with Lena Nelson Dooley

Lena Nelson Dooley is here again today, and she's doing a book giveaway. Be sure to leave a comment to be entered in the book drawing.

Lena, tell us about your epiphany moment when you decided you were going to seriously pursue writing and eventually publication.
Actually, God told me to become a professional author. I tell about it in the testimony at the bottom of the main page of my web site: www.lenanelsondooley.com

I loved Lena's testimony--make sure you go read it!
Which of your books (published or upcoming) has been the most fun for you to write and which character is your favorite? 

When I’m asked that, I always say the one I’m writing right now. I’ve loved all the books and lots of the characters, but the ones, I’m working on right now are the ones I’m connecting to.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
Getting published. It took me 8 years for the first book, then 10 years for the second, and I tell about that in the testimony.

Which character in your new release most interested you while you wrote? Why?
I was intrigued by the heroine Leiann. At the reading of her mother’s will, she found out that most of what she’d believed about her life was a lie. It shook her to her core. How do you recover from that?

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?
There are numerous things. Which should I pick? When I was in college, we went to a meeting where we wore our Sunday best. When we came home, the sprinklers were running, and we ran through the sprinklers and got soaking wet, all dressed up.

Are there things you put off doing because you dread them?
I used to be really bad about procrastinating, but I’ve learned I must be disciplined in that area, or I won’t get everything done.

That's something I'm learning about everyday now, Lena. It's a lesson that's taking me awhile to learn.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I’m very eclectic in my reading tastes. I love books to have a romantic element, but they don’t have to be a romance. I love romantic suspense, mystery. I don’t read as much chick lit, but I do like romantic comedies. I would never read a horror book.

Are there certain foods or snacks keeps the words flowing for you?
M&Ms. I love the crunch, and I can make them last a long time by eating just one at a time.

Oh yum! I keep a not so secret stash of M&Ms in the freezer for when I need a pick-me-up. Love those things!
What is the most important thing to you?

God first, my husband second, my children third, my career next.

Are there spiritual themes you like to write about?
God’s total forgiveness. God’s unbounded love. I also like to help women gain a good self-image and get rid of roots of bitterness.

Those are so important, Lena and they touch every area of a woman's life.
What lesson is the Lord teaching you right now or recently taught you?

I recently walked through a deep valley when my husband almost died. All through the weeks, miracles from God occurred regularly. Knowing that I heard His voice and followed in time to save James’s life was important.

When is your next book due out and can you tell us about it?
Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico, will release May 1, 2010. This is a Heroine-in-peril, mail-order-bride gone awry kind of story. I’m really enjoying writing it.

Lena, that sounds like my kind of book! I'm looking forward to reading it! :-) Thank you so much for taking the time to be with us this week and doing a book giveaway!

You can purchase Cranberry Hearts from Amazon and CBD.

Don't forget to leave a comment to be entered in to book drawing!

9 comments:

  1. Anonymous3:13 AM

    Great interview! I thought it funny about the quirky thing you had done in college. Right now I have Cranberry Hearts on my wishlist of books to read. Please enter me in the drawing.
    cynthiakchow (at) earthlink (dot) net

    ReplyDelete
  2. Linda W.8:29 AM

    This sounds like a very interesting book. Wills can sometimes change people's lives in way they never expect. It did in ours when my great-grandpa died. Please enter me. Thank you.
    desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love a good romance and New England is one of my favorite settings, so this is a winning combination! Thank you so much for the interview and giveaway.

    cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

    ReplyDelete
  4. I just love Lena Nelson Dooley books! She is awesome! I have her new book on my CBD wishlist! Can't wait to read it. I would love to be in the drawing.

    jumpforjoy at gmail dot com

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  5. When Patty asked about my next book, I told her about the Summerside book in 2010, but I also have two Christmas novellas coming out in September:

    Wild West Christmas with Kathleen Y'Barbo, Vickie McDonough, and Darlene Franklin

    Christmas Love at Lake Tahoe with Jeanie Smith Cash, Jean Kincaid, and Jeri Odell.

    Don't forget to look for them.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love hearing about Lena and her latest books. She is a precious woman who loves God and loves to mentor writers.

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  7. This is my first time on your blog, and I'm so happy I was led to come by this way. It looks like I'll be visiting your blog often to read your heart. Loved what you wrote about Hephzibah.

    This is my first time to hear about Lena Dooley. Looking forward to reading more of her heart.

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  8. I would love to read Cranberry Hearts! Please enter me in the drawing.

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  9. What an inspiring interview. Please enter me into the drawing.

    hartfg at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for stopping by! I love hearing from you.

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