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The photo is a very bad selfie I took in 2015. Wish I had taken another one when visiting with her a few months ago!

I’m thrilled to welcome my special friend, Mrs. Marian Cocke, to my blog today. Mrs. Marian, as I call her (refer to my earlier blog about speaking Southern to understand this), and I became acquainted four years ago when I heard her being interviewed on Sirius XM Elvis radio promoting her book, I Called Him Babe, an account of her time serving as Elvis’s personal nurse and friend. I decided to purchase the book and accompanying CD as a gift, a purchase that led to several phone calls and eventually meeting this incredible lady.

With January 8 being Elvis’s birthday and Birthday Week being celebrated at Graceland, I thought it would be fun to “chat” with her and talk about some of the events described in her book.

Mrs. Marian, thanks so much for agreeing to share your time with me and my readers. Please tell us a little about yourself.

I was born on July 1926 in Fort Benning, Georgia, to Howard and Nocal Justice and lived in Benning the first eight years of my life when my dad transferred to Scofield Barrack, Honolulu, Hawaii.  I grew up on four different Army posts: there (Hawaii), Ft. McClellan, Alabama, Fort Davis, Panama Canal Zone, then on to Ft. Jackson, South Carolina, and four days later, the Japanese stormed Pearl Harbor and Daddy was transferred to the Army Depot in Memphis as the Adjutant then later as the Executive Officer.  From the age of five, I had wanted to be a nurse, but when I graduated from Whitehaven High School I was only 16 and too young, so when I became 19, I entered The Holy Name of Jesus Hospital in Gadsden, Alabama.  After graduation I worked at that hospital before moving back to Memphis to be with my family and worked at the VA.  On 9-13-52, I married Robert Cocke and on 10-12-53, our daughter, Katey, was born.  We lived in Memphis through the remaining years. I worked for a thoracic surgeon for 12 years before joining the staff of nursing at Baptist Hospital as an IV nurse, two years later becoming a unit supervisor and two years later becoming an administrative supervisor which gave me the responsibility of several nursing units.  I retired from Baptist in 1984 and a year later the VP of nursing called me and asked me to come back, which I did as I had missed it. I returned as an Administrative Supervisor and worked another 16 years when my doctor made me retire due to health reasons.  Do I miss it? Yes, I still miss being a nurse.

How and when did you first meet Elvis?  I met Elvis in January of 1975 when Dr. Nick came to me at my nursing unit and told me that Elvis needed to come in, and he wanted him on my unit. I wasn’t overly pleased because I was afraid it might cause a disruption to my unit. But he came a couple of days later. I had been holding the suite for him, and I must confess that when I walked in and met him, he totally walked into my heart.

We spent the day together as it was actually my day off, and he asked me what I wanted him to do about private duty nurses, and I told him whatever he wanted to do. He said that he would have them, but he wanted me to take care of him. I told him that I would, but he needed to know that I ran the floor, saw 51 other patients twice a day, and ran the unit. We would but the 3:00 to 11:00 nurse and 11:00 to 7:00 nurse in the same position. This was done and worked out fine. Elvis was in the hospital three weeks, and on Valentine’s, he gave me a beautiful diamond cross on a gold chain. He gave the 3:00 to 11:00 nurse a diamond ring, and the 11:00 to 7:00 nurse a very delicate gold chain with a small diamond cross on it.

He was discharged a few days later, and I didn’t hear from him until August of that year, sayig he needed to come back in but it had to be my floor. We had a patient in the suite, and I called Maurice Elliot, one of the VPs, to see if I could ask him if he would transfer to another unit as Elvis wanted to come back to our floor. He immediately agreed. The room was readied, and when Elvis called me back an hour later, I told him the suite was ready.I got a call about 9:00 that night. He was back, and would I please come in?

  When I walked in, he hugged me, told me he had lost weight, and up his shirt so I could see a flatter belly. I rubbed his belly and “yes, yes, you sure have” and the next thing he said was that he had a new car coming for me the next day. I told him I didn’t need a car as I had one and couldn’t drive but one at a time. He said that if I didn’t want it, I could give it away, but it was coming, and it did.

The next day it came, white with white leather upholstery and beautiful. When he left the hospital that time, Dr. Nick said that he needed a nurse for a couple of weeks to monitor his BP at home, and Elvis told him he wanted me to go home with him. I told him that I had a job with Baptist, and he asked if I could just come for a couple of weeks, so I talked it over with Bob and Katey that night. He said, “Okay, two weeks.”

 When I went to work the next day, the first thing he asked me was if I could come. I told him, “Yes, for two weeks,” and he told me to bring my SS card. I asked why, and he said so I could be paid. I told him I would come but wouldn’t take his money, and he asked me why I wouldn’t take his money, everyone else did. I told him I thought it was time somebody did something for him for a change. When I told Kathy (the other nurse who was going to go from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. every day), she said she wouldn’t take any money either.

She stayed until the latter part of November. Her husband was in the Navy and was transferred, so she left, and I continued on, still not accepting a salary. For Christmas that year, he gave me a 21 karat aquamarine ring cut in four tiers and with two karats of diamonds around the ring. I stayed until the end of January until my mother became terminally ill with cancer, so I had to leave, took a leave of absence from the hospital, and stayed with my mother until she died the latter part of February.

