Interview and Giveaway for Southern Superstitions by B. J. Robinson

CONGRATULATIONS TO

CAROLYN WINNER OF

"SOUTHERN SUPERSTITIONS"

 I am so excited to welcome B. J. Robinson to Sleuths and Suspects for an interview. She has graciously offered to give a copy of her book "Southern Superstitions" for a giveaway, just follow the instructions at the end of the interview. Here we go!

INTERVIEW

1.            Tell us a little about yourself. I'm an avid reader and passionate writer, and I've been writing and publishing since my first story about my pet dog was published in the third grade in a local newspaper. My husband and I live in Florida with our two girls, Honi, a golden retriever, and Sunflower, a golden cocker spaniel. Sunflower is a character in Last Resort, my 2011 debut inspirational romantic suspense novel. My work includes dogs and pets for animal lovers. I love both dogs and cats, and we have a shelter cat named Frankie. I believe books bring people together, and I treasure my wonderful readers, critique partners, and friends I've met through my love of writing and books. My children are all grown and have made me a grandmother multiple times. I am blessed with children, grandchildren, pets, a husband, and faith. Writing is my passion, and Jesus is my best friend. To God be the glory.

2.            Tell us about your most recent book/or the book we are focusing on. Southern Superstitions is my most recently published novel, a romantic suspense set in Louisiana. A Favorite Line: It was faith in God that would bring her husband home. Even a lucky penny or a dime declared, In God we trust. It's getting great reviews on Amazon. Here's a short blurb:

Prayer versus Southern superstitions when a woman's husband mysteriously disappears in the swamp on a deer-hunting trip. As steamy as the hot, thick, sticky heat of Louisiana, this page-turner will keep readers in suspense, as the author spins a tale of love, loss, superstition, pain, heartache, and faith in God. Reviewer Kathy Boswell says, "Very good! She never gives up hope that Andy will return to her someday. She puts it all in God's hands like she's done every crisis in her life. She knows He will take care of this for her." God and the power of prayer versus Southern superstitions. Through belief, faith, hard work, the power of prayer, and God's help, this powerful, moving story is a thought-provoking Christian romantic suspense about a young couple who fall in love, but have to change her mother's mind in more ways than one, if their relationship is to survive. Can Andy convince June there's more to their relationship than friends? Will he win the approval of Mrs. Myrtle, her mother, and can love survive strawberry season and an April flood? Will June be able to give Andy a child?

3.        Why did you choose this particular genre? I write inspirational romantic suspense because I grew up on Nancy Drew mysteries and have always been a romantic. This genre allows me to combine the mystery, suspense, intrigue, and romance.

4.         What was your journey to publication like? It's been a long, hard road. I've always loved books, reading, and writing, and I've published lots of shorter works like poems, short stories, articles, and devotionals, but Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc. out of California is the publisher who was willing to accept my work without an agent. Thanks to their wonderful team, I will have a total of four novels published by October 2012. One Rainy Summer, a YA novel releases October 11. The other three are all inspirational romantic suspense novels. If readers are interested, they can check out my Desert Breeze Author Page for a complete bio that provides information about my publishing history.

5.       What is a couple of your favorite books and what are you reading now? A favorite new read is Everglades by Petie McCarly. I just reviewed it on my blog. I'm reading Eva Marie Everson's new Cedar Key title Waiting for Sunrise. I've read the first in the series Chasing Sunsets, and I enjoy her novels. She also wrote This Fine Life and Things Left Unspoken. I've read and reviewed them all. Another favorite author is Naomi Musch. I love her historical novels The Green Veil and The Red Fury.

6.            What are you working on now and can you give us a little peek inside it? I just finished editing Whispering Cypress. It releases August 11 and is a romantic suspense set in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Here is a short blurb: You'll never have peace here. Leave the past where it belongs, or it will ruin you.

Spring Showers stared at the cutout newspaper letters pasted on a sheet of typing paper. Her heart pounded harder than any nail gun, and she placed her hand over her chest as if to still it. Nothing about the rundown campground prepared her for such a threat. Who could possibly care if she restored it?

After a decade of no contact, she purchases the campground a man from her past dreams of owning and hires him to repair and remodel the cabins. She still has feelings for him, and the sparks are still there -- smoldering like embers from a left-over campfire. A male friend from the city visits and trouble brews. A girl is attacked. Hackett is arrested. Did authorities arrest the right man? The girl is pregnant -- who is the father?

7.            What advice would you give authors who are on their own journey to publication? Learn all you can from those who've gone before you. Join a good critique group. You can learn as much from them as from taking writing classes, and it's lots cheaper. Do take writing classes if you can afford it and want to improve your skills and hone your craft. I've taken a couple classes through Long Ridge Writers Group and the Apprentice and Journeyman classes with Christian Writers Guild. I've honed skills through American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and my critique groups. I've also gained so much knowledge by working with my in-house editors through my publisher, Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc. in California, such as formatting and editing to meet deadlines. Another tip is to take advantage of all the wonderful writing books on the market. I have a list on my blog of ones I've used.

8.       Do you have any books or websites that have helped you with your writing that you could share with us? There's an entire lists of books I used and would recommend on my blog if you scroll. To break writer's block, I recommend Natalie Goldberg's WRITING DOWN THE BONES. She has two others as well. Donald Mass has a book and a workbook Writing the Breakout Novel. There are many excellent books to help you hone your skills and craft. Check them out at my blog. I've used them.

9.            Is there anything you’d like to tell us we haven’t covered? June from Southern Superstitions would say, "It was faith in God that would bring her husband home. Even a lucky penny or a dime declared, In God we trust." Rod, June's son in Southern Superstitions would say, "The way those cypress knees stuck out of the shallow water, like protruding nubs, they reminded him of his grandmother's warning finger wagging in his face. They could tear a hole in the bottom of a boat. Thank God my boat survived the lick. Maybe that's what happened to Dad."

Book trailer for Last Resort

Southern Superstitions on Amazon 

Book trailer for Southern Superstitions

Please let us know where we can find you on the web.

My blog

My Facebook page

Amazon

Other: My Author Page

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HAPPY READING!

DEBORAH MALONE