I’m SO EXCITED!
My dear friend and writing buddy, Camille Eide has a new book out just in time for Christmas! Right now you can get it on Amazon for just .99!
Do me a favor and boost her sales. You’d really be doing yourself a favor because as far as I’m concerned, Camille is one of the freshest most exciting new voices in inspirational fiction today. From the start I’ve told her how much I admire and love her voice. It’s like the softness and warmth of a cashmere sweater on cold winter’s day. I sort of like to think I was the first to recognize her talent, although she’s been writing in critique groups much longer than I.
Please reblog this post and get the ball rolling for her, okay?
Below is an interview with this amazing new author.
Why a Christmas Romance?
Good question. Christmas seems to be a favorite time of year for so many people, and comes already wrapped with that special sense of magicalness… why not add a touch of love in the air along with the scents of spices, cookies and a hardwood fire?
You’ve written other romance novels. Why romance?
Oh, Karla, I’m a sucker for romance, always have been. Particularly the kind that depicts a heart drawn to the strength and beauty of inner character and not superficial qualities—-the way we all want to be loved, even though we are flawed. This is why I like the work of Jane Austen. Romance reflects love, and since God is Love, I find love-stories can be timeless and life changing. An intelligent, faith-inspiring romance can offer hope, gently touch a hurting soul, uplift a heavy heart.
Where do you get your ideas?
um…. you got me there. Observation, I guess. My latest novel idea came from a Christmas letter describing my niece’s work with kids in a foster group home. She felt awed to work at a place where she could make a difference in the lives of kids no one wanted. I wanted to write a story based in a home like that, about a character with a passion for unwanted kids because she herself was unwanted. My novel before that began with a simple idea of two pen pals who admired one another’s character from afar without really meaning to, without attraction because they believed the other to be of a certain age. Their mutual admiration and respect was already in place before they met in person and found themselves deeply attracted. To the whole person by that point. So I guess I start with inner character values and build a character and storyworld to embody that, then work out a plot that takes them on a journey to be what they long to be.
Who inspires you most in your writing career?
Jesus, family, supportive writing friends, and great writing. I’m awed by the modern works of Athol Dickson, Dale Cramer, Susan Meissner, my BFF Jane Austen (okay, she’s dead, I knew that) and many, many others over the years.
When did you know you were born to be a writer?
I was? Gee, I wish someone had told me sooner. I thought for the longest time I was born to annoy my older brother.
What is your favorite scene in this book?
Wow, Karla, you ask really hard questions! I’ve never thought about it. I guess I like a scene where Savanna discovers that being trapped in a ski lodge with the man whose heart she broke isn’t a misfortune, but a gift, and gets the courage to face a difficult task for the sake of another. She’s nicer than I am. And way more fun.
Where is the setting in the story?
a (fictional) beautiful rustic ski lodge in NW Oregon, near where I live. A twinkling, evergreen wonderland with a roaring fire and Christmas cookies everywhere. You can’t turn the page without running into cookies. Oh, I think I just figured out why. I’ve been off sugar for nearly 2 years. Sorry.
Do you have any hobbies?
Does writing novels count? Hey, this has been a really one-sided conversation here. Let ME ask — do YOU have any hobbies? In all your spare time after taking care of guys with special needs, teaching, blogging, studying, writing, going to school, researching, caring for others…. I could keep going. Oh, wait, motorcycling. I used to do that, but I am not as brave as you or Savanna. I like 4 wheels beneath me, in the form of a muscle car with at least 400hp. Or my desk chair.
What is your favorite holiday activity?
Eating cookies. Well, it used to be—-I had to give it up. I still like baking them for my family though (okay, that was a full out lie. It’s actually torture to bake and not eat them). Time we all can take off work and school and hang out with family and friends for a change, watching holiday flicks and our favorite trilogies.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Only that I’m honored and grateful to be here, Karla. Thanks for letting me babble on your blog. And thank you for mentioning Savanna’s Gift. It’s a breeze to read (a novella eBook) and a steal during December only at .99 I mean, really. You can’t even buy a decent iced gingerbread cookie for a buck.
I hope Savanna’s story will inspire the hope of second chances in you as it did me.
