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Thursday, May 17, 2012

Guest Blogger Becky Wade and My Stubborn Heart

All right, so I have a funny story to share about today's author. She's a debut author with Bethany House, just like our author from last week. Becky, though, happens to share the name with a friend of mine at my church...a lady who does not write at all. Yet, when that Becky went into the bookstore a couple weeks ago, she saw this Becky's book on the shelf and had to pick it up. And she came up to tell me a couple days later. So, I'll be certain to email her a link to this guest post. She'll likely enjoy reading it too. :)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

BECKY WADE makes her home in Dallas, Texas with her husband, three children, and one adoring (and adored) cavalier spaniel. Her inspirational contemporary romance, My Stubborn Heart, has just been released by Bethany House.

During her childhood in California, Becky frequently produced homemade plays starring her sisters, friends, and cousins.  These plays almost always featured a heroine, a prince, and a love story with a happy ending.  She's been a fan of all things romantic ever since.

Becky and her husband lived overseas in the Caribbean and Australia before settling in Dallas, Texas.  It was during her years abroad that Becky's passion for reading turned into a passion for writing.  She published three historical romances for the general market, put her career on hold for several years to care for her kids, and eventually returned to writing sheerly for the love of it.  Her first contemporary Christian romance, My Stubborn Heart, has just been released by Bethany House.

These days Becky can be found failing but trying to keep up with her housework, sweating at the gym, carting her kids around town, playing tennis, hunched over her computer, eating chocolate, or collapsed on the sofa watching TV with her husband.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorbeckywade

MY STUBBORN HEART
by Becky Wade
Published by Bethany House

ABOUT THE BOOK

Kate Donovan is burned out on work, worn down by her dating relationships, and in need of an adventure. When her grandmother asks her to accompany her to Redbud, Pennsylvania, to restore the grand old house she grew up in, Kate jumps at the chance.

Upon her arrival in Redbud, Kate meets Matt Jarreau, the man hired to renovate the house. Kate can't help being attracted to him, drawn by both his good looks and something else she can't quite put her finger on. He's clearly wounded--hiding from people, from God, and from his past. Yet Kate sets her stubborn heart on bringing him out of the dark and back into the light... whether he likes it or not.

When the stilted, uncomfortable interactions between Kate and Matt slowly shift into something more, is God finally answering the longing of her heart? Or will Kate be required to give up more than she ever dreamed?


Readers, buy your copy of My Stubborn Heart today!

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR FEATURE AUTHOR

Writers and Food


Tiffany graciously invited me to blog about any topic related to the life of a fiction writer so I decided on the auspicious subject of FOOD.  More particularly, what writers eat, drink, and snack on during writing and how they go about all this nibbling, lunching, and sipping.  I (very un-scientifically) polled my fellow Bethany House authors about their food quirks and the following are the categories that developed.

HEALTHY EATERS:

Deeanne Gist:  "When on deadline, I order healthy food already prepared and boxed in individual portions. I have it delivered. If I don't, then I would subsist on Ding Dongs. Not good."

Tamera Alexander:  "Salads! And gluten free snacks. Our dinners are pretty simple since my husband is diabetic. We do a meat and lots of veggies. Makes cooking a lot easier too. Which leaves more time to write!"

MY-SPOUSE-IS-SO-AWESOME-THAT-THEY-DEAL-WITH-THE-COOKING WRITERS:

Mary Connealy: "My husband does 90% of the cooking these days. So I sit and type and wait for those three little words all women love to hear above all others...........Dinner is ready!"

J. Mark Bertrand: "My wife will come in at six and say, "Ready for dinner?" I'll ask for a few more minutes [to write], and next thing I know it's a quarter to ten."

EAT AT THEIR DESK WRITERS:

Becky Wade: "I fix myself a boring sandwich almost every day for lunch, bring it to my desk, and eat it while I'm writing.  I'm usually just plodding through it so I can get to dessert.  Chocolate, of course!"

