Welcome to Writing for Christ Naomi Rawlings,
it is great to have you here! Do you have an interesting fact about yourself
the average reader probably doesn’t know?
Oh, I’ve got a great one. I play the harp. Yep, really. The harp.
Okay, it’s not that I play the harp so much as I know how to play
one, and yes, I own one too. But I haven’t played much over the past few years
as I’ve started writing more. The last time I played was for my cousin’s
wedding in 2010.
Do you have a favorite genre to
read/write?
Romance. Romance. Historical Romance, and um, more Romance. I rarely
find myself finishing a book that isn’t a romance novel. I have all these good
intentions, like “I should read The Help
or Girl with the Dragon Tattoo or The Marriage Plot or some other
bestselling book by some famous author. So I’ll get the book and read about the
first 50 pages before I see some romance novel on sale and get distracted by a
love story.
As far as writing romances goes, I don’t ever see myself writing a
book without a romantic thread of some sort in it or getting tired of writing
romances. Human love is rooted in God’s love. And God’s love is so rich and
deep, with endless facets and dimensions. As a writer, I see myself exploring
the theme of “love” for a very long time.
Do you have a nugget of writing advice
that has completely changed how you view writing?
I don’t know that I’m brilliant enough to come up with a single “nugget”
like that, but I will say the two books that have helped me the most are Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook and The Moral Premise. I’d recommend every
writer nearing publication read both of those. Personally, I follow the steps
laid out at the end of The Moral Premise.
Then once I’ve solidified where my story is going and why, I go back through
the Breakout Novel Workbook and apply
some of the exercises in there to make sure my story has things like characters
with gripping inner conflict and a plot that keeps escalating.
5 things you love?
My husband.
My kids.
Reading a book . . .
at night . . .
while I’m sitting by
our woodstove . . .
and drinking hot
chocolate . . .
and it’s snowing
outside, those big fluffy flakes that slowly drift to the ground and blanket
everything in white.
Okay, that’s seven things, but it makes a cozy picture, doesn’t
it?
What do you enjoy most about being a
published author?
I’m too new to the publishing world to say for certain, but so
far, holding my book in my hands for the first time has probably been my
favorite moment.
Places for readers to learn more about you?
My website: www.naomirawlings.com
My facebook page, which I keep up to
date on giveaways, my blog, and funny writing facts. http://www.facebook.com/author.naomirawlings
My blog: www.makinghomeworkblog.blogspot.com My blog is an interesting combination of
home-life, writing, and mothering. A lot of moms seem to find it encouraging.
Actually, if you want to read about
how I messed up that great first moment where I should have been holding my
published novel in my hand but wasn’t, I have a fun blog post about that. http://makinghomeworkblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/unforgetable-moments-perfect-or-bungled.html
Thank you for being with us today!
Thanks for having me, Casey. It was
fun to be here!
Readers, here is your chance to enter to win Naomi's DEBUT novel!
Please leave an email adddress! If I draw your name and there is no email, you will not win.
Please leave an email adddress! 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 April 27th.
~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 April 27th.
Attn Readers! If you're struggling to leave a comment on my blog, please email your comment entries (in ONE email) and I will submit it for you. But PLEASE only do this after you've failed to leave a comment. My email is: caseym.writer(@)gmail.com
great questions, Casey!
ReplyDeleteA harp-how wonderful. One of my best friends played piano all her life and excelled and just started harp lessons a couple years ago and loves it.
I happen to own Sanctuary for a Lady and have finished it, and loved it.
I hope tho see many more books from you, Naomi!
Thanks for the giveaway. I would love to read this book. It sounds very good. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
ReplyDeleteI'd love to be entered!
ReplyDeleteGodsforlife@gmail.com
I'm a follower.
ReplyDeleteGodsforlife@gmail.com
I've heard wonderful things about this book. How you start it and can't put it down. I would love to win a copy. Naomi I wish you the best of luck on this debut romance novel (I love romance!) and God's Blessings!
ReplyDeleteI am a follower and a subscriber to this blog!
God Bless!
Judy
sweetpea.judy(at)yahoo(dot)com
This sounds like another great new one! I'm definitely going to check out Naomi's blog, too.
ReplyDeletekandrajane@bellsouth.net
I'm an email subscriber, too!
