Monday Book Interviews

Rose Ross Zediker

Hello Rose.
Tell us about your holiday release.

Although the title of my book doesn’t indicate a traditional Christmas release, it is set through the holiday season with a focus on the Advent. Audra Pope believes a serious relationship is out of the question because she has a physical shortcoming, scoliosis. Instead Audra pours herself into her work and community until Mike Redmond, the clean cut boy next door of the past becomes the man next door of the present. Mike’s long hair and pierced ears bother an influential business owner in Clearview , SD but as Audra falls in love with Mike, she learns to see people, including herself the way that God does from the inside out.

I love titles. How did you come up with this one?

I based the theme of this book on 1 Samuel 16:7 “Don’t judge by a man’s face or height, for this is not the one. I don’t make decisions the way you do! Men judge by outward appearance but I look at a man’s thoughts and intentions.” God sees our imperfections and loves us anyway. In a society that categorizes people by size, looks and age, it’s important for everyone to remember that we are loved for the person we are, not how we look. I wanted my title to reflect that theme.

Did you have to do a lot of research for the book?

Since it’s a contemporary, I didn’t have to research setting or clothing but I did do research on the Advent and hanging of the greens.

Where did you get your idea for this particular book?

I wanted to enter a first chapter contest and this idea came to me while reading the Bible verse it’s based on.

Which character did you like writing about the most, and why?

Mrs. Schulz because she stirred up trouble, it gave me freedom to make her as bad as I needed her to be!

Where can we get in touch with you and purchase your book?

My book, Through The Eyes of Love can be purchased on the publishers website, www.whiterosesbooks.com or through most online bookstores. You can contact me at www.myspace.com/roserosszediker or www.shoutlife.com/roserosszediker.

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Jan Scarbrough

Hi Jan.
Tell us about your holiday release.

Santa’s Kiss is part of a Ladies of Legend Anthology called A Legendary Christmas.
The Christmas Gift by Janet Eaves
Christmas Collision by Magdalena Scott
Home for the Holidays by Maddie James
Santa's Kiss by Jan Scarbrough
Each novella has been released separately as an eBook. They are combined for the print copy.
Janet, Magdalena, Maddie and I wrote our first anthology called Ladies of Legend: Finding Home last year. We are writing buddies and through our e-mail conversations, we came up with a fictitious town set in the mountains of East Tennessee called Legend. We decided to write four novellas during the month of May in 2007. Once completed, we pitched the whole package to Resplendence Publishing, where Maddie had already sold several books. The rest, as they say, is history.


I love titles. How did you come up with this one?

Janet had already used the name The Christmas Gift, which was my first choice. Then I got the image of the hero knocking on the front door dressed in a Santa’s suit. I figured his kiss was a wonder Christmas gift so that’s how I came up with Santa’s Kiss.

Did you have to do a lot of research for the book?

Not really, other than coming up with the goals and motivations for the hero and heroine. For fun, I wrote in a secondary character, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. The research for the corgi was easy since I live with one! His name is Lenny.


Where did you get your idea for this particular book?

My novella for Ladies of Legend: Finding Home was called The Reunion Game. In it plain Jane Smith reunites with her long lost love by playing a game of "bait and switch" with her twin sister. So, when I sat down to write another Legend novella, I knew I needed to tell the story of Jane’s twin sister Dawn. The hero of Santa’s Kiss, Clint, is introduced in The Reunion Game. Clint is already in love with Dawn so the challenge was to figure out how they would finally come together.

Which character did you like writing about the most, and why?

I liked writing about Dawn who is dealing with an uncharacteristic lack of self-esteem. She’s facing hard times and wants to hide away from family and friends. I think we’ve all been in Dawn’s shoes when things go wrong in our lives and we need support from our loved ones.

Where can we get in touch with you and purchase your book?

eBook: http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/
http://www.fictionwise.com/
Print Book: https://www.createspace.com/3359411
http://www.amazon.com/

Web Site: www.janscarbrough.com

Blog Site: http://sisterwriters.blogspot.com/

MYSPACE http://www.myspace.com/janscarbrough

Email: jan@janscarbrough.com

10 comments:

Sarita Leone said...

These both sound like great stories!

Rose, I love it that you found your inspiration reading the Bible.

And Jan, Dawn sounds like someone we all know and can relate to.

Wonderful interviews! What a nice way to begin the week. :)

Anne Sorgeson said...

Both sound wonderful! I love them! I like christmas romance as well as I read one of the Legend stories so that is cool that you set another set of stories there again!

Anne
anne.sorgeson@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

These are going on my wish list! So nice to meet you, Rose and Jan!

Unknown said...

I like the idea of image, my son has long hair, I told him he can keep it long as long as he keeps it clean.

Rose said...

Thanks for the kind words, ladies.

It is wonderful how the Bible can inspire us in many ways. Reading it is always time well spent.

Beth, long hair has never bothered me but I grew up in the 70's so that could be why!

Glad you all stopped by today.

Jan Scarbrough said...

Hey, just home from work and popped onto Cindy's site to see the great blogs she's posted. Sarita, I always find a bit of myself in each character.

Anne, you'll be interested to know that there are MORE Legend stories. Stop by our http://www.legendtennessee.com/ website to learn more. AND we've contracted for four more Christmas stories for 2009!

Skhye said...

Wonderful interviews! I'm under the weather and needed a break. The excerpts sure were a quick fix! Thanks for sharing. Now if I could only find where I put that box of Vick's tissue... I'm certain my 3-yr old hid it or put each piece, one at a time, into the trash can!!!

Unknown said...

Looking forward to a great week of adding to my TBR if this an any indication. Both sounded great.

Julie Robinson said...

Okay, I posted my author comment on the party link and didn't realize there was one here. Anyways, thanks Cindy, for having Rose and Jan.

Rose, I like long hair on a guy, so long as it's clean. Could be 'cause my hair is long too. But I've been married to an ultra conservative guy for 20 years. Guess I just like to read about them :-)
Julie

lindseye said...

I alays like to hear how a title was decided on. They do make a first impression. The covers are also sweet.