Deeanne Gist:  "I eat at my desk, but usually check emails at that time.  When I'm done eating, I go back to writing."

LUNCH BREAK WRITERS:

Ann Tatlock:  "I scrounge the fridge for leftovers, though I very often end up throwing together a salad with cottage cheese and crackers. I take time away from my desk and sit at the kitchen table, reading the newspaper. Then I'm fine until my husband comes home and asks the inevitable: "What should we have for supper?" Arrgg!! Who wants Chinese tonight?!? Call for pizza! Does Applebee's deliver?"

Nancy Mehl:  "I take a lunch break. Two hours. I feel like I need the time to unwind completely."

Tamera Alexander: "I *try* to take a "true lunch break" and step away from the laptop and go sit outside on the deck with my lunch (weather permitting) or grab a book and crash in the keeping room for a few minutes."

COFFEE AND TEA ADDICTS:

Lisa Wingate:  "A nice warm cup of my mom's instant Chai Tea feels like a luxury, but is really pretty healthy.  I just say, "Mom, I'm out of Chai Tea," and within a few days another recycled instant tea jar appears with the mix in it and I'm all set for a month or so."

Elizabeth Camden: "I normally inhale coffee while working......but the heroine of my last manuscript loves Earl Grey Tea....and I developed an odd affinity for it too! I suppose this is an occupational hazard.  I often develop a bizarre affection for whatever my characters really love.  I bought a lot of pricey perfume while working on The Rose of Winslow Street, whose hero is a perfumer."

Nancy Mehl: "I drink coffee or tea while I write. Love it. Don't usually eat, unless it's popcorn."

J. Mark Bertrand:  "When I'm writing, I drink a lot of coffee. Someone gave us a Keurig machine for Christmas, so the last book I wrote probably cost more in coffee pods than the advance will cover! (I'm exaggerating, but those things are pretty expensive.) I'm back on french press and espresso now, which tastes better and isn't nearly as expensive."

Tamera Alexander:  "Iced tea––made with regular tea bags plus one Constant Comment tea bag, and sweetened with Xylitol––served in a wine glass. Every day. No fail. Keep it comin', babe! Why save wine glasses for special occasions? Every day is special. ;)"

Becky Wade: "A mug of hot tea after lunch.  English Teatime with creamer and Truvia.  Steaming hot!"

CHOCOHOLIC SNACKERS:

Regina Jennings: "I'm paranoid about having drinks near the laptop, what with errant footballs flying and naked Barbies in need of dressing flung my direction. Of course, M&Ms won't short out a keyboard, so I keep a supply handy. Peanut is the flavor of choice."

Elizabeth Ludwig:  "All right...I admit it...that's me. I eat trail mix with dark chocolate M&M's added in. Dark chocolate's okay though, right?? Antioxidants. That's what I tell myself. :-)"

Julie Klassen:  "I have a terrible sweet-tooth and on those days when I have to push myself to keep working, a dish of nuts or dried fruit or dark chocolate is sometimes just the "carrot" I need."


* * * * *

Thank you, Becky, for sharing with us today.

Guest Question: Attention blog readers!  Spill the beans.  Which of the above categories do you fall into?  What do you most like to eat or drink while writing?

ENTRY RULES Readers, leave your email address (name at domainname dot com/net) along with your answer to the question for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of the book above. If you do not answer the question, and your email address isn't provided, you will not be entered.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

15 comments:

Sharon said...

I fall into the wonderful spouse that cooks category. We have been married for 20 years, and he is still a much better cook than I. And the bbq grill is his domain. Oh, I love a talented hubby.

Becky - Loved meeting you on the Bethany House book banter yesterday. Looking forward to reading your new book, maybe I will win a copy. :)
Sharon
smoore at tcq dot net

Cheryl said...

Great opening story, Tiff. I loved reading what these different writers eat.