ReplyDeletekandrajane@bellsouth.net
Naomi,
ReplyDeleteGreat interview Naomi and Casey! And Writing the Breakout Novel is just AMAZING! So much great information!
I already have Naomi’s wonderful novel, so no need to enter me in the drawing.
Hi! Great post! Please enter me. I would live to win this one!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I am a follower and a subscriber.
Thanks!
Katie g.
Katiegalyean (at) yahoo (dot) com
Sounds like a great novel from a super author. Thank you for the opportunity to win. i am a follower and a subscriber.
ReplyDeleteMarianne Barkman
mitzi underscore wanham at gmail dot com
I think it's so cool that you play the harp, Naomi. A lovely woman at my church who's been one of the staunchest supporters on my writing journey does, and I love hearing her perform. I'm sure your cousin was thrilled to have you play at her wedding.
ReplyDeleteI popped over to read your bungled book arrival post. Cute!
Oh, whoops, I just realized I should be replying after reader comments instead of at the bottom of the page. So sorry to the earlier ladies!
DeleteKeli, harp music is one of the most soothing, beautiful sounds on the planet. I can see why you love to hear your friend play. And praise the Lord she's been such an encouragement to you.
Glad you liked my bungled book post. Sadly, I tend to bungle far too much in my life!
Enter me, please~! I would like to read Sanctuary for a Lady. The cover is awesome. Speaks to me and wonder where they are going at such a slow pace. Blending in, instead of running!
ReplyDeletelanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net
I am a subscriber!
ReplyDeletelanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net
I am a follower.
ReplyDeletelanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net
Thank you for hosting this giveaway and for doing this interview with Naomi.
ReplyDeletewfnren(at)aol(dot)com
Wendy! How fun to see you here. You keep popping up at all these wonderful places on my blog tour. I really hope you get your hands on a copy of the novel, in one way or another, soon. :-)
DeleteI am a follower on GFC, wfnren or Wendy Newcomb
ReplyDeletewfnren(at)aol(dot)com
I am a subscriber.
ReplyDeletewfnren(at)aol(dot)com
Great interview! I've heard really good things about this book and can't wait to read it. Thanks for another great giveaway!
ReplyDeleteecriggs1990(at)aol(dot)com
Thanks Liz! Hopefully the great things you read about will live up to your expectations, if you get a chance to read the book. I appreciate your support!
DeleteGreat interview! Please enter me! I'm a follower and subscriber.
ReplyDeleteJulie@My Favorite Pastime
gravesok(at)gmail(dot)com
I'm a follower.
ReplyDeleteecriggs1990(at)aol(dot)com
I'm a subscriber too.
ReplyDeleteecriggs1990(at)aol(dot)com
Deb, I'm afraid I made the mistake of taking harp lessons and thinking they would be simple since I already knew how to play the piano. Nothing could have been further from the truth!
ReplyDeleteActually, the worst part is tuning it. Mine is double strung, so I have to tune 66 strings before I even start to practice! Needless to say, I never get around to tuning it, which is why I never practice. Especially when I can just sit down that the piano and practice without working first!
Judy, well aren't you just the sweetest thing! I sure hope you can't put my book down. At least that's how I tried to write it. But as to whether or not I was successful in keeping readers glued to the page, well, I supposed time will tell. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your encouragement!
Thanks for stopping by, Amanda. Do you know, I'm plotting a sequel to Sanctuary for a Lady right now, and as always, I've pulled out my copy of the Breakout Novel Workbook to to help me come up with a good plot. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks to everyone who has stopped by so far today. It's been a pleasure meeting all of you. And thanks Casey, for having me!
ReplyDeleteHey, I'm Ashley and I think this book would be an amazing read!!
ReplyDeleteviolintwins@gmail.com
Hey, Ashley Again, I am also a subscriber and I follow this blog too.
ReplyDeleteNaomi, I'm with you. I love romance novels, or at least for the book I'm reading to have a romance thread woven into the story. Would love to read your book. terimetts@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteSo fun to find yet another romance fan out there. I must admit, I'm pretty die hard about the romance.
DeleteThis book looks really good - would love a chance to win! :)
ReplyDeleteNaomi, your list of 5 (or 7!) things you love is so poetic! Nicely done. :)
~Amber
amberstokes[at]corban[dot]edu
P.S. I'm a follower!
