image: header
image: gownflare

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Spotlight on Alice J. Wisler and Hatteras Girl

Don't forget the rules of the spotlights here. Answer the random question associated with this spotlight in the comments in order to be entered in the drawing.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


ALICE J. WISLER, in addition to writing novels set in her state of North Carolina, teaches grief-writing courses. Her four year old son, Daniel died in 1997 from cancer treatments, and she knows how therapeutic writing from pain can be. Alice offers Writing the Heartache classes both online and at physical locations. She founded Daniel's House Publications, a support group for bereaved parents and speaks across the country on coping after the death of a child. Alice lives with her three kids and husband in Durham, NC, where they often take their boat, Rain Song (named after her first novel) out on lovely Falls Lake. She enjoys cooking Asian food and acting.

Alice's blogs: http://alicewisler.blogspot.com/ and http://writingtheheartache.blogspot.com/.

Hatteras Girl
by Alice J. Wisler
Published by Bethany House

ABOUT THE BOOK

Jackie Donovan prays for two things: an honest, wonderful man to marry and to own a bed-and-breakfast on the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina. In the meantime, she works for Lighthouse Views, writing articles about local business owners, and intrepidly goes on the blind dates set up by her well-meaning but oh-so-clueless relatives.

There's one specific property Jackie dreams of purchasing: The Bailey House, a fabulous old home located right next to the ocean, a place where Jackie spent many happy childhood afternoons. But the Bailey House has strange stories and secrets surrounding it—not to mention its outrageous price tag.

When Jackie meets handsome Davis Erickson, who holds the key to the Bailey property, she believes God has answered both her prayers. But as Jackie learns some disturbing details about Davis's past, she begins to wonder if her heart has lead her astray. Will she risk her long-held dreams to find out the truth?

Readers, buy your copy of Hatteras Girl today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

I love the sun and wind that play around the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Being in that region is romantic, fun and beautiful. Of course, it makes a great
setting for a novel about a woman who not only wants romance, but to run a colonial bed and breakfast.

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

Jackie is impatient and grows frustrated when things don't go her way. I can be like that! Her love of cottage cheese and chips is not mine. We do share height--she's 5'10" and I'm 5'9".

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

Chocolate fudge, I think. And speaking of ice cream, like me, Jackie can't eat it without getting it all over herself.

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

Wait on God is a theme that I hope readers see. Wait for the right man and wait for doors to open for dreams to come true. Uncle Ropey has to wait for his dream to own a runabout boat and Sheerly talks of waiting for hers. Other themes? Patience as you wait. Also, dealing with life one day at a time after the death of a loved one. Minnie has to do that after her husband dies.

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

I love the lines I gave to the mystery writer who comes to Sheerly's salon to get her hair done. And I like the phrase I give Aunt Sheerly to say, "Why is it that getting older takes years off your life?" Quirky dialogue is one of my favorite parts of writing my Southern novels set in North Carolina. The hardest parts to write and keep consistent had to do with the damage (hidden) to the Bailey House, the bed and breakfast Jackie wants to run.

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

A Wedding Invitation will be published in the fall of 2011. This story has a refugee camp and Winston Salem, NC connection. Samantha and Carson are asked to help Lien, a half Vietnamese, half American girl, find her Vietnamese mother.

* * * * *

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

ENTRY RULES Readers, answer the question associated with the spotlight in the comments, then leave your email address for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Hatteras Girl. If you do not answer the question, you will not be entered.

Question: What do you like best or least about going to the hair salon?

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.

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

18 comments:

Alice. J. Wisler said...

Thanks Tiffany, for the interview! I look forward to hearing from readers.

~ Alice J. Wisler

adge said...

Best - Getting a new haircut.
Least - Having to bend my head back for shampooing.

I have heard a lot of great things about Alice J. Wisler's books.

gasweetheart211[at]netscape[dot]net

Giveaway Lady said...

Well, I haven't gone to a hair salon in a while, but I like best getting the new look:) And least would be my worry that they are going to mess up my hair:D
Please enter me. Sounds like a great book. Thanks!

esterried[at]yahoo.com

Linda said...

