Writer Paula Mowery On Reading

Paula, welcome to Writers on Reading! Your most recent novel, For Our Good, is a romantic suspense, your others romances as well. So do you generally read in your chosen genre?

As a matter of fact, I do tend to read what I write. I started out reading mostly romance stories and then stumbled upon some romantic suspense that really interested me. For Our Good began as a romance but quickly morphed into having the added suspense. I really liked creating the characters and suspenseful scenes. Do you find one theme more repeatedly snags your attention as a read? I can’t help but pick up a Christian fiction with redemption involved or a coming back to faith. Is there something special you seek when selecting your next reading adventure? Because I do reviews, I tend to read certain authors, mostly because they have me “hooked.”

What was the most out-of-character book you’ve recently read, and what led to your choice?

While browsing in a used book store nearby, I spotted a title with four stories and four authors I recognized. The book was published in 2003. I couldn’t resist picking it up and reading these stories to see how these accomplished authors started out.

How fun! Your most recent novel, For Our Good, released a month ago. Do you find time to read during the months you spend writing a book or with deadlines ahead is it either/or for you?

I tend to always have a book I’m reading, but during the writing of my own books, my reading slows.

Makes sense. So, what did you read while working on this book?

In fact, the book I mentioned above that included four stories from four authors is still in my reading stage. I haven’t finished it yet because I’ve started a sequel to For Our Good.

Oooh, the sequel’s already in the works! Did a book recently make you laugh/cry/sigh/shiver?

This might be a strange way to answer this question, but when I received the final proof for For Our Good, I experienced a myriad of emotions. I suppose as I go through editing, I don’t really get into the emotion of the book. But when that final comes, I try to read it like one of my readers. As I read through For Our Good, I laughed at the innocence of the children. I cried as Charlie fought to keep God at arm’s length. I shivered as Jordan allowed the Spirit to direct him in his work.

Were you the kind of kid/teen who loved reading? Which novel do you first remember reading?

I was a book worm. I read Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books. I also read Trixie Beldon.

With a cozy fall coming up, what is on your to-read list? And what is your ideal autumn reading experience?

As much as I love to curl up in my recliner with my throw over my lap and sip on a mug of hot chocolate, my family and I are getting the opportunity to go to the beach for Fall Break. While there I always set up my beach chair and jump into a book with the sound of ocean waves in the background. What could be more relaxing than that? I have some reading to catch up on like Nancy Mehl’s newest, Deadly Echoes and Janice Thompson’s latest release, Every Bride Needs a Groom. My friend, Brooke Cox,

just had her debut novel release, Deadly Doll, which will also be in my beach bag. Oh, and I can’t forget Sarah Sundin’s recent release either, Through Waters Deep.

Sounds like you have some great reading and a delightful reading experience ahead of you. Thanks so much for visiting and letting us get to know you better as a reader, Paula! Folks, you can continue to connect with Paula—and find out more about her books—at the links below.

BIO:

PURCHASE AND CONNECTION LINKS:

Paula Mowery is a published author, acquisitions editor, and speaker. Her first two published works were The Blessing Seer and Be The Blessing from Pelican Book Group. Both are women’s fiction, and their themes have been the topics of speaking engagements. Be The Blessing won the Selah Award in 2014 in the novella category. In November of 2013, her first romance released in the anthology, Brave New Century, from Prism Book Group. This book went to number five on Amazon’s bestseller category, historical Christian romance. Legacy and Love was her first solo romance and was a finalist in the Carolyn Readers Choice Awards in 2015.

Reviewers of her writing characterize it as “thundering with emotion.” Her articles have appeared in Woman’s World, The Christian Online Magazine, and the multi-author devotional blog, Full Flavored Living. She wrote a section for Join the Insanity by Rhonda Rhea. She has devotionals included in several collaborative books.

 

As an acquisitions editor for Prism Book Group, Paula particularly looks for romance stories with Christian values at its core. She’s especially attracted to those manuscripts that leave the reader mulling over the story long after turning the last page.

Having been an avid reader of Christian fiction, she now puts that love to use by writing book reviews. She is a member of ACFW and is on the author interview team. She was a member of the 2014 and 2015 Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference faculty.

Paula is a pastor’s wife and mom to a college student. She homeschooled her daughter through all twelve years, and they both lived to tell about it. Before educating her daughter at home, she was an English teacher in public school.

You can follow Paula at www.facebook.com/pages/Paula-Mowery/175869562589187. Learn more about Paula at her blog at www.paulamowery.blogspot.com or enjoy her monthly columns on www.christianonlinemagazine.com. By going through prismbookgroup.com you can find all the links to buy the book. 

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Our-Good-Paula-Mowery-ebook/dp/B014VL43X8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1443731694&sr=1-1&keywords=For+Our+Good