Interview with author, Monique Miller

Introduce yourself to my readers.

Hi!  My name is Monique Miller and I am a Christian Fiction author.  I’ve been writing for seven years.  Many people have different hobbies or things they like to do to relax.  For me writing is my outlet.  I love to write and really love creating characters that can give people hope and inspiration.

Tell us about your novel, Redemption Lake.

During an exclusive seven day marriage retreat, secluded in the mountains of North Carolina, three couples gather in last ditch attempts to save their troubled marriages.  Can these couples pick up the pieces and move on?  Will all be forgiven and forgotten?  See what happens when marital secrets are exposed and all hits the fan.

The excerpt on your website is great.  I’m really looking forward to getting to know these characters. (Especially Charlotte, LOL). How difficult was it to write about three couples?

The story actually ends with the reader getting to know four couples—the three couples who attend the retreat and Phillip and Shelby Tomlinson from my first two novels.  It wasn’t hard creating my characters and giving them their own distinct voice and characteristics, what was hard was trying to make sure the reader wouldn’t get lost as to who’s point of view I was writing about.  I ended up doing as Ernest J. Gaines did in A Gathering of Old Men. For the most part I told the story from each person's point of view without jumping back and forth between characters. 

I like the idea that the pastor’s marriage is in trouble. Tell us why you decided to “go there” with a pastor having marital trouble.

I think many times people think that the grass is greener on the other side, especially when it comes to people of the cloth and or people who may be well-to-do.  The fact is that trouble can knock on anyone’s door, even a pastor’s.  The devil is out to steal, kill and destroy.  And who more does the devil want to attack than a pastor with people who look towards him (the pastor) for spiritual guidance.  If the pastor falls, then so may the faith of his flock.

Do you have a favorite couple in the group?

Okay, I love Phillip and Shelby.  But out of the three new couples I’ve introduced, Xavier and Charlotte are my favorite couple in this particular novel.  Now my favorite person to write about in this novel was Travis.  Travis is as trifling as they come.  We always want to see the good in people, but sometimes there isn’t any good to be found.  

What is the spiritual takeaway for the novel?

As always I hope my novels provide hope and inspiration.  And in addition to that, from this novel, I want to encourage people to seek God’s guidance as they struggle through the problems in their lives. 

On a personal note you’ve had some changes in your life.  Tell us about that.

Oh my goodness.  Can I say that God is good?  Let me tell you about mustard seed faith.  And let me also tell you to be careful about what you pray to God for because you just might get it.  About six months ago I was thinking about going to graduate school.  I researched graduate schools that were local and schools online.  There were many obstacles to trying to go to school locally, because I work full time and have a child.  Then I looked at some online schools, but they cost a great deal and I didn’t want to take out more student loans.  So after days of trying to figure out how I could make it work, I finally prayed to God and said, “Lord, I want to go to school and I know you can make a way.  You said if I asked You, You would make a way.  I am believing in You to make it possible.”  And I left it at that. 

Two nights later I was online checking my email and saw an advertisement for moms to go to school on a full paid scholarship.  I had to write an essay telling why I wanted to go to school.  In that essay I said I’d just prayed about going to school.  I also said that I believed it was God’s way of making a way for me.  I entered the contest and left it at that. 

A month later a university called me and told me I had a full paid scholarship to their school!  I had to pinch myself.  I knew God would make a way without a shadow of doubt.  But when I got the phone call, I thought I was dreaming.  Now I am in my second quarter of graduate school.   God is good!

What are your upcoming promotion plans?  

I am in the process of setting up book signings.  I am also trying to become as innovative as possible in my promotional plans.   Just today alone I sent out over 250 text messages to the people in my phone asking them to assist me in getting the word out.  I am trying to think outside of the box and use my time and the reader’s time wisely.  I am trying to get a grasp on how the blog tours work and I am sure Rhonda can give me a Blog Tour 101 class.

How can readers contact you?

At my email address   authormoniquemiller@yahoo.com  and at my website www.authormoniquemiller@yahoo.com  I’m also on various social media sites:  Facebook, Myspace, Twitter (look for - BooksByMonique), Shoutlife, and Shelfari.

Thanks again Rhonda and I look forward to reading more about how things turn out with Faith and Jonah in December when your novel Secrets and Lies comes out!  I wish you the very best that God has to offer!

You are most welcome Monique. it was a pleasure having you today and I can't wait to get my book. Visit Monqiue's home page for the juicy excerpt by clicking here. 

Mom's the Word - Blog Tour - Day 5

Getting to Know the fun side of Marilynn Griffith, author of Mom's The Word

Marilynn Griffith is the author of eight novels, mother to seven children, wife to a deacon and proof of God’s enduring mercy. One of her novels, If the Shoe Fits, served as a prop in Tyler Perry’s box office hit Why Did I Get Married? She has served as national Vice President of American Christian Fiction Writers and has served on faculty at several national writers conferences. When she’s not writing about friendship, family and faith, Marilynn blogs and speaks to women and writers.

Would you say you are an extrovert or introvert?A little of both. Extrovert for the most part.