Poetic? I'm trying not to snort in laughter. I love writing novels. Poetry? Well, you probably couldn't find a worse poet on the planet.
DeleteI'm the same way about romance books. All I read are Christian romance stories. The cover of yours is intriguing:) please enter me. Clp1777(at)aol(dot)com
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm also a follower.
Ah, yet another romance die hard. It's so fun to meet people who are just as fanatic as I am.
DeleteMost people think I'm insane when I say I've never read a James Patterson novel, and I'm just like "But people don't fall in love in those, so why would I want to read it?" :-)
Exactly.one lady told me she likes to read, but doesn't like love stories...I was like, "what else is there?!?
DeleteToo funny! But I'm in complete agreement.
DeleteI heard aboutthis book on Seekerville and I've seen it pop up a couple of places since then. I just finished a unit on neoclassic art in my art history class, which occured around the French revolution, so this would bean interesting read! Historicals are so much more fun to head than textbooks, even though it's fiction. :)
ReplyDeleteJafuchi7(at)Hawaii(dot)edu
Yes, I was on Seekerville last week. Glad you heard about the book, and I hope that you're able to find a copy and enjoy it!
DeleteI'm an email subscriber
ReplyDeleteJafuchi7(at)Hawaii(dot)edu
I believe I'm a gfc follower -it doesn't show up on the mobile d
ReplyDeleteJafuchi7(at)Hawaii(dot)edu
Gfc follower.
ReplyDeleteJafuchi7(at)Hawaii(dot)edu
thanks for the chance to read this novel :)
ReplyDeletei'm a follower & email subscriber, too.
karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
I love the cover it makes you want to read the book. Thanks for the chance to win. ybutler@oppcatv.com
ReplyDeleteI am an email subscriber. Thanks ybutler@oppcatv.com
ReplyDeleteI follow on GFC. Thanks. ybutler@oppcatv.com
ReplyDeleteThe cover alone is intriguing to me. I want to read this book. This is a really interesting and helpful interview. Thanks for the writing pointers. :)
ReplyDeleteWhoops, I am a subscriber and follower. Justmeshf@hotmail.com
ReplyDeletethis book sounds wonderful thanks
ReplyDeleteABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
follower
ReplyDeleteABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
email subscriber
ReplyDeleteABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
Please enter me in the contest crowns4queens@att.net
ReplyDeleteCherie
Thanks to those of you who like the book cover! It was rather difficult coming up with a cover for a book set in France that still needed to appeal to an American readership. I feel like the art department achieved a good balance. :-)
ReplyDeleteI love this line of books. I agree about the cover, it looks great!
ReplyDeletetressa dot sherman at hotmail dot com
GFC-Tressa
ReplyDeletetressa dot sherman at hotmail dot com
Email subscriber.
ReplyDeletetressa dot sherman at hotmail dot com
Would love to win this - I love "Love Inspired" novels! Thanks for the chance! :)
ReplyDeletefrequentreader19 (at) gmail (dot) com
Christian Bookshelf Reviews
I'm a GFC follower
ReplyDeletefrequentreader19 (at) gmail (dot) com
Christian Bookshelf Reviews
I'm an email subscriber.
ReplyDeletefrequentreader19 (at) gmail (dot) com
Christian Bookshelf Reviews
Great interview!Sanctuary for a Lady by Naomi Rawlings sounds wonderful.Please add me to the drawing!thanks for the chance!augustlily06(at)aim(dot)com.
ReplyDeleteemail subscriber.augustlily06(at)aim(dot)com.)com.
ReplyDeleteGfc follower.augustlily06(at)aim(dot)com.)com.
ReplyDeleteCasey, With all my computer problems I almost missed the opportunity to enter this giveaway.
ReplyDeleteHi Naomi, I enjoyed your interview and have already added your book to my wish list. Congratulations on your first book and hope there will be many more to follow. I hope there was someone at your home to accept your books.
misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com
We had a neighbor with a house key move them inside and out of the snow.
DeleteSo glad my book interests you! And thanks for stopping by. :-)
I am an old email subscriber
ReplyDeletemisskallie2000 at yahoo dot com
Old GFC follower
ReplyDeletemisskallie2000 at yahoo dot com
Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I am excited to win! I have wanted to read Sanctuary for a Lady!!
ReplyDeletelanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net