Joyce is the Woman of Recognition this week over at Exemplify! Yay for Joyce!! Exemplify is one of my favorite sites for women, and one I'm more than thrilled to be a very small part of. The team of women there is spectacular! Be sure to go over and learn more about Joyce! :)
Welcome to Patterings, Joyce! I'm so glad to have you. Tell us about your epiphany moment when you decided you were going to seriously pursue writing and eventually publication.
I was nine years old. Truly. I wrote a story and my teacher liked it and I knew at that moment. I know it sounds hard to believe but yeah, that was it. It just took a few years to happen.
Which of your books (published or upcoming) has been the most fun for you to write and which character is your favorite?
The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow. It's a hoot. Funny, poignant. I loved exploring the characters and making them quirky and zany. I love all the characters but I suppose Griselda is my favorite because I spent most of the time with her. She's just trying to get through each day as best she can and take care of everyone, just like the rest of us. She has some different challenges is all.
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
Time. I am so busy. I try to find time by getting up early and working before the day starts for the rest of the world.
Which character in your new release most interested you while you wrote?
I guess Agnes Sparrow simply because of who she is. I really needed to work with her because she was always in one place.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?
I think I should be crowned Queen of Quirk. For me Quirky is a life style. Here's a few. I eat spaghetti sauce but hate tomatoes. I have a birthmark shaped like Peter Cottontail. I always leave a little food on the plate, don't know why, just do. I once took a job as a dog groomer even though I had NO training and made the owner of two champion Scotty dogs very upset. Got fired that same day. I will drive twenty miles out of my way to avoid traffic, I fake-sing at church because I have a lousy voice, but I know God understands and loves me just the same. (oh, guess I need to stop that now). I don't think Panda Bears or Koalas are cute. I have gotten this far through life having never owned an umbrella. I have an irrational fear of bridges among other irrational fears. I wonder if my finger prints are fading because of all the keyboarding and clicking I do and just recently learned that I have developed an allergy to plastic. TMI? Then let me just say I love love love Jesus and in spite of all my quirks I am happy being just who He wants me to be.
LoL. Quirks are good, Joyce! Truly, they are. They make you unique. :)
Are there things you put off doing because you dread them?
Of course. The Dentist. I am the world's worst dental patient. Extremely phobic. I hate the pain because I think it's so close to my brain! The signals don't have far to travel. I dread the whole experience. I also put off laundry, dishes, bills.
What would a perfect day for you look like?
A perfect day? Um. Do they exist? One with no interruptions.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
From hard-boiled detective to Fannie Flagg to Mary Kay Andrews and Ann Patchet.
Are there certain foods or snacks keeps the words flowing for you?
M&Ms and Rice Pudding. Weird huh. Every once in a while there's nothing like a big old cheesesteak and chocolate milkshake to bust through the writing doldrums.
Are there spiritual themes you like to write about?
Redemption, I suppose. Grace?
What lesson is the Lord teaching you right now or recently taught you?
My success is His success.
Oh, I like that!
When is your next book due out and can you tell us about it?
Charlotte Figg Takes Over Paradise is scheduled to release next fall from Abingdon Press Fiction. It's a about a newly widowed woman, Charlotte, who buys a double-wide trailer in the Paradise trailer park and forms the women in the park into a softball team. Silly, huh, but Charlotte has quite an adventure and does some serious Kingdom-stretching work in the process.
That sounds fun, Joyce! Thanks so much for being with us this week!
You can keep up with Joyce on her website and blog, purchase The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow at Amazon and CBD.
Joyce is giving away a copy of The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow. To be entered in the book giveaway, leave a comment and check back on Thursday, September 3rd to see if you've won. If you want to guarantee that you're notified if you win, then leave your email address in the comment, otherwise, you can just check back and email me through the button in my sidebar. OR you could sign up to have Patterings updates delivered to your inbox. If you do, it will give you a bonus entry in the giveaway, otherwise you can enter twice--once for each post you leave a comment on. :^)
Don't forget to check out the other giveaways still in progress:
Kathleen Fuller and Judy Gann.
Thank you so much Patty for letting quirky old me visit with you today. It was great fun. And let me add that I will include a Bright's Pond Map to the prize. Thanks! Read on!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an unusual book and exactly the type I enjoy reading. I enjoyed the interview with Joyce and appreciate the chance to win a copy.
ReplyDeletecjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net
Such a touching story. Obesity has never been accepted, no matter the cause. I would love to read this one. Please enter me. Thanks.
ReplyDeletedesertrose5173 at gmail dot com
Oh my, it sounds very good. Thanks for the giveaway... I'd love to win this amazing book. ^^
ReplyDeleteGod's great blessings
marthanadnny(at)hotmail(dot)com
Oh, I wanna MEET this lady - AND read her book. You know how to find me ;)
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds very good!
ReplyDeleteYou know my addy. Sunny
I would love to win a copy of Joyce's book!
ReplyDeletehartfg at gmail dot com
Hey Patty..I always love reading your interviews with the authors. I would love to spend an hour (at least) talking with this author! I would love to read not only the book in the giveaway but will be waiting for the release of her new book as well. Thanks for putting me in the giveaway. I am posting here and also I follow your blog on facebook using networkedblogs! My email address is lynchteam at gmail dot com. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteI would love to win a copy of this book. This interview was great. Glad to see I'm not the only quirky one in the world! Thanks, Patty!
ReplyDeleteWonderful interview! What a great sounding book! Please sign me up to have a chance to win one!
ReplyDelete