Spotlight on Leanna Ellis and Ruby's Slippers

To all my regular readers, it's still a challenge to get back into the swing of things with my new daughter, Victoria, and this new schedule. I will do my best to get to all of the drawings from previous spotlights next week. Thanks so much for your patience.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR

LEANNA ELLIS is a winner of the National Readers' Choice Award and writes quirky women's fiction. When she's not busy writing, taxiing her kids to and from dance and fencing, or taking the dogs in and out, then she's contemplating some new weird plot. Visit her website at http://www.leannaellis.com/.

Leanna is also running a contest through Mother's Day for a chance to win $50! Check out her blog for more details. It's found on her web site.

RUBY'S SLIPPERS
by Leanna Ellis
Published by B&H Publishing Group

ABOUT THE BOOK

A Wizard of Oz meets Cinderella story

When Dottie Meyers loses her 'no place like home' during a Kansas tornado, she wakes up to find a pair of ruby slippers left by her father who abandoned his family thirty years ago. With her sister hot on her trail to find the treasured ruby slippers, Dottie travels a yellow brick road with three friends to find her father. No wizard can solve her problems. Only the love of a heavenly father can heal her wounds and give her the desires of her heart.

There's no place like ... the heart for God's healing touch.

Buy Your Copy of Ruby's Slippers today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Hi, Tiffany! Thanks for having me here.

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

The Wizard of Oz is one of my favourite stories, and I also love the musical Wicked. One day I thought, what would happen if Dorothy lost her somewhere over the rainbow? So I started kicking around the idea. Then a few weeks after that the title Ruby's Slippers hit me. Sometimes certain ideas just click and my heart starts racing and I know I'm onto something. II knew I had to write this story.

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

Very interesting question. I suppose I could make an argument that all my characters experiences must first start with an experience in me, but that's not necessarily true. There's usually an aspect or some emotion in my own life that I can tap into in order to bring them to life. But in many ways they are simply their own person, just living in my head. Completely separate from me. And yet they are a part of me. Are you confused? I know I am! :)

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

Starting out I think Dottie would be vanilla and be very content with that. But I think along the yellow brick road she’d discover many aspects of herself that would bring out a rainbow of flavours.

4. Are there any themes in Ruby's Slippers that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the stories progressed?

Living your dream, home and friendship, belonging and forgiveness. I never imagined the 'Cinderella' part of this story but it definitely emerged throughout the book. It was part of Dottie discovering herself and her own path ... finding that perfect fit.

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

This was probably the hardest book I've ever written which really surprised me. And yet at the same time so many parts were such fun to write – the sister scenes, anything with Maybelle and definitely Leo.

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

My next book is Once in a Blue Moon and it releases March 2010. Despite death-defying feats, guilt has always pulled Bryn down time and again. But a perfect love shows her taking a leap of faith is the first step to soaring. But it only happens ... once in a blue moon.

Thanks, Tiffany, it was lots of fun!

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

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Ruby's Slippers.

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 US/Canada residents only.