Paula,
welcome to my Christmas series of Writers on Reading. I’ve been looking forward
to these interviews like—well, excuse the cliché—but a kid at Christmas! So
with your recent Christmas story, Love
Again, released Nov. 20. What is your favorite part about a
Christmas-themed story?
A happily ever after is just amplified with Christmas
involved.
I don’t know
about you, but many of us associate this season with traditional baking. I
don’t think a Christmas novel would be complete without those special scents
floating around in your head. What are your favorite Christmas goodies to read
or write about?
I do like it when a character will pull out the good
ol’ sugar cookie recipe, bake, and decorate with other characters, especially
kids. There’s something really homey about making Christmas-shaped cookies and
sprinkling them with sugar crystals or slathering on some icing. Takes me back
to my grandmother’s kitchen around the holidays.
Awww, that’s
delightful, Paula. As far back as you remember, what was the first Christmas-related
fiction story you read or had read to you? Is there a Christmas book you like
to share with your children or grandchildren? Do you have any other special
Christmas reading memories?
As many kids, I enjoyed The Night Before Christmas. I also liked reading the Christmas
sections of The Little House On The Prairie
books. Their humble gifts and foods at that time just made the real meaning of
Christmas and the need for family stand out. Of course, family gathered around
to listen to the Christmas story from the Bible is a sweet memory too.
Very sweet
memories. Thank you for sharing. What is on your Christmas fiction to-read list
this year? And what is your ideal Christmas reading experience?
I hope to read the other stories included in the
Christmas series coming out from Prism Book Group.
Thank you for
sharing. It was fun visiting with you, Paula. Folks, you can continue to
connect with Paula, and get to know more about her books at the links below.
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.
Thanks for hosting me, Deidre!
ReplyDeletePaula, it was a delight to get to share your Christmas Reading stories! :)
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