Best: the hair wash and massage
Least: seldom does the cut come out right.

The book sounds dreamy. Please enter me.
desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

Wendy said...

I would love to read this book. I hate having to make small talk when at the salon. I just want to relax and not talk.
wsmarple/at/gmail/dot/com

Merry said...

I have a wonderful hairdresser and I always come away feeling pampered and a little bit beautiful. I'd love to win Hatteras Girl, the setting really engages my imagination.
worthy2bpraised[at]gmail[dot]com

Alice. J. Wisler said...

I think my hairdresser makes me feel like Merry's does. I always want to go somewhere (other than home to bed) after she cuts and styles so I can show her work off. I can never make my hair do what she did the next day, though.

~ Alice J. Wisler

Cherie J said...

The best thing about going to the hair salon is leaving there after my hair done feeling attractive for my hubby. I am with Alice, though, is that it is difficult to duplicate what she does.

Sounds like a great book. Would love to read it.

cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com

Carrie Turansky said...

Hi Tiff and Alice. I enjoyed meeting Alice at ICRS this summer. This story sounds great!
What do I like least about going to the hairdresser? Some of those weird smells from different hair treatments get to me.
What do I like best? How I look when I am all done. : )
Blessings,
Carrie
carrie (at) turansky (dot) com

Cackleberry Homestead said...

As a lover of all things coastal NC (it's where I live) I would love to win this book.

What I hate about going to the hair salon is the fact I can't afford to go to one, so I tend to go to the walk in and get it cut cheaply places and don't have a regular hairstylist. So I have a hard time communicating what I want done to my hair, they don't know what was done last time since I tend to let 6 months go between hair cuts.

What I love - coming out with a haircut I love.

crystalfulcher(at)ec.rr.com

Alice. J. Wisler said...

Crystal,

I can relate to your situation! Since I moved, my hairdresser is a trek across town and there are times I'm tempted to go to the cheaper place nearby, and so I do. But like you, it's been so long since my last hair cut that they aren't sure what to do and usually tell me I need some expensive product.

Thanks, all of you, for your comments here. Carrie, it was great meeting you at the ICRS
this past June.

~ Alice J. Wisler

heidi330 said...

What do I like about going to the hair salon or not? Well for one my daughter is who I go to see to get my hair done, so I would say I love going because I get to spend time with her. It normally takes about 3 hours to do my hair so we get a lot of chatting done..
Your book reminds me of my daughter she's in the same boat as your lead character... I would love to read it and share it with her..

Thanks
Heidi

heidijohnjeff@verizon.net

Jo said...

I have a wonderful hair stylist and love getting pampered going into the salon and have her wash, massage, color and cut my hair. I can't think of anything least that I prefer about it.

Blessings,
Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

Kit Tosello said...

When I had little kids, getting my hair done was a welcome bit of away-time.

Now that the house is quieter, it's mostly just an expense I don't welcome, unless of course I'm trying a new hairdo!

Sandee61 said...

I like going to a salon (don't that often) so when I do, I like the feeling of being pampered alittle. I really can't do much with my hair...it has a mind of its own, so I keep it in a short "breezy" cut, no muss, no fuss! lol

I enjoyed Alice's book, "Rain Song" so much, and would love to read "The Hatteras Girl". I was on a vacation in the Outer Banks in NC this past August, and loved it there. Nice people, and just a gorgeous place...my first time to the ocean. Thanks for the entry in your giveaway!

Blessings,
Sandee61

Muzzley56[at]aol[dot]com

Vanessa A. Johnson said...

HI Alice,
Great interview. Can't wait to read the book.
What do you like best about going to the hair salon? That I can sit back and let someone pamper me for a while.
What do you like least about going to the hair salon? The time it normally takes for my stylist to get to me. She usually runs behind and I have to WAIT my turn.
vanessaajohnson@hughes.net

The Fishermens Line said...

I think it must be leaning my had back twoard the sink. I'm very short and so it stretches me to the MAX!
fishermensline@pobox.com OR
lsw@pobox.com

Alice. J. Wisler said...

Great comments here! Thanks!

~ Alice J. Wisler