Elvis sent beautiful flowers. He went to Hawaii and was back on the road doing shows, but any time he called me and asked me to come out to Graceland and see him, have a cup of coffee, rub his back, I always went. The last time he called, it was just a few days before he died. It was 2:00 a.m. I got up, went, sat on the side of his bed, and he spoke very little. He said that he just needed me to come out and be with him. Ginger was there, though she left the room and came back later, around 6:30. He told me he was okay and I should go home and get some sleep.

He hugged me goodbye, and when I got to the door to leave his room, he called to me and said, “Miss Cocke, the doors of this house will always be open to you.” Had I known that his passing would be so soon, I would never have left.

I love it that you told Elvis you didn’t care for his music. What was his reaction, and did you eventually change your mind? We were sitting in Lisa’s room where we always sat. He asked me if I had been to any of his shows , and I told him no, that I wasn’t into his kind of music. He said, “Well, are you a fan now?” And I told him yes, but I knew him now.

In your book, or maybe on your CD or both, you talk about the relationship you and Elvis developed. How would you describe that relation? When I had spent that first day with him, we talked a lot, watched Brian’s Song, and we cried together. We spent the entire day talking other than for the movie, and the chemistry between us clicked. We were comfortable with each other and had respect for each other. He wouldn’t call me “Marian” because I was older, though only by nine years. He shared many stories as he shared feelings about some of the people who worked with him or for him. He told me about some of the things that some those who worked for him had asked for. How they came to work for him. He also told me many times of his respect and admiration for George Klein and Jerry Schilling and how these two men were always there for him. And how much they meant to him. He had the utmost faith and trust in the two of them.

I can remember it making the news when Elvis bought cars for people. Tell us a little more about what happened when he gave you yours. The day the car was delivered, I was making his bed (in the hospital) and he was in the sitting room. He called me and asked me if I would come over to where he was. He was standing at the window. I went over and asked him what he needed. He told me to look across the street. I did, and there it was, this beautiful white Grand Prix. I looked back at him, and he was dangling the keys. I snatched those keys, ran out the door, told my secretary I would be back in a little bit, and left the floor. I went to the nursing office, got the VP of Nursing, and when we got across the street, the man who had delivered the car was standing by the door with the door open. He told me, “She’s all yours.” I got in as did the other two, and as I pulled away, I ran over the curb. I looked up at his window, and he was standing there with his hand over his eyes. When I left that day, I had gone and thanked him for my beautiful car, and he hugged me and told me that I was very welcome and I deserved a pretty, new car. When I got off duty, I had called my mother and told her to come downstairs and I would take her for a ride in my new car that Elvis had bought me, but when I left my unit, there were three TV stations there, so I went back. 

You also became close with his family, and I love your Aunt Delta stories. Would you care to share one of them with us and explain to my readers who she was? Delta and I became very close, and after Elvis died, I continued to go to Graceland every week to see her and Dodger (Elvis’s paternal grandmother). Sometimes we would have lunch at home, but most of the time we went out to eat and shop, especially after Dodger died. One afternoon, she called and said that Dodger was sick and would I come out and spend the night? I did that several times, and she always wanted me to sleep with Dodger, which I did, so I would be there if she awakened and needed anything. I loved both of these two ladies, and there wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do to help either of them or Vernon. He was a very nice man, and I wanted to be there for him when he wanted me to help with anything.

What was the most extraordinary or memorable experience you had as a friend of Elvis?

That’s really easy. It was the night we were visiting in Lisa’s room where we always sat (as I shared her bedroom with her), and he reached his hand over and placed it on my knee and said to me, “Miss Cocke, you’re one of the few people that I know who has never asked anything from me but friendship.” There is no way to top that.

We don’t have enough  time or space here to talk about everything that happened during your time as his nurse and confidante. Is your book still available for purchase? If so, how?

I have the books myself and sell them from my home or from Marlowe’s. The books are $25.00 which includes shipping and handling in the United States. Outside the country, the price varies, depending on where it is.

(If any of my readers would like to know how to contact Mrs. Marian about purchasing a book, email me at authorpamharris@gmail.com, and I will get word to her.)

Some people may not be aware of how generous Elvis was with local charities, and you have helped keep that legacy alive. What can you tell us about the Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation?  The only thing I know about the Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation is that is 100% charitable only, and our (annual)) dinner, the Elvis Presley Memorial Dinner, gives 1/3 of what we make to the foundation.

(Note from Pam: I may blog more about the Elvis Presley Memorial Dinner in August, and with my limited knowledge, it is my undertanding that the proceeds help people with severe health challenges and organizations that help them. I need to learn more about it.)

At the beginning of our chat, I joked about how you didn’t care for Elvis’s music before you met him. I know that you changed your mind. Do you have a favorite song?

I actually have three, in this order: “I’ll Remember You,” “The Wonder of You,” and “Memories.”

Is there anything else you’d like to say about your book, the Foundation, or Elvis himself?

