Thursday, May 23, 2013

Q&A with Author Becky Wade + Giveaway!

Becky Wade
Today we'll be joined by Bethany House author Becky Wade!Amid her busy schedule with her new release Undeniably Yours, Becky has graciously offered to stop by a few different times today to chat with readers about her new book and answer any questions you may have.
Also, I'll be giving away a free copy of Undeniably Yours. To enter, leave a comment on this blog--a question for Becky, a quick note letting her know how much you love her books--anything at all. A name will be drawn Friday, May 24th, and announced on this blog, so make sure you visit again to see if you're a winner!


To begin, I'd like to get you acquainted with Becky and her work in case you're not already. Her debut novel My Stubborn Heart released in May 2012 and has recently been named as a finalist for the 2013 RITA award, given for excellence in romantic fiction.




One gorgeous ex-hockey player with a broken heart.
One single, Christian girl full of determination.
One house that they're both committed to renovate.
One God who has bigger plans.

Visit my blog post My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade for a description of the book and review.
For great behind-the-scenes extras of My Stubborn Heart, visit Becky's "fun extras" page by clicking here!




Soft-spoken Meg is more interested in art than in business, but when her father dies she inherits his oil company, his fortune, and his Thoroughbred horse ranch. She asks the ranch's caretaker, Bo, to shut the place down. But will Bo prove the only part of her father's empire worth keeping?


Becky's new release Undeniably Yours is available now. It's the first book in the Porter Family Series. Visit my blog post Undeniably Yours by Becky Wade for a description of the book and review.


Becky's web page has great extras for Undeniably Yours, including a book trailer, character interviews, the story synopsis she turned into her publisher, and a fun interview with the real-life couple who graces this beautiful cover, Jess and Scott! Click here!


*My Stubborn Heart and Undeniably Yours is available now at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.com as well as in most Christian bookstores.




About Becky Wade:
During her childhood in California, Becky frequently produced homemade plays starring her sisters, friends, and cousins. These plays almost always featured a heroine, a prince, and a love story with a happy ending. She's been a fan of all things romantic ever since.
Becky and her husband lived overseas in the Caribbean and Australia before settling in Dallas, Texas. It was during her years abroad that Becky's passion for reading turned into a passion for writing. She published three historical romances for the general market, put her career on hold for many years to care for her kids, and eventually returned to writing sheerly for the love of it.
These days Becky can be found failing but trying to keep up with her housework, sweating at the gym, carting her kids around town, playing tennis, hunched over her computer, eating chocolate, or collapsed on the sofa watching TV with her husband.


Check out Becky's webpage at www.beckywade.com
Interview with Becky Wade
(This interview was taken, with permission, from her website.)
1.  What inspired you to write Undeniably Yours?
I was inspired by Regency-era love stories I read growing up that featured wealthy and aristocratic heroines paired with brave-hearted, common-born heroes. I write contemporary romance and so it was great fun for me to bring these character types into a modern Texas setting and give their storyline my own unique twist.

2. What is the book's theme?
Undeniably Yours is about a woman's journey from weakness to strength. She's able to find that strength, little by little, as she trusts in God's power and plan.

3.  How would you describe your writer's voice?
My voice is funny, authentic, and modern. I write love stories about imperfect people redeemed by a perfect God. It's my hope that my books will charm and entertain my readers, while simultaneously stirring their emotions and encouraging their faith.

4. Is Undeniably Yours part of a series?
All of my books stand alone. They each tell a complete story in and of themselves. At the same time, I've long wanted to write a group of books about members of the same family, and starting with Undeniably Yours, I'll have that chance! Undeniably Yours is the first of four books about the Porter family from Holley, Texas. Each book will detail the story of a different sibling.

5.  What was your reaction when your CBA debut novel, My Stubborn Heart, was recently named a finalist for the RITA award?
Joy! I was so conscious, when I received the news, that God is the one worthy of recognition for the creation of My Stubborn Heart. I believe that it's not me who writes, so much as it's me who steps out of the way and seeks to let God write books through me. 
The nomination also filled me with gratitude for the people responsible for bringing the book to publication. My agent believed in it from the beginning. My editor, Sarah Long, championed and improved the manuscript. Everyone at Bethany House -- from the editorial staff, to the cover designer, to the marketing and sales teams -- lent it amazing support.

