Hello LoRee. Welcome.
Let's chat about your latest novel, Courting Country. It's an interesting title.
How did you come up with your title?
The concept of online dating has always intrigued me. Since I’m married and don’t believe I’d ever use one if I were single, I searched names of sites and made up one called Country Courting and reversed those words for my title.
Are plots based on someone you know or events in your own life?
A dear friend finally got herself out of an abusive marriage. She tried traditional ways of meeting a kind Christian man, to no avail. Eventually, she signed on with a Christian dating site and met the love of her life. Their courtship was like no love story I could ever write. They were married four months and he died. Due to her loneliness a couple years later she tried the dating site again. Most descriptions of the ranch in my story, and the rancher, were suggested by my friend. My characters, the settings, and the outcome were all born in my imagination.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging when it comes to your writing?
I’d say most every step of writing is a challenge. As a Christian, I want to be truthful. As long as ideas come, I believe writing is what God wants me to do at this time of my life. I don’t want to misrepresent anything. My hope is to have the Lord speak through me to someone’s heart, always with the goal of not embarrassing the Crown by bringing God glory.
Did you learn anything from writing this book? What was it?
Since my acceptance of the Lord, I’ve always aspired to do what He wants me to do with my life, and be who He wants me to be. My life and what I do are about Him, not me. I pray that He graces my stories for His glory. I discovered early on that an individual had the same issue as my heroine, which is “forcing” what she thought was God’s will for her life. Nuh uh. The events of our lives are all about God’s timing and God’s will.
What is the spiritual takeaway for your reader?
Be still and wait on God, don’t push events yourself.
What is your hero's main character flaw?
Taggart often helps others thinking he'll let them down.
What is your heroine's main character flaw?
Kylie is envious of the relationships other couples have.
What makes your hero heroic?
Taggart is willing to put others before himself.
what makes your heroine heroic?
Kylie is open to adventure but if she makes a mistake, admits and learns by overcoming.
Thank you for stopping by, LoRee. We've enjoyed getting to know all about Courting Country. I'm sure readers will be enjoying it and posting their thoughts very soon!