He was a very special young man, more like my child to me despite the fact that there were only nine years’ difference in our ages. I loved him then and love him still. There is never a day that goes by that he isn’t in my thoughts and prayers. Our daughter, our only child, went to Jesus eighteen years ago this July. I miss him like I miss our Katey who was our pride and joy. She died at the age of 47, and her husband, who had been a city engineer, had been killed in an auto accident many years before she left us.

Mrs. Marian, you have led an interesting life and have experienced much loss, but I always admire your positive spirit and strength. You are an example for all of us. Thank you again for taking the time to answer my questions. I’m looking forward to seeing you soon!

Thanks, Pam, I look forward to that too!

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Contemporary Christian romance writer Heather Greer joins us on my Thursday blog today. Heather, thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. 

What prompted you to become a writer?

I’ve always loved stories. The idea that an author can create people and even worlds that others relate to, learn from, and are encouraged by is amazing. I can’t count the number of times a book’s characters and story have impacted my life and my faith. I wanted to pass on those kinds of experiences to others. 

Tell us about your book Faith’s Journey. What is it about, and what gave you the idea for it? 

Faith’s Journey is Katie McGowan’s story. Like so many, Katie felt stifled by the faith she grew up around, and as an adult she went her own way. After having her heart broken, she returns home and finds maybe she didn’t have to run from God when His people didn’t seem to live up to their professed beliefs. Katie struggles to reconcile with God while dealing with conflict with her parents, caring for her injured mother despite the conflict, and finding a friend and maybe a little more in a man named Austin. When the man who broke her heart comes back into her life, Katie’s slowly developing faith is put to the test. 

The inspiration for Faith’s Journey came from considering the difficulties faced when someone is betrayed in heartbreaking ways. I thought this would be the main theme as I began the story, but Katie intervened and took it a different direction. The betrayal she faces is the catalyst to a revisiting of her faith, and the path she takes to reconnect with God ended up the major theme of Faith’s Journey. Grasping Hope, the second installment in Katie’s story, which comes out in March 2019, will deal more with the effects of her fiancé’s betrayal. 

Can you tell us a little more about Grasping Hope?

I can’t get into specifics because I don’t want to spoil details of this book or Faith’s Journey for those who haven’t read it. What I can tell you is that Katie finds herself dealing with unexpected and painful effects of her fiancé’s betrayal. The results threaten to steal the joy she’s found, put an impenetrable wall between her and God, and cause her to push away from those she loves most. 

I have had several writers as my guest on my blog. Each one has a different routine or system that works best for her. What is yours?

Faith’s Journey started with an idea. Grasping Hope simply built on the story I had already started. I asked myself, “Where would Katie be now, and what would she be facing?” I’m working on the third book now, and I started it from a particular scene. The inspiration for each one came a little differently. And that seems to sum up my writing system. I don’t plot things out from beginning to end. Although, as I get into writing a particular project I do end up making time lines so I can keep my details consistent. I edit as I go until I have each scene the way I want it. Of course there’s always more editing to do at the end, but I don’t leave a scene until I’ve got it the way I want it. 

How do you develop characters?

I think about who they are first. Then, I come up with a photo of someone who looks like them. I use Pinterest to make boards for each book and put things that remind me of each character in each one. It helps keep me on track with the character’s likes and dislikes, personality, and physical characteristics. As I write I try to think about not only where they started but what is going to change and grow in them over the course of the story. Doing this helps me gradually, naturally move them from point A to point B through the story. 

What advice would you give a writer who has not yet succeeded in being published?

Keep reading, keep writing, keep learning your craft. No isn’t the end. It’s an opportunity to strengthen your work before sending it out again.

I admit to incorporating real events into my fiction, events that either I or someone I know experienced. How much does real life impact your fiction writing, if at all?

I don’t think an author can help putting something of themselves on the page. I do try to keep from modeling my characters after people I know, but in Grasping Hope I did create a character based on a very special “aunt,” The character is not the person, but I tried to think of the things I love about my aunt and incorporate them into Gigi B. Oh, and I guess this is the part where I admit Katie’s fall and slide down the creek bed at Giant City Park was inspired by true events. Let’s just say I know exactly what Katie felt like, but I didn’t have Austin waiting at the bottom for me. I had my three sons laughing at their mother’s lack of grace!

People read fiction to be entertained, but do you see Christian fiction as only entertainment or something more?

I believe the best Christian fiction should entertain well with a strong story and relatable characters. But I also believe it is an outlet for Christians to use the gifts and talents God gives to minister to others. I feel God has called me to encourage and challenge women of faith in their understandings of and relationships with God. He’s also given me a passion to write and the ability to learn and practice that craft. The way I bring honor and glory to Him is by using my passion and gifts for the ministry focus He’s given me. It’s showing truth to others in a relatable way that’s sometimes easier to accept than a Sunday School lesson. 

Do you have a favorite Scripture or “go-to” chapter from the Bible?

I love Jeremiah 29:11. I’m big on purpose if you haven’t already figured that out. But even in the purpose there is a correct way to live it out, and I find that in Micah 6:8. “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” And my favorite “go-to” chapter would have to be Philippians 4. There’s a lot of practical truth in that chapter when you’re facing troubling times. 

