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Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Spotlight on Diana Brandmeyer and Hearts on the Road

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DIANA LESIRE BRANDMEYER has a background in education and psychology. Her credits include My Devotions, The Metro East Family Gazette, Little Visits Family Devotions and The Lutheran Witness. She received her degree from Webster University. She is the author of Hearts on the Road, A Time to Dance, Mystery of the Smithton Necklace and The Trouble with Ralph. Recently voted Heartsong Presents Book Club Favorite New Author 2010. She lives in Southern Illinois where the corn grows at a rapid rate behind her home.

She’s married and has 3 grown sons all on their own now, each of them bringing someone special to join the family. Yay! Daughters-in-law!

Diana loves having pets, right now there is only one in the house, a cat named Wendell and an occasional granddog named Rusty. You can also visit her blog: www.pencildancer.com.

HEARTS ON THE ROAD
by Diana Brandmeyer
Published by Barbour Publishing / Heartsong Presents

ABOUT THE BOOK

Love cannot be trusted.

Abandoned by her father, betrayed by her fiancĂ©, and forsaken by God, truck driver Randi Davis crisscrosses Wyoming with a broken heart, vowing never to love another man. Suddenly Matthew Carter, a pastor in search of a mobile ministry, is thrust into her life and into her cab. And there’s nothing she can do about it. Soon Randi and Matthew find themselves at cross-purposes. His life on the road has just begun. Her eight-year-old niece needs a parent to come home to every day. Is this the end of the road for Randi and Matthew’s romance? Which road leads to God’s ultimate plan?

Readers, buy your copy of Hearts on the Road today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

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

My husband and I were coming home from a trip in our fifth wheel and we stopped at a truck stop for fuel. A small pickup truck came into the parking lot pulling a trailer that said, “Truckers for Christ” on its side. That’s where the idea began.

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

It’s hard to separate what is the author and what is the character for me. We traveled around the states a lot and those experiences infiltrated some of the story. Driving through Wyoming was a lonely time for me and I think that influenced some of Randi’s choices. I would never want to drive a big rig, so that's all Randi.

3. If your hero/heroine were an ice cream flavor, what would he/she be and why?

Randi would be rocky road. She’s stumbling through life, thinking her obstacles are too big to get over. Matthew would be vanilla with that thin line of chocolate running through it. He’s security with a tiny bit of uncertainty.

4. Are there any themes in Hearts on the Road that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

Abandonment it the big theme. I do hope the reader sees that God never leaves us. The other theme would be forgiveness.

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

The technical parts of the book were hard because it’s not an easy career, truck drivers can be a bit rough to talk to and the true trucking side of the truck stops tend to make me blush. My favorite part? The loading dock scene.

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

Right now I’m under contract with Concordia Publishing House. I’m co-authoring a nonfiction book about blended families. It is scheduled to come out sometime in 2011.

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

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Hearts on the Road.

Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net). You won't be entered in the drawing without it. If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post.

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 the winners are announced each time.

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

9 comments:

Pencildancers said...

Tiff, thanks so much for having me today! Diana

Casey said...

Please enter me, this book looks good! :)

caseymh18(at)gmail(dot)com

Jodi Haywood said...

please enter my name too! thanks!

runner10 said...

Looking forward to your book.
Enter me.
csdsksds{at}gmail{dot}com

Unknown said...

Great interview, ladies! And let me tell you, Diana's next book is just as terrific as Hearts on the Road.

Don't enter me cuz I already have it ;)

Unknown said...

Great interview! Thank you for taking the time to share such invigorating work. We look forward to developing more books with Diana.

God Bless,
Concordia Publishing House
www.twitter.com/ConcordiaPub

Karin said...

Enter me please--thank you.

karin56381 (at) gmail.com

Tiffany Amber Stockton said...

We have a winner from this drawing and that is:

CASEY

Congratulations! I have sent your mailing address to Diana so she can send out your book.

As always, thanks to everyone for your continued support.

Pencildancers said...

Congratulations Casey! I'll be mailing this your way on Monday.