Writer Christine Lindsay On Reading

Christine, welcome to Writers on Reading! Your most recent novel, Sofi’s Bridge, releases in a few weeks and seems to fit perfectly with your previous accomplishments. With several historical novels to your credit, I’d love to know about your reading habits! So…as a reader are you drawn toward certain genres? Do you find one theme more repeatedly snags your attention as a read? Is there something special you seek when selecting your next reading adventure?

Oh yes!!!  I used to be drawn to historicals and as a teen to gothic historicals, but lately my tastes have changed to those books that braid present day with the past. As a grandma nowadays it’s fun to look back on my life and see things from this perspective. I love books that do the same, show me how life in the past affects families today, especially if old secrets are revealed, if family healing has come, and old hurts find forgiveness and new beginnings. I’ve really enjoyed the author Kate Morton for this. She doesn’t write in the Christian genre, but her writing is amazing.

Another author I’ve enjoy is Linda Nichols. She didn’t write historicals or braided

stories, but I love her storytelling. She is in the Christian genre and has beautiful spiritual takeaways.

Having published so many books do you find time to read during the months you spend writing or with deadlines ahead is it either/or for you? If so, what did you read while working on your last book? If not, what did you read when you finished this one?

I find that is just isn’t possible to be a good writer without reading. Especially if I’m stressed with a deadline looming, nothing helps better than snuggling up on the couch or in bed with a good novel. I can’t remember what I read while writing Sofi’s Bridge, but while writing my current work I’ve been reading the secular Canadian and New York Best-selling author Susanna Kearsley. While I do not get any spiritual takeaways from Kearsley’s books I enjoy the braiding of the past and present day.

I’d like to see more of this style in Christian fiction, and it’s my aim to be one of those authors that offers that. As for Christian authors, I really enjoyed Jack Cavanaugh’s Songs of the Night series.

Ohhh, I have his books, but haven’t gotten around to reading them! Now, I’ll have to. What was the last book you absolutely couldn't put down? Why?

Kate Morton’s The Lake House. The writing was superb, no wonder she is an international best seller, and she kept me guessing about the family mystery almost to the very end. As a connoisseur of mystery novels and BBC cozy mysteries I am not easy to fool, but by jove she did it. It’s that kind of quality that gives me the shivers; I just love excellent writing.

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

I devoured books as a child and teen. My mother read to me a great deal when I was very young, such as the book Heidi. The first books I remember reading by myself were What Katie Did and What Katie Did Next.

When did you know you wanted to write? Did any or multiple books influence this desire?

My writing journey began during and after a difficult time in my life. In 1979 I was an unwed mother and I relinquished my baby girl to adoption. I wanted her to have a loving dad as well as a mom, and being unmarried I couldn’t give her that. Twenty years later, my birthdaughter and I were reunited, but the reunion was much more traumatic than I had anticipated. As I was reliving the original loss of my first child, my husband gave me a brand new journal and pen, and said, “Here honey, write it.”

A few years later I felt the Lord encourage me to put the spiritual and emotional healing I had received into Christian fiction with the goal of encouraging others in their heart aches.

I have loved stories all my life—secular and Christian—and receive much joy from escaping into the worlds of novels. So God in His sweetness has enabled me to use the types of stories I love to help others believe in a happy ending in their life through Jesus Christ.

Wow! What a beautiful journey and mission. With spring just sprung upon us, what is on your to-read list? And what is your ideal spring reading experience?

My TBR list includes more of Susanna Kearsley and Davis Bunn. I am so looking forward to warmer days when I can sit out in my back garden, lie back on the chaise lounge with a good book, a cup of tea at my side, our two dogs lolling about on the grass, and my cat Scottie soaking up the rays of sunshine on the patio below my chair. Sounds like utter bliss to me. During the springtime my garden is full of clematis, tulips, daffodils, poppies, peonies, and forget-me-knots.

Sounds like a beautiful experience! Is there a book you are looking forward to rereading?

There is a pile of books that I refer to as my old friends. I re-read these books every few years: Here are my best pals:  Far Pavilions, Shadow of the Moon by MM Kaye, A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute, The Ivy Tree by Mary Stewart, and now the books by Kate Morton and Susanna Kearsley. I apologize that these books are not from the Christian genre, but they are simply excellent storytelling.