Just for fun, tell us your favorites in:

Book(s) as a child: I loved Berenstain Bears as a young child.

Movie or TV series: There are so many, but I’ll go with “Doctor Who,” especially the David Tennant episodes.

Restaurant or type of food: Mashed potatoes or chocolate, just not together.

Music: I can’t begin to choose a favorite type of music, but my all-time favorite Christian artist is Rich Mullins.

Vacation spot: I’ve only been on two vacations in my life, one as a child and one as an adult. So, I’ll go with Charleston, South Carolina. I got to introduce my children and husband to the ocean for the first time. 

Animal: Anything cute. But I do love horses. 

Hobby: Baking. It helps me de-stress after a long day.

Where can readers purchase your books?

Faith’s Journey can be purchased through Amazon in both paperback and ebook formats.

Faith’s Journey in paperback format can be purchased through www.barnesandnoble.com and www.booksamillion.com. 

Please share any links we can access to keep connected and anything else you’d like for us to know.

I love to hear from readers, and you can contact me through email at bythebook724@gmail.com. Or connect with me on social media using any of these links.

Contact Info/Social Media Links: 

Website: https://heathergreer.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Heather_Greer1

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/1heathergreer/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1heather.greer/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorHeatherGreer/

Thanks again, Heather, for taking the time to answer my questions. Best wishes for much writing success in 2019!

Last week I interviewed fiction writer Suzanne Bratcher on my Thursday blog. We chatted about her mysteries set in a ghost town in Arizona (be sure to read my blog to learn more!), but today she is sharing a recipe that might be of special interest because of a resolution you’ve made for 2019. If eating healthier is on your list, I thin you’ll want to try this out. Thanks, Suzanne!

Green Smoothie

Ingredients

1/3 c coconut milk (lite)

2/3 c water

1 scoop protein powder (plant or whey)

1 ripe medium banana, broken into thirds

1 c dark leafy greens (spinach, kale, etc.)

½ c carrots 

½ c celery 

1 c fresh or defrosted frozen fruit (berries, mango, pineapple, seedless grapes, etc.)

1 T coconut oil (liquid or melted)

1 T chia seed (or 2 T ground flaxseed)

In a sturdy blender

Mix coconut milk, water, protein powder, and banana until smooth.

Add greens, carrots, and celery. Mix until smooth. 

Add fruit. Add water as needed. Mix until smooth.

With blender running, add coconut oil and chia seed.

Makes 1 serving (about 20 oz)

I try to eat a healthy diet, but I still find it difficult to get all those fruits and veggies our bodies crave. Green smoothies have been a great answer for me. Most days some variation of this smoothie is my lunch. My blender is large enough that I double this recipe to make two servings. 

Yes, I retired in 2018. No, this photo wasn’t from a retirement party for me. It was for my husband’s aunt. I won’t go into the reasons that I retired at 62 instead of waiting like the experts recommend, but let’s just say that my life is much less stressful and while I’m not just sitting around doing whatever I want to do, life is easier.

Have you ever known someone who finally retired, and shortly after they did, they experienced a health crisis or another crisis that threw their retirement plans into a tailspin?

I have. Several. And it makes me think.

Sometimes our jobs are so demanding, we have a fuzzy notion of the things we’d like to do. Maybe buy a travel trailer and visit all 48 contiguous states plus Alaska. Fly to Europe and see as many countries as we can see in two weeks. Buy a lake house and fish every day. Maybe something a little more tame, such as reading all of the recent best-sellers, taking an art class, finally learning to play a musical instrument.

My advice? Don’t. Don’t wait until retirement. Try to do those things now.

Why? You’re not guaranteed one day. You’re not guaranteed good health. You have no guarantees of anything.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not advocating that you quit your job before it’s practical to do so. I am advocating considering your options. Can’t visit all 48 states at once? Visit a few at a time on your annual vacation. Go to Europe and visit one or two countries. Possibly you can afford a weekends-only lake house. On a smaller scale, make time for yourself to read those books, take those art classes, learn to play that instrument.

I had wanted to do the St. Jude half-marathon in Memphis for over fifteen years. But my long hours at work kept me from being able to train, or so I thought. I look back now and realize it was how I prioritized my time. Yet, fortunately, I fulfilled that goal in 2018. I jogged/walked the 13.1 miles in three hours and seventeen minutes. Other than retiring, it was the highlight of my year. It was an amazing experience, and you don’t have to be an athlete to do it. It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life.

I realize there are circumstances which can prevent someone from achieving their goals and dreams. Financial reasons. Current health problems. Family obligations.

I’m a believer in saving for retirement and being smart with your money, and I’m not saying you should think only of yourself. But if you’re putting off some goal for “someday” when you have more time, you might want to rethink it.

Remember, there are no guarantees.

Suzanne, thanks so much for taking the tine during the busy holiday season to answer my 

questions. You and I share an Arizona connection, so I’m curious to know about places 

you’ve lived and worked. What would you like to share with us about those things?

