Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Author Interview & Book Giveaway/Laura Frantz/Courting Morrow Little



Courting Morrow Little is a super book. I loved it and so will you. Here is the link for the review I did of this great book. http://thelifeandtimesofwanda.blogspot.com/2010/07/courting-morrow-little-by-laura-frantz.html

Here is my interview with Laura Frantz. She's a very special lady. Drop by her blog site and leave her a message.



How long did you write before you were published?
40 years. I began at age 7 so it was a very long journey. I never set out to be published – I just wrote for the sheer joy of writing. In fact, I wasn’t sure I wanted to be published even when my current editor contacted me. But I’m so glad my books are out there now as I’m hearing from readers (and reviewers like you) and that blesses me so much!

Tell us about Courting Morrow Little, the featured book.
Morrow is a young woman on the 18th-century Kentucky frontier who struggles with the trauma of her past – an Indian raid – and must come to terms with forgiveness, all the while being pursued by several suitors and nearly missing the love of a lifetime.

Is there any person who has been a strong influence in your writing journey?
My granny was such a huge part of my life - she passed away shortly before my first book, The Frontiersman’s Daughter, was published. I dedicated the book to her. She was almost 100 years old and had come from Virginia to Kentucky as a young woman. She always felt I had a writing gift and needed to use it. My brother (a missionary in Spain) and my parents have been so supportive, too. Everyone needs people who believes in them and prays for them. It makes all the difference!

What message(s) do you want to be clear to your readers?
That God loves them just as they are and has a plan for their life. Also, that the valleys of our lives are for our good and He will bring blessings from them. Like Morrow, the darkness and difficulties we encounter holds untold blessings in the end if we walk through them with Him.

What are some of your likes and dislikes? Your hobbies, interests? Where do you like to vacation?
Oh, great questions! I love to cook and garden, take walks and read. Writing letters is also a favorite pastime. As for vacations, I love historical places in any country – from Virginia’s Colonial Williamsburg to the Russian royal palaces in St. Petersburg, etc. Kentucky, of course, has such a rich history and I never tire of being there.

Tell us a little-known fact about yourself that readers may not know.
I traveled quite a bit in my younger days. I attended college in a British castle and turned 21 in Russia where I saw the Bolshoi Ballet perform Swan Lake. Now I’m a homebody living and writing in a little house in the big woods!
How very interesting!

How do you spend your writing days? Do you set goals to reach a certain number of words per day? Can you give us a general idea of how long it takes you to write a novel?
I really have to pray about the use of my time – it’s such a gift. And writers have many distractions such as marketing and blogging, twittering and Facebook if they choose to go that route and connect with readers, etc. I don’t ever keep a word count as that’s too much like counting calories to me. I tend to be a very s…l…o…w writer. The Frontiersman’s Daughter took 5 years to write and Courting Morrow Little took 2 years. But I seem to be getting faster as I go.

What are you currently reading?
Delia Parr’s Hearts Awakening. In my mailbox this week I received Ransome’s Crossing by Kaye Dacus and She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell. Never enough time to read all the good books I’d like to!
I just read two of those books. Really great authors also.

Do you grow flowers or vegetables? What are your favorite flowers?
I grow both though my husband is the master gardener since my writing kicked inJ. My very favorite flower is the Cecile Bruner climbing rose that is overtaking our little greenhouse wall. The fragrance is so sweet and the tiny buds so beautiful! I also love Lily of the Valley and lavender.

What are you writing now?
I’m on deadline now for my third Kentucky novel, tentatively titled, The Colonel’s Lady, due out next summer. It involves a Revolutionary War hero and a spinster. I’ve enjoyed the story so much and almost hate to finish and turn it in!
We can't wait to read your next book!

How do readers find you on the internet?
I love to hear from readers at my combined blog/website: http://laurafrantz.net
I’m also on Facebook and Twitter which you can link to from my website/blog.
Bless you for such a fun interview! I am so appreciative of the chance to meet new readers and give away one of my books!

Thank you so very much Laura. It was very special to have you join us.
Many blessings and great success in your writing!





All you have to do to win this book is be/become a follower and leave a comment, also leave an email address to enter!
This giveaway is for U.S. residents only. The deadline for entry is August 10, 2010. A winner will be chosen via the Random Number Generator and the winner will be notified by email.



33 comments:

Carmen said...

I love frontier novels. Great way to learn about the West. I'm already a follower.

Please enter me. Thank you.
desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

Laura Frantz said...

Bless you, Trinity Rose, for hosting me and my current book here! It's been a true blessing getting to know you through our mutual love of books:) Can't wait to hear who our winner is. Bless you and your readers today!

