Thursday, February 24, 2011

Special Giveaway and Interview: Singing in Babylon

Welcome to Writing for Christ, Ann Gaylia O'Barr, it is great to have you here! Do You have an interesting fact about yourself the average reader probably doesn’t know?
I worked for the U.S. State Department, mostly in the Middle East, for fourteen years. My work included child custody cases of American children of mixed American/foreign marriages in which the child had been taken by the foreign parent. I also visited American citizens in foreign jails. In a couple of cases, I worked with Americans killed/injured in terrorist attacks.
 


What surprised you the most about being a published author?
How much difficulty I would have with the question of genre in marketing my novels. SINGING IN BABYLON, for example, has romance, but it’s more of a love story than a romance, and the love story is only one force which shapes the characters. It’s really about a Christian woman who accepts a job in Saudi Arabia and grows through experiences with other Christians there, including a journalist with whom she falls in love.

Do you have a favorite genre to read/write?
I read almost any genre as long as the characters are intriguing. I like Lisa Samson’s books, and the Mitford series by Jan Karon, and Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. I also enjoy Susan Meissner and Jack Cavanaugh.

My novels always have a love element, but they usually include other issues as well. For example, Kate, the female protagonist in SINGING IN BABYLON, sees her faith stretched, when, for the first time in her life, she cannot worship openly as a Christian. Philip, the male protagonist, deals with guilt from his past and his inability to forgive himself for a particular period in his life. The stories deal with the characters rather than a particular genre.

Obviously, my experiences working for the U.S. State Department, mainly in the Middle East, color my writing. My characters often are awakened by meeting people of other cultures for the first time or, for whatever reason, are jolted out of their comfortable, domestic life in the U.S. My niche, I think, deals with characters in global professions (journalists, teachers, diplomats, and so on).
 

When you aren’t writing or interacting with fans, what do you enjoy?
My husband and I hike on the Puget Sound island where we live. We enjoy getting together with family and close friends. We belong to a village church, two book groups, and a "fireside discussion" circle. I also try to work out regularly at the local Curves.

Do you have a nugget of writing advice that has completely changed how you view writing?
 
I have an "inspiration" folder that I read every day. Included is a column from Lin Johnson, an editor for Christian Communicator, which states: "And if God has called us to write, we must obey that call. We’re not content until we do so."

In some cases, perhaps the writing is a step to some other call, but if God has called us to write, we have to do it, through good and bad, depression and joyousness.

What do you enjoy most about being a published author?
When people tell me they couldn’t stop reading my book or that a character has turned them on, I’m so grateful to God, and it’s encouraging to conclude that I haven’t been wasting those hours in front of the computer.

What do you like readers to take away from your books?
The same things I like to take away from a book: the pleasure of an upbeat story well-told with characters I’d like to keep on knowing and which, as a bonus, may point me in the direction of God’s great themes of courage, redemption, and forgiveness.

Because of my background working overseas in countries where Christians are a minority, I’d also like to stretch the minds of American Christians with an awareness of the rest of the world, much of which doesn’t share our convictions. Through my blogs as well as my novels, I consider world events from a Christian perspective.
 
 
Places for readers to learn more about you?
I recently started a blog to provide a forum for Christians interested in discussing issues raised in my books. These include the calling of the Christian in a world of many cultures. What’s our response to the global events that rock the evening news? Our country has an increasingly secular viewpoint. How do we earn the right to influence?
 
http://scribblingsfromexile.blogspot.com

My web site is: www.anngayliaobarr.com or you can email me at islandfiction@hotmail.com

Thanks for being here Ann!

Okay, readers here is your chance to win Ann's novel, Singing in Babylon



Please leave an email address. If I draw your name and there is no email, you will not win!

For extra entries:
~Be a follower
~Be a subscriber
 
Contest is only open in the U.S. and void where prohibited. Chances of winning are based on the number of entries and winner is draw from a non-biased third party- Random.org. I am not responsible for any lost or damaged items for said prize.

Thanks for coming by to enter! Contest ends on March 11th.




** Contest Now Closed**

44 comments:

  1. It looks like I am the first one to sign here. I enjoyed reading your interview and getting to know a bit about you. Love the cover of the book.

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

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  2. I enjoyed the interview as well. I met my husband overseas, as well. *grin* I am excited about your blog and will be following it for sure!

    MaDonna
    umdmaurer(at)gmail(dot)com

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  3. I am a follower and email subscriber. Please enter me in contest. I would love to read this book. Tore923@aol.com

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  4. Thanks for the interview. Love getting to know new authors. Would love to be included in the book drawing

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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  5. follower

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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  6. subscriber

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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  7. I would love a chance to win this book! I am a follower and a subscriber via email! I always love to visit your blog...so beautifully done.

    dianalflowers@aol.com

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  8. I enjoyed the interview.

    gravesok@gmail.com

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  9. Definitely sounds like a wonderful book to read based on your interview. We take for granted that we can worship openly.