I’ve lived in Kentucky, Texas, Kansas, Arizona, Guam, and Arkansas. In Texas I taught junior high English and elementary school reading. In Arizona I taught a variety of English courses at Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff). On Guam I taught English at Pacific Islands University. I think moving so much gave me a sense of the different personalities places have. 

I really enjoyed your book The Copper Box and found it to be very authentic in its setting. How important do you think it is to visit places that are settings in a book? With the technology we have today, do you think research online can work as well?

Most of my characters and plots start in a place I know well and keep returning to in my head. Each of my settings has its own voice that I identified by being immersed in the locale. I use the internet to jog my memory and add specific details. I think it’s possible but risky to set a story in a place you haven’t visited. Readers who don’t know your setting probably won’t be able to tell, but anyone who’s ever spent time there will catch blunders.

Share with my readers what The Copper Box is about.

JEROME, ARIZONA: the largest ghost town in America

Antiques expert Marty Greenlaw comes to Jerome to face the horror that haunts her dreams. Did she kill her little sister twenty-two years ago?

Historian Paul Russell is in Jerome to face his own horror: Was the car crash that killed his wife his fault?

Their lives become intertwined when an old lady dies on a long staircase in a vintage Victorian house. As Marty and Paul search the house for a small copper box Marty believes will unlock the mystery, accidents begin to happen. Someone else wants the copper box—someone willing to commit murder to get it. As Marty and Paul face the shadows in the house and in their lives, they must learn to put the past behind and run the race God is calling them to.

I know that most writers are avid readers. What genre of books do you enjoy the most?

That’s a hard question. I enjoy many genres. I love mysteries, romantic suspense, literary fiction, and nonfiction. I just finished Colleen Coble’s Sunset Cove books. Now I’m reading Mitch Albom’s The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto and Rob Bell’s What is the Bible?

What made you become interested in writing fiction?

A little blue biography of Louisa May Alcott hooked me! I read it in the third grade and decided I wanted to grow up to be Alcott. Life intervened, and I grew up to be Suzanne J Bratcher instead. Even though The Copper Box is my first published novel, I’ve been writing fiction since the third grade.

How is having your novel published different or similar to what you had envisioned?

The biggest difference has been discovering how much time the business of writing requires. Before The Copper Box was published, I focused on craft. Now I’m learning about marketing, newsletters, blogs, series, and book clubs.  

Every writer has to find the routine that works best for her. I admit to being not as structured as some. What about you?

You’ve put your finger on my biggest frustration. Once upon a time, I lived by the clock. When I first retired from teaching, I wrote from 8:00-10:00 a.m. and 2:00-4:00 p.m. These days, however, my Multiple Sclerosis dictates my writing schedule. “Listen to your body” is the motto I must live by if I don’t want to land myself in bed for a week. So I write when I have the energy for the intense focus fiction demands. Occasionally I manage an hour in the morning, but mostly I write in the afternoon or evening. Sometimes I write for thirty minutes and sometimes for three hours. I’m learning to trust God rather than the clock for meeting deadines. 

Do you have a work in progress? If so, tell us a little about it.

I’m working on the second book in the Jerome trilogy, The Silver Lode. 

JEROME, ARIZONA: billion-dollar copper camp

Historian Paul Russell is drawn into a web of murderous secrets by an oral history detailing the discovery of a rich silver lode seventy years ago. Antiques expert Marty Greenlaw becomes entangled in the web when her attempts to save a four-year-old girl threaten those very secrets. As Paul and Marty race to find Paul’s missing son, Scott, they must decide whether or not to become a forever family. 

What resources do you find most helpful in your writing?

I’ve attended so many conferences and participated in so many workshops that it’s hard to overestimate how important they’ve been. I think it’s the same with craft books. At the moment, I’m working with James Scott Bell’s Write from the Middle. I always use Randy Ingermanson’s Snowflake software to pull my plot into shape, and I’m learning to use Scrivener for drafting. I’ve been in writers’ groups in years past, but now I work better with one or two people. 

This may seem like a ridiculous question, but writers write for different reasons. What is 

your biggest motivation to write?

I’ve probably asked myself that question a hundred times—whenever I think how much more time I’d have if I’d quit writing! I suppose I’m addicted to writing because it helps me process my life. I never set out to solve a problem in a story, but inevitably when I look at what I’ve written, I find a theme I was puzzling over. 

Tell us about activities or hobbies that you enjoy.

Quilts, birds, and cats! I enjoy piecing quilts and taking them to a professional with a long arm machine to be quilted. Arkansas is a great place for birds. Last week I counted twelve different species at my three feeders. I also enjoy my two indoor cats. Scamp and Mini Pearl keep me entertained with their endless games.

Please share below any links readers can access to stay connected.

http://www.suzannebratcher.com    https://www.facebook.com/authorsuzannebratcher/

Thanks again, Suzanne, for answering my questions. Happy New Year!

I am happy to welcome Amy Anguish to my Thursday blog! Amy, what would you like to share with us about yourself?

Well, I’m an author, obviously. But I’m also a wife, mommy, friend, Sunday-school teacher, and crafter. It definitely keeps me busy.