6.  What does a normal writing week look like for you?
I'm the mother of three (12, 9, 4). I write in and around taking care of my children and house. Typically, I block off three big chunks of quiet (thus kid-free!) writing time every week. Some moms may listen to music or talk on their cell phones while driving carpool or pushing their preschooler on a swing at the park. Not me! I spend those moments dreaming up dialogue, scenes, character traits.
***NOW IT'S YOUR TURN!!!***
Here's your chance to "meet" Becky. As I said before, she'll be stopping by a few different times today to chat and answer any question you have. Thanks to everyone who stops by and participates. Like me on Facebook to stay abreast of future author interviews, giveaways, book reviews, and more. 

And a HUGE thanks to Becky Wade for agreeing to do this! You rock, Becky!







21 comments:

  1. Again, thanks for coming, Becky!
    I'll start things off.

    Which heroine are you most like: Kate (My Stubborn Heart) or Meg (Undeniably Yours)?

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  2. Great post. Congratulations on your Rita nomination.

    Like you, my most creative moments are when I'm driving in the car, alone. The scenes that have come into my head while I was behind the wheel have filled my books. If only I could drive and write at the same time.

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  3. Becky and Candice, thanks for this nice post. I enjoyed learning more about you, Becky, and love your themes of God's redeeming our heroes and heroines with His love. Your books sound like ones I would appreciate. The best to you.

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  4. Candice, Thanks so much for inviting me to visit you here on your blog! The leafy green background of your page makes me want to head outside for a picnic. :) Love your question for me about my heroines. Hmm... Kate is quite a bit more outgoing than I am and Meg is quite a bit more emotional. Of the two, my personality is closer to Kate's. When I'm writing, I think I pour my own self most into my heroine's sections of introspection (thought, humor, emotion). The way they react internally is similar to how I might react internally.

    Robin - another writer who receives inspiration while driving! My friend Katie Ganshert has been experimenting with speaking aloud (and recording) her scenes. THAT's something that might be feasible for us while driving. Of course, I'm so deep in my own imagination in those moments, that there's no verbal component to my brainstorming whatsoever. Wheels are spinning - but those wheels are outwardly silent. :) I also tend to get epiphanies while showering, for some reason.

    Hi, Jude! It's a true joy for me to write about God's redeeming love. I'm honored to have the opportunity to do this work for His glory.

    As Candice mentioned, I'll be stopping back by every few hours today! Feel free to ask questions, let me know that (like me) you love chocolate and romance novels, and/or talk books with me.

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  5. How funny! My ideas tend to come in the shower, too. They also come while washing dishes and mowing grass. And it's not very convenient to hop off the mower and trek all the way into the house to write down my ideas. :)

    I'm a lover of anything sweet--cake, cookies, pie...doesn't matter. And, yes, romance novels. I enjoy both historical and contemporary, though contemporary is what I write.

    I love books where the dialogue/banter makes me laugh out loud. The seniors in "My Stubborn Heart" had me cracking up in every scene they were in. (I received many strange looks from my husband and kids when I would spontaneously burst out laughing.)The characters were truly unforgettable.

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  6. Hi Becky, my name is Dicky, one of the critique partners of Candice. I have questions for you. How do you allot your time to writing? How do you weave God's messages into your storyline?

    Thank you.

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  7. Hi Becky, I can relate to trying to find writing time around family. My baby, now 18, is graduating high school. You'd think I'd have all kinds of time. Not so. We're as busy as ever. I also get great story ideas in the shower! I'm glad Candice introduced you here so we could get to know you better. I enjoy inspiration from fellow writers.

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  8. It's got race horses in it? I'm hooked. I tweeted and posted on Facebook about your giveaway.

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  9. There's just something about the shower that's good for brainstorming, right, Candice and Laura? I think, for me, it's the fact that I'm still when I'm in there and not distracted by a hundred things. I get zero ideas while washing dishes, which is sad, because I wash a lot of dishes. And I might get ideas while mowing the lawn IF I ever mowed the lawn. Which I don't. :))

    I'm also a fan of all things sweet. I've eaten so much chocolate lately (I'm on deadline) that I decided to do strawberries, angel food cake, and cool whip for tonight's dessert.

