Welcome to Writing for Christ Leslie Gould, it is great to have you
here! So you’re a writer? What made you decide to start creating characters and
story world?
As a preschooler, I used to make
up stories about the letters of the alphabet. Each had a distinct personality,
and I’d come up with little plots as groups of letters interacted. Yes, I was a
pretty weird little kid, but my interest in creating characters and story
worlds definitely started early!
Later I figured out, as both a
history major and a human being, that it’s pretty hard to get to the truth of
almost anything (except for God’s love for us). As a fiction writer I get to
make up the truth when it comes to a story, lol. Writing fiction helps me
process life—to see a situation from someone else’s point of view, to explore
motivation, to experience great empathy, and to better understand Christ’s
redemptive work in all of our lives.
What is the one title that has significantly impacted your life?
What a hard question! So many
books have impacted me in so many ways. But the one that had the biggest impact
is To Killing a Mockingbird. I first
read it when I was nine or ten and I reread it every few years. It was the
first truly empathetic novel I read, and even as a child I was impacted by the
way Harper Lee’s writing made me respond to the injustice in the story. Through
the years, I continue to be impacted by her honesty in telling the story, the
simple but complicated setting, and her complex cast of characters.
If you could get a do-over when it came to learning this whole thing
called writing, what would you go back and tell yourself?
To seek out a mentor early in the
process. There’s nothing like the wise advise of a seasoned author to help a
new author sort things out with more clarity.
5 preference questions:
Homemade or take-out? Homemade if someone else is cooking, lol.
Email or snailmail? Definitely email, but I do still send cards and
love to receive them.
Online shopping or Black Friday deals? I try to shop in my
neighborhood when possible, but I end up doing a lot of online shopping. I
absolutely avoid Black Friday.
Books or movies? Definitely books (although I enjoy movies too).
Note-taker or memorization? Big time note-taker. I can’t seem to
process information without a pen and paper in hand—or my laptop.
Yes, I’m asking you to play favorites…which of your books is your
favorite, published or unpublished?
Playing favorites is really hard.
Right now, I’d have to say my latest is my favorite—the currently releasing Becoming Bea. It’s inspired by
Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing
and is the fourth in my Courtships of Lancaster County series (all of the
novels are inspired by Shakespeare plays). Beatrice has long been one of my
favorite all-time characters, and it was great fun to figure out her
motivations and desires.
Places for readers to learn more about you?
www.lesliegould.com, https://www.facebook.com/lesliegouldauthor,
and http://www.pinterest.com/lesliejeangould/
Thank you for being with us today!
Thank you for having me!
Readers, enter to win Leslie's book here!
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 October 24th
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
What a fun idea, writing amish books inspired by Shakespeare! Would love the opportunity to read one.
ReplyDeleteI subscribe via e-mail and follow via GFC.
pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com
I follow Leslie Gould on Facebook and am signed up for email. I have read several of Leaslie Gould's books. She is a wonderful writer!! Unfortunately, because of financial struggles, I have not read this series which she has written. I would be honored to be chosen to receive this book!!! Thank you for the chance to enter your book giveaway!!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day!!
Thank you such an awesome contest. I like the idea of classic Shakespeare meeting Amish fiction. (abbielane@jesusanswers.com)
ReplyDeleteIts been a lot of fun to do the Shakespeare plots in Amish settings! :)
DeleteDon't enter me because I already own the book. :) Just wanted to say this is a great read. If y'all don't win the giveaway, you should definitely read it anyway!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Courtney! Love you--and I can't wait to read your stories!
Deletea subscriber.augustlily06(at)aim(dot)com.I enjoy reading your books.
ReplyDeletea follower..augustlily06(at)aim(dot)com.I enjoy reading your books.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Emma!
DeleteI am looking forward to reading Becoming Bea by Leslie Gould! Thank you for the opportunity to win.augustlily06(at)aim(dot)com.I enjoy reading your books.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that the books in this series are based on Shakespear's plays. Ü
ReplyDeleteThank you for the opportunity to enter the drawing to win a copy of Becoming Bea.
cindialtman(at)gmail(dot)com
I'm a follower and subscriber.
Interesting sounding read. I receive emails and am a blog follower.
ReplyDeletetumcsec(at)gmail(dot)com
(Sorry if this duplicates, my comment didn't show up:)
ReplyDeleteBut, Leslie, black Friday is so fun! You at least need to get to Freddy's for the half off socks! I already own an AUTOGRAPHED copy of this book, but I'd love another to give away! Keep writing amazing stories!
Lol, April, I send my husband to Freddies for socks. He's the shopper! Love you!
DeleteBecoming Bea is on my next to read list, as I've read the previous ones. I enjoy this series. sm CA wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sharon!
DeleteI am a big fan of Leslie Gould and have the other 3 books in the series. Would love to have this one too. Thank you for this giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate you support so much, Mary Ellen!
DeleteI read the first book in this series, Courting Cate, and liked it very much, even though I'm not a great fan of Amish stories. I think it is fun to read re-tellings of classic stories. I want to read the other books in this series, so it would be nice to win Becoming Bea.
ReplyDeleteI'm a subscriber and a follower, so thanks for the extra entries.
pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com
Pam, I'm so glad you liked Courting Cate! Cate makes a big appearance in Becoming Bea, which was a lot of fun to write!
DeleteI have not read any of Leslie's books and this looks like a great series. I really enjoy Amish books.
ReplyDeleteI am a subscriber.
I am a follower.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
thanks for the chance to read this novel, casey & leslie.
ReplyDeleteI'm a follower & email subscriber, too :)
karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
Entry for Pam:
ReplyDeletePlease enter pamcarper@augustacountylibrary.org in the Leslie Gould giveaway
Thanks!
I have read a reviewed some of Leslie's books and loved them. Would love to win another :)
ReplyDeletelsnljohnson@aol.com
I just downloaded the first of this series, Courting Cate....can't wait to delve into it! I have so many books on my TBR pile, I don't know where to start! Thank you, Leslie, for taking the time out for this interview! God Bless!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the interview with Leslie Gould and the giveaway! I have really enjoyed the series, The Courtships of Lancaster County so you know I can't wait to read this one. I enjoyed learning how she started writing at a young age. My son has already started writing short stories since the age of 7 and now he is 10. I have taught him that reading and writing are important in learning. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI am a fan of Leslie Gould on facebook. Also I forgot my email. rsuebell@gmail.com Thank you Casey for the interview with one of my favorite authors.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the interview of Leslie Gould. I'm always looking for new authors. I would love to win one of her books since I have never read her books. I'm looking forward to reading her in the future.
ReplyDeletejanipoo55@gmail.com
. Trying again. Thank for posting the interview. Please enter me in drawing
ReplyDeleteCharlyn
Charlyn515@gmail.com
I enjoyed Leslie's interview and appreciate the opportunity to win a copy of Becoming Bea!
ReplyDeleteI am a blog follower.
texaggs2000 at gmail dot com
Entry for Jennifer:
ReplyDeleteHi
I would love to win one of Leslie's books, have read several and enjoy here writing style, thanks for entering me. Jennifer Fancher spectraspun@yahoo.com
I am a subscriber, follower and I love reading new books! I have read several of her books and enjoyed them. Thank you for sharing this interview and giveaway!
ReplyDeleteCagoar(@)yahoo(dot)com
I'm enjoying this series and can't wait to meet Bea. Great cover!
ReplyDeleteI'm a follower.
I'm a subscriber.
worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com
Leslie is a new author to me. I love Amish fiction and the Shakespeare twist sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteI am an e mail subscriber
marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
Maryann
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