It is my understanding you have one book already published and another under contract. Tell us about those books.

My book that came out in November 2017 is called An Unexpected Legacy. In it, Jessica and Chad meet at a smoothie shop and start to fall in love. When they find out that their families come from the same town, it’s almost like God has pushed them together … until they realize that something happened between their families in the past that could push them apart instead.

My next book will come out in April 2019. The working title is The Greatest of These. It’s about two sister, Faith and Hope, who are forced to spend the summer together, despite not getting along. While they’re dealing with those struggles, as well as their own romantic relationships, life throws a few more curveballs their way. 

Who are your favorite authors?

I have so many! Of course, there’s the obvious favorites like Jane Austin, Louisa May Alcott, LM Montgomery, and Francine Rivers. But I’m also a huge fan of Karen Witemeyer, Katherine Reay, Autumn Macarthur, Sandi Rog, Christine Lynxwiler, and have just discovered Chautona Havig, who I’m really enjoying. Among others. I read a lot.

When did you first become interested in writing, and what do you do to improve and learn?

Like I said above, I’m a reader, and have always loved stories. But when my eighth-grade teacher let us know she was a published author, it was like a light clicked in my head. All of a sudden, it was a position achievable. I would love to think I’ve improved since then. Ha! I have surrounded myself in the last few years with great friends who are honest with me when they critique something, as well as reading blogs about the craft like seekerville.blogspot.com. And just doing something over and over again helps you improve, too, so I’ve got that going for me.

We readers often say that the book is better than the movie. Have you ever seen a movie that you felt did justice to the book? Or a movie that was actually better than the book? In my case, it is Gone With the Wind. For me, the book dragged.

I wanted to say this question was way too hard. So many times, the book is better. On a few occasions, I’ve seen that they were exactly alike. One movie/book that comes to mind is “Meet Me in St. Louis,” one of my all-time favorites. The film is practically verbatim to the novel. Both are lovely, but the movie has music.

Where do you see yourself as a writer ten years from now?

I’d love to have several more books published. I have about six or seven manuscripts on my computer right now just waiting for edits. Just have to find the right company to get them out there!

What gives you ideas for your stories?

What doesn’t give me ideas for my stories? Everywhere I look, everything that happens to me, it’s all story fodder. For example, my novel, An Unexpected Legacy started simply from eating at an iron table outside of a smoothie restaurant. I got to thinking, what if I were single, sitting here reading, and got interrupted by a cute guy? The story grew from that.

How much of real life (people, places, etc.) do you incorporate into your writing?

My husband always jokes that I only include his bad traits. It’s not true, by the way. I try not to include too much REAL life into my stories, because I don’t want to accidentally hurt anyone’s feelings. I do take real events or places or even struggles, though, and change them up just a bit to fit my plot better.

What piece of advice have you received that has been most beneficial in your writing pursuits?

Don’t give up. 

What are obstacles to writing as often as you would like? Do you have a “fix” for that problem?

I think the main “fix” for my problem will be my children (ages two and four) starting school in a few years. Ha!

Tell us about any hobbies or interests that you have.

Like I said, I’m a crafter. I can crochet, sew, quilt, do some needlework, and dabble in painting. I also seem to do a lot of baking this time of year.

Please share below any links you would like for my readers to be able to access.

You can follow me at http://abitofanguish.weebly.com and http://www.facebook.com/amyanguishauthor. I share my thoughts, book updates, author interviews, Bible class ideas, and more.

Thank you, Amy, for your time. And Happy Holidays!

Amy R Anguish

Author of An Unexpected Legacy

Amy R Anguish grew up a preacher’s kid, and in spite of having lived in seven different states that are all south of the Mason Dixon line, she is not a football fan. Currently, she resides in Tennessee with her husband, daughter, and son, and usually a bossy cat or two. Amy has an English degree from Freed-Hardeman University that she intends to use to glorify God, and she wants her stories to show that while Christians face real struggles, it can still work out for good.

Follow her at http://abitofanguish.weebly.com or http://www.facebook.com/amyanguishauthor

Last week I interviewed fantasy writer Erin Howard for my Thursday blog. Today she shares a favorite recipe that she thought readers might like to have. With the holiday season in full swing, it’s perfect timing for this dish. Here in the South, sausage is almost a staple. If you missed my blog, be sure to check it out to learn more about her published and upcoming books. Thanks, Erin, for the recipe!

This is one of my favorite recipes that my mom has taught me to make and one that we always have at family dinners, especially at Christmas. Sausage Stars are super easy to make and very yummy. I never bring home any leftovers when I make them for parties. 

Sausage Stars 

1 pound sausage

1 ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese (or to taste)

1 cup ranch dressing (or to taste)

1 small jar green olives, sliced 

Diced red pepper (optional)

1 package wonton wrappers

Preheat oven to 350°. Cook sausage and drain thoroughly. Combine sausage with cheese, ranch, olives, and red pepper (optional).  Lightly grease muffin/cupcake pans. Press wontons into each cup with four wings sticking out. Lightly brush inside of wontons with olive oil. Bake 5 minutes or lightly golden brown. Fill each wonton with sausage mixture. Bake an additional 5-8 minutes until cheese is bubbly.