    I love banter in a book, too!! The hero in heroine in my next book (the one I'm finishing up now) banter their way through the entire thing. It was all I could do to type fast enough to keep up with them. It's interesting for us authors because the interplay between the characters in each of our books is always unique.

    Dicky, I plan out three writing times each week. Since I'm not someone who can write amid chaos, I have to write when the kids are not underfoot. This past school year I had a babysitter come from 3-6 on Mondays. I headed to the library with my laptop at 3, my husband relieved her at 6, and I wrote all the way until library closing at 9. My most productive day of the week! I also wrote on Wednesday and Fridays from 9-2 while my 4 year old was at preschool. I'm disciplined about using my allotted writing hours to WORK and so, at that pace, I'm able to write a book a year. Of course, when I'm on deadline I write every day (usually at night as soon as my 4 year old goes to bed around 7pm)

    As far as weaving through the faith storyline... Typically I have a general idea of both the plot and the faith story at the outset of a project. When that happens, I stitch the faith arc through as I go. In the book I'm finishing now, I saw the plot from the beginning, but the faith story was foggier. I went ahead and wrote the novel and continually prayed for God to reveal the faith story to me. In His time, He did. I had to go back through the first half of the book at a later time and add it in then.

    Hi, Laura! It's wonderful to have fellow writers to relate to, isn't it? Being authors, we're very much in the minority out in our communities. It's a relief and a comfort to have writers friends online who can empathize with us along the way.

    Pegg, yes! Undeniably Yours is set on a racehorse farm. I'm crazy about horses. I had a ball 'owning' a whole farm full of them via Undeniably Yours. Thanks for spreading the word on fb and twitter!

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    1. Becky, thank you very much for answering my questions.

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  10. In "My Stubborn Heart" there were moments I smiled, laughed, and cried. Hope your next book touches me that way too.

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  11. Sounds like a good book. I've not had the opportunity to read your books yet, but I am looking forward to reading them.

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  12. Thanks for the interview ladies! I actually picked up 'My Stubborn Heart' at a used book sale sponsored by the local literacy association. So I was supporting a good cause and in the process discovered a great author! Would love to read 'Undeniably Yours'.

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  13. Hi Becky,
    I just read Undeniably Yours last week and loved it! I was curious about which Porter sibling will be the main character in your next book.
    Brittany
    kbmceuen@yahoo.com

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  14. I just got Undeniably Yours from the library! I am so excited about reading it!!

    Your kid free writing time is my kid free reading time! Thank you for such wonderful books that have great Christian messages! :)

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  15. Martha, I'm so pleased to hear that My Stubborn Heart stirred your emotions. I, too, hope that you'll find that same range of feelings within the pages of Undeniably Yours. :)

    Tonja, thanks for your interest in my books! Much appreciated.

    Patty - what a fun story! I'm always amazed when I hear about the places where my books ended up and the ways in which readers discovered them. The novels started as documents on my computer viewed by no one but me. Oh, the places they've gone since I emailed them off to my publisher! I think it's wonderful that you found My Stubborn Heart at a used book sale benefitting literacy (a cause I love).

    Brittany - Yippeee! I'm delighted that you loved Undeniably Yours. Ty Porter, the professional bull rider, will be the main character in my next book. Jake will get the book after that. Then Dru. (I needed some years to pass so Dru would have a chance to grow up before earning her own love story).

    Laura, aren't libraries wonderful?!! I'm reading a library book at the moment, too. Here's hoping that Undeniably Your fills your kid-free reading time with fun and blessings.

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    1. So looking forward to reading those!
      Thanks
      Brittany

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  16. I just loved My Stubborn Heart and am looking forward to reading Undeniably Yours. I have enjoyed getting to learn more about you ih interviews like this one. Thanks!

    Melissa
    mo1202007@yahoo.com

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  17. Thanks for stopping by, Melissa!

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  18. Can't wait to read this. Loved My Stubborn Heart. Can't think of any questions. Just keep up the good work!

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  19. Delighted to hear that you loved My Stubborn Heart, Tima! So long as the Lord keeps equipping me, I'll keep working. :)

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