questions. What was it like to walk with Jesus? To witness His miracles? His death? His resurrection? His ascension? Though Peter in the beginning was wishy-washy, I believe he had one characteristic that never changed. He was teachable.

Why do you live where you live?

My husband and I make our home near our families and the church my dad pastors. We grew up in the Delta. Our friends and church family are here as well. Though I love my home, I would much rather live in the Arkansas Ozarks where I set my stories. My family’s roots are nestled up there in those picturesque hills and valleys, along the creeks, within old, cherished cemeteries, and vacant homeplaces. As often as we can, my family retreats back to those places during the summer, spending several days enjoying and resting in the beauty. For me, it’s like going home. Have you ever visited a place that speaks to you this way? You see it, and you just know. Almost like love at first sight. And I’m always loathe to say goodbye.

Yep. The beach. On a balcony. Watching the waves roll in. Listening to the roar that never ends, even in the dead of night. Nothing washes stress away for me more than that.

We know “Readers are leaders, and leaders are readers.” Is there a book you’ve read in the past five years or so that has helped you become a better you? If so, which one was it, and how did it affect your life?

Yes! Martyn Lloyd Jones’ Spiritual Depression encouraged me in my walk with the Lord so much. It details the types of spiritual battles that Christians fight. I taught it for our women’s class at church. The ladies and I read the book together and discussed a chapter each week on Wednesday nights. Every chapter, filled with wisdom, would speak to different situations we were facing. If you haven’t read it, let it be the next book you order and read.

He has several that are good! Good choice. I remember reading "Preaching and Preachers" years ago in seminary. 

Candace, as we near the end, is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers about you, or anything we didn’t cover? 

No matter who you are, no matter your circumstances, you are not beyond hope or redemption. You are special in God’s eyes, and He has a plan for your life. My stories carry this theme of transformation and redemption. Forgiveness is always possible with God. He takes the dark places in our lives and pours in His light. Walking with Him is a transforming journey.

Awesome.

Readers, you can find out more about Candace, her writing, stay in touch, and more, at the following sites and in the following ways:

Newsletter signup: https://www.candaceweststoryteller.com

Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/inspirationalnovel

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candace.west.posey.10

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/candacewest111

To purchase Valley of Shadows: https://www.amzn.com/B084YQHMS9

To purchase Lane Steen: https://www.amzn.com/B07VCZ5MV3

Readers, here's the back cover copy of Candace's latest novel, Valley of Shadows:

Forgiving is far from forgetting.

Lorena Steen gave up on love years ago. After arriving at Valley Creek to visit her daughters, she stumbles first thing into Earl, the husband who abandoned her.

As for Earl, facing Lorena while fighting his own demons tempts him to flee town. How can he rebuild a relationship with his daughters and cynical neighbors when guilt shadows every step?

While the storm brews between them, another storm descends on Valley Creek. Will a ghost town stand in its wake?

But then the townsfolk devise a plan. All they need is a former concert pianist and violinist. A wife and husband estranged.

Can Lorena and Earl set aside their feelings to rescue a community? Even though it sweeps them back through valleys best forgotten? Especially when a forbidden love claims his right to win Lorena’s heart?

Until next time, everybody, stay safe, stay healthy, be smart about your specific situation during our times of quarantine and six-foot-apart relationships.

Kevin