Not everybody loves Christmas. Some even hate it because it is a sad time or a stressful one. Me, I love it until it’s over. I love setting out my Thomas Kinkade village (thank you, Barbara!) and decorating the rest of the house. Once the celebrating is over, however, I’m ready to pack it all away.

Growing up in a time when kids never got anything except on birthdays and Christmas, it was my favorite time of the year. After all, how else could I get those toys I drooled over in the Sears Christmas catalog? Like a lot of kids, I didn’t always get what I wanted. One year my Chatty Baby, a doll, that talked when you pulled a string, didn’t talk. Mom exchanged it at Thrifty’s later. She kept that doll, and I now have it stashed in a closet. She no longer talks. After all, she is 54 years old. That’s old for a doll.

The next year all I wanted was a Barbie dream house. When I opened it and Dad saw that it was heavy-duty cardboard instead of plastic, he sent it back, saying it cost more than it was worth. I’m sure they gave me something to replace it, but I really don’t remember what was. One year all I wanted was walkie-talkies. I got a maple desk and a plastic model horse. I loved the horse because I collected them, but I’ve never quite figured out the desk, especially since it didn’t even get placed in my room. That 52-year-old desk is now my daughter-in-law’s vanity table. They painted it, and it looks pretty good.

Don’t get me wrong. I received some great presents over the years, and like the ones above, some not so great. My kids could say the same about my attempts at gift giving. And like all of us, once I grew up, the gifts weren’t the important thing anyway.

Religious beliefs aside, being with the people we love, whether family or friends, is what makes Christmas special and is also what makes some people stressed and others depressed. Christmas is not always a Hallmark movie or a Jimmy Stewart movie. Sometimes it’s more Christmas Vacation. Being alone is ten times worse during the holidays. Missing loved ones who live far away or have passed is magnified.

I know all that, which is why what I’m about to post may come across as . . . well, wrong.

You see, my husband and I have lived in the same town as our parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc. our entire married life. My brother and his family are and were miles away, but other than that, the rest were all right here. We saw each other on a regular basis. Very regular.

Every Christmas, we had a minimum of three places togo. No one was willing to celebrate on any dates other than Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so we went to my parents’ house, his parents’, his grandmother’s, and my aunt’s. We were expected to eat everywhere we went. You might know the drill.

When we had children, this became nothing short of a nightmare. Have you ever taken a six-month old baby to one set of grandparents early Christmas morning, then to church, then to the great-grandmother’s for the huge extended family get-together, then to your aunt’s for another extended get-together, then finish at the other grandparents’ house? Any idea what mood that baby was in by the end of the day, not to mention his weary parents?

Not all Christmases were like that. But they were always busy, and it got harder and harder to pull the kids away from their toys to go to someone else’s house for more presents. And food.

In 1994 or 1995, though, everyone in my family of four got a stomach virus about a week before Christmas. We took turns, so it took a full week to go through it all. I think I was the last one to get sick, and Christmas Eve was the day I finally started to feel better.

But no one wanted to risk catching it. So we told them to go ahead and celebrate without us.

And it was one of the best Christmases we ever had.

That sounds harsh, I know. Keep in mind, though, that we saw most of our loved ones on a regular basis. Spending time with them was great, but it wasn’t extra special because it was the norm.

The boys played outside all day, my oldest with his street hockey set, my youngest in his pedal racing car. We have a very long driveway, and it was their playground that day and the weeks that followed. I cooked a normal meal, nothing special, but o one cared The working mom and dad had a relaxing day off, and the boys enjoyed their new possessions to their heart’s content.

Don’t get me wrong. Several of those people with whom we once shared Christmas are now gone, and we’d love to have them back with us. This is not meant to disparage their memories in any way.

But that year, the relaxing day that the four of us shared was worth more than any present money could buy. It was family time, all right. A very special time for our little unit.

Whatever your circumstances, I hope your holiday is one that brings you joy, not pain; laughter, not tears; and peace, not stress.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

When I was still teaching high school, I noticed many of my students who liked to read were devouring fantasy books. Males and females. I asked them why they enjoyed fantasy, and when they talked about it, their enthusiasm was contagious. I am not as familiar with the genre as the younger generation, so I really enjoyed learning more when I interviewed Erin Howard for my blog. I know you will enjoy it as well.

Thanks so much for agreeing to be interviewed for my blog, Erin! Before we talk about your writing, share a little bit about yourself.

Hi, Pam! Thanks for having me. I’m married, have three kids (14, 10, 5). When I’m not writing or editing, I love spending time with my family (we are big movie and board game fans), and I will admit that I’m addicted to new craft ideas and supplies. I’m always searching on Pinterest for new ideas to try.

Before our youngest son Gabriel was diagnosed with leukemia in December of 2016, I owned and operated a retail store that sold handcrafted items from local artists. I taught a variety of craft classes like crochet, Wilton Cake Decorating, door hanger paint parties, and string art. I just got a wood burning kit not long ago, and I’m currently learning how to make Christmas ornaments. 

