Spotlight on Ann Shorey and The Edge of Light

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ANN SHOREY has been writing for over fifteen years. She's been published in the Adams Media Cup of Comfort series, and had one of her stories included in Chicken Soup for the Grandma's Soul. Ann has also written articles for various local and regional publications. After completing a narrative family history in 1998, she realized she had uncovered a treasure trove of inspiration, and turned to fiction as a way to put that inspiration to good use.

Ann teaches classes on historical research, story arc, and other fiction fundamentals at regional conferences. She works in Sutherlin, Oregon, where she lives with her husband, Richard. The Edge of Light is her first novel.

Ann may be contacted through her website at http://www.annshorey.com/.

She is currently running a contest through Valentine's Day (February 14th): Contact me through my website and answer this question: "Parts of The Edge of Light are true, but most is fiction. Name a scene you think might really have happened." I'll let you know whether you guessed correctly. Either way, your name will be entered in the drawing for a copy of the book plus a $10 Starbucks gift certificate.

THE EDGE OF LIGHT
by Ann Shorey
Published by Revell

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Edge of Light is Book One in the At Home in Beldon Grove series.

It is the summer of 1838 in St. Lawrenceville, Missouri, and Molly McGarvie's life is about to change forever. When her beloved Samuel succumbs to cholera, Molly is heartbroken but resolves to take care of herself and her children. When Samuel's unscrupulous brother takes over the family business and leaves Molly to fend for herself, she know she must head out on her own. It is a dangerous journey, and along the way she must face the loss of another family member. Somehow she must find a way to make a living, restore her family, and fend off some overeager suitors.

Buy Your Copy of The Edge of Light today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. This is your debut novel. Congratulations! What gave you the inspiration for this story?

I wrote a family history based on ancestor's memoirs dating back to pre-Revolutionary times and continuing through the Oregon Trail years. All the memoirs were written by men, which got me to wondering what the women's lives were like. My novel, and the ones to follow, are inspired by my female ancestors. This is loosely based on the life of one of my great-great aunts.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

I was able to use my experiences of hunting and camping in a canvas field tent to draw on in imagining some of Molly McGarvie's experiences. The personality traits in my characters are theirs. I'm nowhere near as spunky as Molly is, nor am I as cranky as Aunt Ruby, I hope.

3. If one of your characters were an ice cream flavor, what would he/she be and why?

Molly would be Rocky Road. She has soft spots for her children, but if you bite too deep she's as firm as frozen almonds.

4. Are there any themes in The Edge of Light that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the stories progressed?

I hope the reader sees that God gives to us exceedingly abundantly more than we could ever ask or think. When He gives us a word, we need to hold fast to His promises. That theme developed as I wrote--I didn't have a specific theme when I started.

5. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

I don't want to be a spoiler here. There is a scene in Chapter 7 involving one of her children that was terribly intense to write. My favorite, again not to be a spoiler, was the ending. I loved it.

6. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

The next book in the series, tentatively entitled Toward the Sunrise, is due out in January 2010. The story focuses on Molly McGarvie's brother and his wife, Matthew and Ellie Craig. Matthew is the pastor of the church in Beldon Grove. When a stranger comes to their community he turns the townspeople against Matthew. What happens to them next is the storyline.

* * * * *

Thank you, Ann, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of The Edge of Light.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net). Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to anyone worldwide.

* * * * *