Sunday, January 24, 2010

Author Interview and Book Giveaway: Third Times a Charm



Virginia Smith recently contracted her twelfth book in four years. Previous

books in the Sister-to-Sister series include: Stuck in the Middle and Age
before Beauty. In 2008 she was named Writer-of-the-Year at Mount
Hermon Christian Writers Conference. Stuck in the Middle was a finalist
for American Christian Fiction Writers’ 2009 Book of the Year Award. ATaste of Murder was a finalist for the 2009 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. Ginny and husband, Ted, divide their time between Kentucky and Utah, escaping as often as possible for diving trips to the Caribbean. Admittedly, her adventurous outings are often as much fun as they are “book research.”

 


1: How long did you write before you were published?




I wrote for more than twenty years before my first publication. I first started writing in the genre I loved to read – science fiction and fantasy. Of course, nobody told me that sf/f is one of the hardest genres to break into! I wish I’d known that. I collected 143 rejection letters before my first contract.



2: When you held that first book in your hands, what was your first thought?



It’s hard to describe the feeling. Not quite as emotional as holding your first child, but it’s a powerful moment. There’s a feeling of triumph, of accomplishment. I remember thinking, “I can’t believe it. It’s my book! That’s my name on the cover!”



I was home alone when the UPS man brought the box of books, and I could hardly wait for my husband to get home. I dedicated that first book to him, and I hadn’t told him. So as soon as he got home, I showed him the dedication, and he got tears in his eyes. That book really was as much as celebration for him as for me, because he had supported me for so long, and believe in me through all those rejections.





3: What are you working on now?



I just finished a romantic suspense book called Into the Deep. I’m excited about that one because it has a scuba diving theme, and takes place partly in Mexico. The research was a lot of fun! I’m taking a break from writing for a month or two, so I can spend some time talking about Third Time’s a Charm. After that, I’ve got a couple of ideas floating around in my head!






4: Where can readers find out more about your books?



I have a great website – www.VirginiaSmith.org . I spend a lot of time keeping it updated, and I’ve always got a giveaway going on the Reader Fun page. (Right now there’s a terrific Prize Bonanza Giveaway to help celebrate the release of Third Time’s a Charm, including a bunch of prizes related to the book, plus a $50 Visa gift card!)



I also spend way more time than I should on Facebook. I do talk about my books every so often, but mostly I just stay in touch with friends and family and readers. http://www.facebook.com/ginny.p.smith





5: What message(s) do you want to be clear to your readers?



In Third Time’s a Charm, the main message is that we have a heavenly Father who is with us always. Even when we ignore Him, He never leaves us. He’s always there, longing for us to let Him be a part of our lives.



That message is very personal for me. Like Tori, the main character in Third Time’s a Charm, my parents divorced when I was young. I didn’t see my father very often, so for a long time I did feel like he had deserted me. For a long time, that affected my understanding of how constant God’s love is for me. But I’ve learned, as Tori does, that no matter how lonely I felt, He was there all the time.


Thank you for being with us today. Any final words for readers?



Third Time’s a Charm is the third book in the Sister-to-Sister Series (though you don’t have to read Stuck in the Middle and Age before Beauty first in order to enjoy this one!) I always say there’s a little piece of me in every character I’ve ever written, and that’s true of this book as well. When I first started writing the series, I was a little worried about writing Tori’s story, because of the three sisters, she is the least like me. Imagine my surprise when I got into the book, and discovered that beneath the surface, she’s far more like me than I thought! I hope you enjoy reading Third Time’s a Charm as much as I enjoyed writing it.


To enter to win Third Times a Charm:
~Leave a valid email address
~Open to all
~Void where prohibited

To get extra entries:
~Be a follower
~Be an email subscriber

Winner will be annouced Febuary 6th and will be drawn from random.org
Thanks for stopping by to enter!

29 comments:

  1. Sounds like a great book, please enter me!


    I'm a follower..
    raebyuel(@)gmail(.)com

    Rae Byuel

    ReplyDelete
  2. I enjoy Virginia's books and would love a chance to win Third Times a Charm. Thanks!

    I'm a follower.
    I'm an e-mail subscriber.

    worthy2bpraised[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Enjoyed the interview! I haven't read any of Virginia's books yet and would like to. . .so enter me in the contest.
    Janet Chester Bly
    www(dot)BlyBooks(dot)com
    janet(at)blybooks(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi! Carman sent me!
    I would love to be entered in your draw. Thanks!
    wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I just became a follower of your blog.
    wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Just wanted to say, great interview! I've had the privileged of reading this book and it's wonderful!
    Blessings and thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  7. a wonderful interview...would enjoy reading this book...thanks for the opportunity

    karenk
    kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)Com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hello,
    Great interview.
    Would love to be entered in the drawing.
    Have a blessed day.
    Wanda Chamberlain
    wandaelaine@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. This book sounds really great!!

    Lacey914 at sbcglobal dot net

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm a follower

    Lacey914 at sbcglobal dot net

    ReplyDelete
  11. A fan of fantasy/sci fi? Virginia is woman after my own heart. Great interview. I really want to read this book.

    i'm a follower
    Cathi H.
    chassan2@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Don't put me in the drawing. I was blessed to be able to endorse this book. I love Ginny's writing.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I read "Age Before Beauty" and loved it and would now love to read "Third Times a Charm". It's on my wish list so would love to get entered in the giveaway.

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

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Just found your blog! Very cute! I would love to be entered into the giveaway! I have not read any of Ginny's books, but I love discovering new authors (new to me) and passing them on to our book club. I did catch your note that says we don't have to read the others in the series to know what is going on in "Third Time's A Charm" I would feel wierd if I didn't though. So I will buy the others as well. Thanks for the opportunity!
    Deborah
    dleathers36(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  15. This books sounds great. Love Virginia Smith's writing. Please enter me. Thank you.
    desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm a follower through Google reader.

    desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I signed up for you email newsletter.

    desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I can't believe you got rejected so many times! I have loved your books!! If I do not win a copy of your book, it will be one I have to buy! martha(at)lclink(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Yipee! I became a follower of your blog so here is my 2nd entry!

    Blessings,
    Lucie

    LucieInCA (at) aol (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Would love to win a copy of the ACFW book-club selection. All of Ginnys books are great!
    Deborah M.
    debbiejeanm[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Please enter me. Sounds like a fun series. I love reading books about sisters and their relationships.
    julesreffner@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. love to win this book jacksond@nhr3.net

    ReplyDelete
  23. follow on google friend jacksond@nhr3.net

    ReplyDelete
  24. Please enter me into this great contest, I follow you on google


    mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hello! Carman sent me!

    I am a follower
    I am an e-mail subscriber

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    ReplyDelete
  26. Please enter me. Thank you. I love her books.

    cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  27. I am a follower.

    cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for stopping by, I love to hear from those who traffic my blog! Have a wonderful day. :)

FTC Rules

According to new FTC rules I must let you, the reader know, that all views shared on this blog are strictly my own. Books to review are either provided for me by the author, publisher or ones I have purchased and I am under no obligation whatsoever to present anything, but my true opinion on any product. I receive no monetary compensation for anything written on this blog. Any giveaways on this blog are provided by the author/ publisher and I am not responsible for any views they express in their work or on this site. Giveaways are void were prohibited and chances of winnng are based on the number of applicants. A random winner is draw when a book is given away.

 
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