Marian, welcome to Quills and Inkblotts.
We are so happy to have you and congratulations on your
latest Christmas Extravaganza title ‘Gumbo Weather: A Bijou Bayou
Christmas Romance’ releasing December 1st.
Lucy, I'm honored to be here at Quills and Inkblotts. Thank
you so much for having me!
1. Do
you have a writing routine?
When I'm actively writing. I do. I get up, grab a cup of
coffee, feed the dog and let her out, spend some time in Bible study, then
write for 45 minutes, take a 15 minute break at which time I may do laundry,
dishes, have breakfast etc then write for another 45 minutes. That's usually my
morning routine. In the evening, sometimes I'll write another 45 minutes.
2. How
many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
Wow, you caught me with this question! I've never taken
inventory of the stories I've started and for one reason or another didn't
finish. I was surprised to find the count is:
1 Unpublished completed manuscript in need of serious
editing!
8 Unfinished novels in various stages of completion.
3 Unfinished novellas (1 is a Christmas story that didn't
feel right at the time but may be ready to see the light of publication!)
3. Was
there something that surprised you while writing your novella?
Nothing in particular, but usually when I'm writing I'm
always surprised by how God faithfully shows up during my writing sessions. I
don't know why that surprises me, but it's a sweet time of worship. One
surprise I love!
4. Did
you have to do a lot of research while you wrote your novella?
Not a lot for this one. I had to research major league
baseball farm teams and the process for when a player gets "called
up" to the major leagues.
5. Which
character did you enjoy most writing about and why?
Although, this character doesn't fill a lot of "word
space", Justin's Uncle Al was my favorite. He was a voice of reason and
steadfast faith. He was the calm in any of Justin's storms.
6. Are
you working on anything else at the moment?
Yes, I'm currently writing another Bijou Bayou Novel! Many of
the characters introduced in Gumbo
Weather will make encore performances in For Gilly. One of the main characters is Evangeline Louviere, known
to her friends and family as Gilly, one of the women Noel meets in Vivian's
Bible Study group. Gilly has cancer and has asked her twin sister, Josephine
"Jo", who has pulled away from the family and Christ, to complete a
bucket list they wrote when they were twelve. It will be a fun, faith-filled
journey that neither woman anticipated.
GUMBO WEATHER PROMO
Gumbo Weather: A Bijou Bayou
Christmas Novella
Colorado sports reporter, Noel Winters heads to Louisiana
after finding love letters in her deceased mother’s belongings. When her car
breaks down near Bijou Bayou, a handsome, struggling pitcher and part-time
mechanic comes to her rescue by fixing her car, and offering to help her find
her father. Only problem? As her alias, Micki Barrett, Noel wrote an article
criticizing Justin Gravois's big league debut. Now she’s fallen for him, can she
ever find the courage to tell him the truth? Justin Gravois, professional
pitcher, wanted to make his uncle proud. When he finally got his shot, his
dream turned into a nightmare. It didn’t help that sports reporter, Micki
Barrett, wrote such terrible things about him. Now, Justin wants to forget
about the past and move forward to next season. When he falls in love with Noel
he wonders if she’s an answer to his prayer.
Purchase Links:
Pelican Book Group:
Barnes & Noble:
Marian Pellegrin Merritt writes stories
that blend her love of the mountains with her deep Southern roots. Her tagline,
Where the Bayous Meets the Mountains, grew
from both loves.
This Louisiana native writes her Inspirational Christmas
romances and Southern women’s fiction with a Louisiana/Colorado connection from
the Texas home she shares with her husband and a very spoiled Labradoodle.
Connect with her through
Buy links to Marian’s Books: http://www.marianmerritt.com/#!/cnec
Thanks so much for hosting me, Lucy Nel!
ReplyDeleteWe were so blessed to have you!
DeleteEnjoyed the interview. I was blessed to read an advance copy of Gumbo Weather and I loved it.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by, Ann!
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