Do you like to cook? If so, what are your favorite dishes to cook? I like to cook, but usually when I don't have to do it. My favorite time and dishes to cook are holidays, specifically Thanksgiving. I don't know what happens to me, but I just start cooking and can't stop!

What movie(s) have you watched recently that you would recommend? This is sad, but many of the movies I watch are kids movies. I haven't loved anything lately. Bolt and Madagascar 2 were probably the last movies I really cracked up laughing for.

Do you like books being turned into a movie? If so, what is your favorite book-to-movie? I'm weird. I usually like the book better than the movie. My favorite book-to-movie is probably Robert Ludlum's Bourne Identity.

If Mom's the Word was turned into a movie who would you cast to play your characters? Dyanne Thornton would be played by Gabrielle Union. Karol Simon would be played by Tisha Campbell (the curly version).

Which social networks do you enjoy the most? Facebook, Sistahfaith

What's next for you?I just finished the sequel Songs of Deliverance and am working on my first nonfiction project, SistahFaith and the community and events that go with that as well as a novella for Kensington with Angela Benson and Tia McCollors. I'm very excited about that.

About the Book
When her tall, dark, delicious husband joins their three kids in calling her “Mom,” Karol Simons has an identity crisis. Sure she loves the pint-size trio, but what’s happened to her dreams of writing a novel? Determined to have it all, she turns to her neighbor for help.

Dyanne Thornton is thrilled to stand in as Mom for three weeks so Karol can write. Bursting with baby fever, the career-woman trades her glamorous clothes and four-inch heels for the playground and potty training. She hopes to convince her reluctant husband they should start a family of their own, right away.

Everyone’s in for some big surprises…

Order your copy of Mom's the Word from Amazon.com .

Follow the blog tour at http://bit.ly/MomsTheWord.

Visit Marilynn online at http://marilynngriffith.com/.

Join Marilynn's social network at http://www.sistahfaith.ning.com/.

Interview with Author, Marilynn Griffith

Today I welcome back author Marilynn Griffith. She has a great new book and some other interesting happenings in her world.

Welcome back to Urban Christian Fiction Today, Marilynn. Great cover. Give us a synopsis of the book.

Thanks for having me back, Rhonda and thanks about the cover. I'm glad you like it. Here's a short synopsis on the story. Birkenstock meets Manolo. When a burned out mom and trying-to-conceive diva become neighbors, both wish for taller fences. Or at least some ear plugs. Can two very different women mend their fences for 21 days to get what they want? Or will three weeks change their lives forever?

Tell us about the inspiration for Mom’s the Word.

A Christian mom's organization was launching a fiction line and was interested in having me submit something. Having seven children of my own, I've spent a good deal of my life being a mom and being with moms, so I was excited. I sat down to just make some notes, but two friends emerged under my fingers very quickly. They meant everything to each other, raised their kids together, lived next to each other, prayed together...until one of them moved away. And then someone who is directly opposite and has no kids moves in. They can't stand each other, but they need each other. That was all I knew at first, but I had to know what would happen.

You had some of the best characters in your Sassysisterhood Series. Since this is another Steeple Hill Café novel can we expect more of the same fun?

Thanks Rhonda! You know I love Dana, Rochelle and Tracey from the Sassy Sistahood series! This book is a little different in tone though, maybe a little more grown? Perhaps closer to Happily Even After, I'd think, since that was a mom-focused story too.

Will we see these characters again?

As usual, I have no idea! We'll see... I really enjoyed them.

Steeple Hill Café’s novels can be very light on the “Christian”, often they’re more inspirational which is okay, too, but tell us what you’d like your readers to take away from this story.

I don't know if that's true of all Cafe's or just mine, but I've learned to just let the story be what it is. Sometimes that means it's loaded with scriptures and church scenes and sometimes it means a good story with people struggling with faith, forgiveness and friendship. It's usually the latter. :) I'd love for readers to walk away from Mom's the Word knowing that God knows... He knows who they are, where they've been and where they're going. He sees them and has a glorious plan, even if that plan sometimes looks to us like a disaster.

Share something personal going on in your world in 2009.

The biggest thing going on with me this year is SistahFaith, a conference and community birthed out of my personal friendships and the Sassy Sistahood series. Our first conference is May 2, 2009 here in Tallahassee, Florida and I'm looking forward to meeting many of my readers and reconnecting with friends. Join us at http://sistahfaith.ning/.

Other than that, my biggest news is that my daughter is graduating high school and my youngest is in kindergarten. So this year is definitely a transition. Thanks for asking.

What’s next for you Marilynn the author?

I just got the cover for SONGS OF DELIVERANCE, the follow-up to RHYTHMS OF GRACE. Songs will be out in the Fall, (Lord willing!) and after that will be the SistahFaith: Believing Beyond Shame anthology with stories from over 20 women of power, strength and grace. It's based on Tamar from II Kings who was raped by her brother Amnon. It will be released from Howard Books/Simon and Schuster.

Readers can find out more about Marilynn at www.marilynngriffith.com

It was great having you again, Marilynn. Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings,

Rhonda