What is your background in writing?

My love of writing started in middle school. In the sixth grade, we had to keep a daily journal, and I asked my teacher if I could write a story instead. In high school, I started writing poetry. I always had the dream of writing a book but kept starting new stories and not finishing them. Right before I had my third child, I went back to school and received my BA in Creative Writing/English. Shortly after graduating, I completed my first novel and published it with Mantle Rock Publishing.  

Your book, The Seer, is fantasy. When did you become interested in that genre?

I grew up reading the Fear Street series by R.L. Stine, so my love of speculative novels started when I was in middle school. As I got older, I branched out to other genres. I even started writing chick lit for a while, but fantasy is my favorite.  

Here’s the back cover for The Seer:

Viktor has one order to follow:

Kill the girl before her eyes are opened.

For thousands of years, his job has been to torment and kill seers: humans that have the gift of seeing the spiritual realm. So it was no surprise when his brother Matthias was once again sent to stop him and protect the girl.

Now the last of the seers’ bloodline hangs in the balance, as the estranged demon and angel brothers are forced to work together to save a girl’s life and escape to the sanctuary city of Bethesda.

What are the key elements of fantasy?

Fantasy falls under the vast umbrella of the speculative genre, but basically, it uses magic and other supernatural forms as a primary element of plot, theme, and setting. My series is an urban fantasy, which is a sub-genre of fantasy. I have supernatural elements, but the story takes place in our world. 

As a high school teacher, I observed several of my students reading fantasy books on a regular basis. They loved them. I often told them I got confused with the unusual names of people and places. When you are writing fantasy, do you keep a record of those names, or are you able to keep them all in your head?

I have a journal/notebook for each new novel that I write. I keep all the essential information that I need in those journals. Everything from character’s names to the outline of the story goes in the notebooks.

I try not to have unusual names that would confuse the reader, but I do pick certain names because of their meanings and how they can tie into my stories. 

Describe your writing process, and include any “secrets of success” you have learned, if any.

My series started with a “what if” question, and from there, I started putting all the pieces in place. I sketch out an outline, answering those key questions, but also let the characters take over. I write the entire rough draft before I edit. If I don’t, I will get stuck on a chapter trying to make it perfect and never get anywhere. Once the rough draft is in place, I go back and edit and rewrite. I love the rewrite phase because that’s when I get to make everything shine and see it come together. 

A tip that I learned from a writing retreat is never to start writing with a blank page. If a page is blank, it seems to taunt me, and I freeze up. However, if I end my writing session in the middle of a page or even a paragraph, it helps me to pick up where I left off much easier. 

What other genre of fiction are you interested in writing?

For now, I’m happy with fantasy and would love to write in a few sub-genres of fantasy like dystopian and fairy Tale retellings. 

Do you have another book coming out in the near future?

Yes! Book two in The Kalila Chronicles, The Soul Searcher, releases on 2/19/19. I’m currently working on the third book, The Silencer, and a brand-new novella series with new characters, but in the same story universe as my current series. 

The Soul Searcher:

Elnora’s parents gave her one rule:

Stay hidden away at all costs. 

Elnora Scott is used to her survival depending on the decisions of others. Locked away in her safe house, it is easy to follow her parents’ dying wishes until an angel, demon, and seer show up on her door step. Now, waking up in a dirty cell, she wishes she would have gone with them when she had the chance, because the very ones who unknowingly ushered the kidnapper to her location may be the only ones who can save her now. 

When Thea learns that Elnora may be in danger, she doesn’t hesitate to go find her. However, the events leading up to Thea’s arrival in the sanctuary city of Bethesda have set off a chain reaction of unimaginable consequences. She thought stepping through the portal would be her greatest obstacle, but it only reveals a more sinister threat. How can Thea save Elnora when every decision she makes puts someone else in danger?

Just for fun, tell us your favorite:

Music genre: I enjoy a mixture of genres: Christian, rock, country, and the 80s. 

Singer or group: I don’t have a single favorite singer or group.

Movie: The Pirates of the Carribean, Ever After, The Princess Bride, Pride and Prejudice.

Book: The Hunger Games 

Food: Mexican 

Vacation spot: St. George Island

City: Senoia, GA. I’m a huge “Walking Dead” fan and seeing some of the filming places was amazing. I fell in love with the downtown area.  

What is the most interesting or unusual thing that has ever happened to you?

My husband and I were youth leaders for a long time before our youngest son was diagnosed with leukemia. In 2006, I was able to help chaperone one of our teen’s high school choir trip to France. We spent twelve days sightseeing, and they performed in several places. My favorite was when a tour guide asked them to sing in a monastery that we were visiting. It was beautiful. 

Share below links to your social media, website, blog, or anything else you’d like readers to know.

I love to hear from my readers, so please sign up for my newsletter and connect with me on social media. 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/E.R.H.Fiction/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ErinRHoward

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinrhoward/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/erinrhoward/

Blog: https://erinrhoward.wordpress.com/

Website: https://erinrhoward.com/

Thank you, Erin, for your time. Best of luck with your writing! 

Thank you, Pam. I had a blast!