Merry said...

Laura sounds like a gracious lady, I loved the interview. Please include me for Courting Morrow Little, thanks!
worthy2bpraised[at]gmail[dot]com

Esther Miriam Lopez said...

Count me in too :)))

estherym[at]yahoo[dot]com

karenk said...

would love to read this book...thanks for the chance :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

I like it that the author talked about her granny. Mine homesteaded in South Dakota, baked pies for the Indians and ran the only Post Office in Pierre. I would love to put her in a book as a way to honor her.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carman said...

Please enter me. Love the cover, and can't wait to read this book! :)

booklovercb[at]yahoo.com

Margaret Metz said...

Please enter me. This book has been on my wish list for so long! This was a great interview. It was encouraging to hear someone who is writing wonderful books that doesn't do word counts (or count calories) ;o) and takes a little while to finish ~ but is getting faster. It gives me hope.

I think you did a fabulous interview with a wonderful author. May God bless you both and thank you for hosting the contest.

leesmithwriting{at}yahoo{.}com

Katie said...

Please enter me! I would love to read this! It sounds AWESOME! I found this giveaway thru Carman's giveaway blog. :)

God bless!

~Katie G.

katiegalyean (at) yahoo (dot) com

Unknown said...

What a great interview....Laura sounds like a regular world traveler!

I just signed up to follow your blog, and would love to enter your giveaway. :o)

Thanks!
Christy
orca0024 at yahoo dot com

BrendaC said...

Beautiful cover and the book sounds great. Count me in on the giveaway. kittycrochettwo at msn dot com

Amy (ArtsyBookishGal) said...

Great interview! Thanks so much for giving away this awesome book!

Amy S.
artsyrockerchick at aim dot com

MaureenT said...

I loved your interview. Would really like to have this book. I enjoyed the Frontiersman’s Daughter!
Carman sent me!
alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

Cindy W. said...

Great interview. I would really enjoy reading this book. Thank you for the chance to win a copy.

Smiles & Blessings,
Cindy W.

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

Sheila said...

Thanks for the great interview and giveaway! This book sounds like my kind of read. :)

showcasesisters at gmail dot com

Robin said...

I enjoyed your interview. I feel like I know the author better.

I'm a follower and Carmen sent me

robinribbit at yahoo.com

Mozi Esme said...

This looks like a sweet book!

Janemaritz at yahoo dot com

We posted about this giveaway at Winning Readings: http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2010/08/courting-morrow-little.html

Katie Marie said...

Enter me! I have this on my wish list and would LOVE to win it! :-D I am a follower!

legacy1992(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Seems like a great read. Thanks for the chance with your contest.

true_sheila at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

I'm a follower and would love to win a copy!

kate[at]atentforthesun[dot]com

wmmahaney said...

Please enter me. I follow in Google Friend Connect.
wmmahaney(at)att(dot)net

Melissa M. said...

Sounds interesting!
Please enter me; thanks.
hismercysurrounding(at)yahoo(dot)com

grannyvon said...

I am already a follower and would love to win this book. Thanks for the chance. ybutler@oppcatv.com

Carrie at In the Hammock Blog said...

i've heard so much about this one! i'd love to enter!! Thanks!! I'm an old follower.

inthehammockblog at gmail dot com

Patsy said...

Book Sounds great. Love the cover. Carman sent me.
plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net

Unknown said...

Hello, I am a follower and Carmen sent me.

I so enjoy inspirational fiction in another time period of history. This story is very appealing to my reading appetite and I hope I will get a chance to read it. Thanks for entering me in the giveaway.

Grace & Joy in Christ,
Barb Shelton
barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

Sylvia said...

I have the first book checked out and am looking forward to reading it. This one looks great too.

Carman sent me and I am a follower.

nina4sm[at]gmail[dot]com

Bluerose said...

I can't wait to read this one! I've heard great things about it. Please enter me.
Thanks!
bluerose_shelnut(at)yahoo(dot)com

Jennifer said...

I am always in search of great new Christian fiction books to read. Please enter me!

jmschwindt(at)cox(dot)net

Angela said...

This sounds like an amazing book. Please enter me in the contest!

Angela
Blue16Girl84(at)aol(dot)com

BrendaC said...

Count me in on the giveaway. Sounds like a great book. kittycrochettwo at msn.com
I am a follower.

Michelle said...

Thank you for the interview! I enjoyed it very much! I am really looking forward to reading both of Laura's books!

Thank you for entering me. I am a follower.

Michelle
scraphappy71 at sbcglobal dot net

Trinity Rose said...

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!