If it's confession time, let's see, I eat most of the day. Sounds awful, but typing and eating go hand in hand around here. Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, snack. Tea and Pepsi are what I drink most, but milk and water make it in there somewhere.

Thanks for the chance to win.


Wishing you the best,

Cheryl

Dawn Janis said...

I fall into the "eat at my desk" category.

At work (my corporate job), I spend my lunch break eating at my desk and playing on the Internet or reading.

At home, I don't own a kitchen table. And the one table I do own is covered with scrapbooking supplies. So my dinner is almost always eaten while at my computer desk, trying to talk the kitty out of my lap, or in front of the tv. Most of the time when I'm at my desk (home) and I'm eating, I've got several windows open and am doing work (writing some, placing Mary Kay orders, my budget, projects for my church, editing pictures, etc).

I will typically eat Hamburger Helper, leftovers, frito pie, ice cream. Really whatever I'm in the mood for.

My email is dawn(dot)janis(at)gmail(dot)com

Becky Wade said...

Sharon, I DIRELY wish I fell into the spouse-who-cooks category! Thanks for coming to the book banter.

Cheryl, Glad you enjoyed peeking into the eating habits of writers. I always find it fascinating to compare notes with fellow authors. I love our similarities and differences.

Dawn, You and I are kindred spirits in the eat-at-their-desk category!

Tiffany, THANK YOU very much for hosting me at your blog this week. It's a treat!

Judy said...

I fall into the CHOCOHOLIC SNACKERS. I have to have chocolate every single day and I do! I try to eat the dark chocolate but I do love the milk chocolate with caramel.

I just loved this blog post. Such a neat idea with the categories!

Blessings on all the authors!
Judy
sweetpea.judy(at)yahoo(dot)com

squiresj said...

I am blessed to have a husband who loves to cook. So I sit at my computer and review books and wait for the "Dinner is ready". Lately it has been hard because like Tamara my husband now has Type II Diabetic so in same class as you.
I have not read this author's work and hope I win so I can read this and review it.
jrs362 at hotmail dot com

Rick Estep said...

What a wonderful idea for a blog interview! Thanks for keeping it interesting.

librarybooks at religious dot com

Jenny said...

I totally fall in between the chocolate and coffee drinker catagories! Got to have some of both lol
Great post!

Email is my_oceaneyes@yahoo.com

Jenny

Amy C said...

I will have to go with the coffee and tea category. Love my coffee in the morning and tea throughout the day. I do need to stick with Regina on the peanut M&Ms. I have to hit my father in laws dish on every visit. (Which is almost daily.)
Amy
Campbellamyd@gmail.com

Elizabeth Ludwig said...

Yay, Judy! One of us...one of us...

:-)

pol said...

Becky so glad I found you, very interesting to see what some of the authors I read eat or snack on. I dont eat while reading as it would mess up the book, when I am finished its time for a snack and I love goodies so try to only have 2 cookies with milk.
thanks for sharing today, loved to read the post.
Paula O(kyflo130@yahoo.com)

Becky Wade said...

Thanks, to all who've commented! It's a treat to find out which categories YOU fall into. Nice, especially, to see some other coffee/tea and chocolate fans!

Pol - when I eat cookies I also try to limit myself to 2. Last night I whipped up a batch of oatmeal cookies and have so far eaten about 8 (but only 2 at a time.... :))

Warmly, Becky

Bethany said...

I tend to sip sweet tea and munch on pretzels myself. If you put any brownies or rice krispie treats in front of me, they will be gone...lol!

I'd love to be entered!
cbus.blogger at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I'm bad about grabbing a quick sandwich and coke. And, I love chocolate, anytime, anywhere. Also snack on popcorn at night. Please enter me for this book. Maxie ( mac262@me.com )

Sverige said...

Becky Wade does a phenomenal job in her first novel! I laughed, I cried and stayed up all night finishing it. I was quickly drawn into the lives of Matt and Kate and couldn't put the book down until I knew the ending to their journey. Buy this book, it won't disappoint you.