    I'm a follower.

    desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

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  10. This is Ann Gaylis: Thanks everyone for your helpful comments. It's wonderful that writers and readers can interact so easily. I'm amazed at the vast number of unique individuals that God has called, each with a story to tell.

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  11. Interesting interview.

    I am a follower

    I am an email subscriber

    lgm52@hotmail.com

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  12. Getting to know an author through their interview is special to me. Particularly a good interview as this was. This book seems totally different from many that I've read, and that's not a bad thing...it's good. I'm looking forward to reading it. Thanks for this giveaway and the chance to win this interesting story. I hope I win!

    Sharing His Faith,
    Barb Shelton
    barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

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  13. I'm a follower and a subscriber. Thanks.

    Blessings,
    Barb Shelton
    barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

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  14. I am a follower and a subscriber.
    I enjoyed your interview with Ann. She is an author whose works I have not yet read.I think her work in the Middle East would give her book authenticity. I would like to win and read Singing in Babylon.
    Thanks.
    pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

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  15. would enjoy reading this novel...thanks for the chance :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  16. i'm a follower and email subscriber :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  17. I'd love to read that book!

    e-mail address in profile.

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  18. I'm a follower.

    email address in profile.

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  19. I'm a subscriber.

    email address in profile

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  20. I'd be interested in reading about the challenges this protagonist faces!

    meredithfl at gmail dot com

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  21. GFC follower

    meredithfl at gmail dot com

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  22. Email subscriber

    meredithfl at gmail dot com

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  23. Okay, now I want to read it. :) What an interesting interview!

    photographer4ever832[at]gmail[dot]com

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  24. I'm so intrigued by the story please include me in the giveaway! I'm an email subscriber and a follower.

    reneeasmith61 [at] yahoo [dot] com

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  25. By the way Carman sent me!

    dianalflowers@aol.com

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  26. I would like to be entered to win, I am now a follower!

    Wynter@wynteradelle.com

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  27. Sounds like a wonderful book! Please enter me to win.

    Angel

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  28. Please enter me to win, and I am a follower so that should be 2 entries. Thanks.
    ruthaw_1974@yahoo.com

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  29. Enjoyed your interview and getting to know more about you. Your book sounds so very interesting. I would love a copy.
    Joy
    ibjoy1953[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  30. This sounds interesting, and I appreciate that it's not so much a romance.
    Thanks!

    hismercysurrounding(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  31. From Ann Gaylia, the author: Thanks for all of your comments. Singing in Babylon was the first book that I wrote after leaving my overseas work with the State Department. I loved the chance to live in different places and get to know the people. I think the book mirrors some of the things I learned from those interesting place.

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  32. I am trying to get out of my rut of reading the same genre of books. There are really some awesome books out there, and I'm starting to broaden my horizons somewhat. This sounds like just the book to help me do that!

    dianalflowers@aol.com

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  33. very interesting premise and background for the author. Thanks for the opportunity. joleehamlin [at] comcast [dot] net

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  34. follow on gfc joleehamlin [at] comcast [dot] net

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  35. Thank you for a beautiful interview. Singing in Babylon was already on my wish list, so I really enjoyed reading Ann's interview.

    I love all the authors Ann mentioned, but had never heard of Gilead, so I had to look it up on Amazon. The reviews were mixed, but this book sounds appealing to me. Thank you for mentioning these authors, Ann.

    I am a follower and subscriber both.

    cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

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  36. It sounds like you have had a very interesting life. I would love to win this book and maybe you would also consider writing a book about your life while working for the U.S State Department.

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  37. Thanks for the giveaway.

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

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  38. From Ann Gaylia again: Your comments are giving me courage for facing my own book club this week, as they discuss my book! Hopefully, the hometown folks will be as encouraging as you have been.

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  39. i love Susan Meissner too! martha(at)lclink(dot)com

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  40. I would love to win this book. Please enter me.

    Judylynn in Tennessee
    seizethebookblog(at)gmail(dot)com

    I am a GFC follower!

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  41. Sounds great. Carmen sent me.

    sheila_true at yahoo dot com

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  42. Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the chance!

    nancyecdavis At bellsouth DOT net

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  43. email subscriber

    nancyecdavis At bellsouth DOT net

    ReplyDelete
  44. I am a follower

    nancyecdavis At bellsouth DOT net



    ***Carmen sent me

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