No apology necessary! Great books are great books. Thanks so much for visiting and letting us get to know you better as a reader, Christine! Folks, you can continue to connect with Christine—and find out more about his/her books!—at the links below.

BIO: Christine Lindsay is the author of multi-award-winning Christian fiction. Born in N. Ireland, it was tales of her ancestors who served in the British Cavalry in Colonial India that inspired her historical trilogy, Book 1 Shadowed in Silk, Book 2 Captured by Moonlight, and the explosive finale Veiled at Midnight. Her Irish wit and joy in the use of setting as a character is evident in her contemporary romance Londonderry Dreaming and in Sofi’s Bridge coming May 2016.

Aside from being a busy writer and speaker, Christine is the happy wife of David of 35 years, a mom and a grandma. She makes her home on the west coast of Canada, and in Aug. 2016 she will see her long-awaited non-fiction book released, Finding Sarah, Finding Me: A Birth Mother’s Story.

PURCHASE AND CONNECTION LINKS:

www.ChristineLindsay.org or follow her on Amazon on Twitter. Subscribe to her quarterly newsletter, and be her friend on Pinterest , Facebook, and  Goodreads

Writer Clarice James On Reading

Clarice, welcome to Writers on Reading! Your debut novel, Double Header, released mere months ago. Since you’re a Contemporary Women’s Fiction writer, I’m curious…as a reader are you drawn toward certain genres?

I am drawn to contemporary women’s fiction, but also love a good historical or classic. Of course, many of the books in my library are non-fiction, including topics on spiritual growth, devotionals, biblical reference, and even marketing and business.

Do you find one theme more repeatedly snags your attention as a reader?

The themes that resonate with me are often ones I’ve personally experienced: fighting God and finding Christ; new love after widowhood; letting go of control to experience God’s best for me; and finding God’s purpose for our life.

Is there something special you seek when selecting your next reading adventure?

I don’t want the book to be so shallow that I can’t learn from the story yet so deep that I get lost.

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

Recently, I read Out of the Storm (HopeSprings Books, 2015), an anthology of short stories, many of which were speculative fiction, which is not a genre I am drawn to. Yet I enjoyed many of those very stories. My choice to read this book was due to one particular story: "Just West of Clovis," a western by Ralph D. James, who happens to be my husband. It won first place in its category.

As a writer, you should know better, but as a reader, you know we all do it…so, when did you last “judge a book by the cover”? How did it work out?

A few years back, I read a romance novel—not usually my first choice. But the history and writing were so good I’ve recommended it over and over--The Chamomile by Susan F. Craft (Heritage Beacon Fiction, 2013). Sometimes in historical stories, the researched parts are obvious. But Susan’s stories read like she lived during the revolutionary war days.

As a writer working on her third novel, do you find time to read?

I find pockets of time to read because I enjoy good stories, love learning from other writers, and find it relaxing.

So, what did you read while working on your last book?

I was a beta reader for Terrie Todd’s The Silver Suitcase (Waterfall Press 2016). It was excellent!

What was the last book you absolutely couldn't put down? Why?

It was a western titled West for the Black Hills by Peter Leavell (Mountainview Books LLC, 2015). He had so much conflict and tension in his story, it made it hard to stop reading! I can’t wait to get the next book in the series.

When did you know you wanted to write? Did any or multiple books influence this desire?

I had a high school teacher who was also the drama coach. His love of good books and his dramatic flair made writing seem fun, important, and worthy of my time. (Besides, I wasn’t an athlete and I couldn’t carry a tune.)

With a spring just sprung upon us, what is on your to-read list? And what is your ideal spring reading experience?

I want to read Cynthia Ruchti’s Song of Silence (Abington Press, 2016). When I read Cynthia’s books, I feel like I’m home. My front porch chairs aren’t out yet (still cold in New Hampshire), but it’s a quiet and bright spot to read. Then there’s always my big fat comfy reading chair in the living room in the evenings.

Is there a book you are looking forward to rereading?

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. It’s my all-time favorite.

If Casey Gallagher, the protagonist in Double Header, were to pick a book from today’s shelves, what do you think it would be?

They Wore Red Sox and Pinstripes: Players Who Went to the Enemy by Todd Stanley (McFarland & Co., 2016)

Thanks so much for visiting and letting us get to know you better as a reader, Clarice! Folks, you can continue to connect with Clarice—and find out more about her books!—at the links below.

BIO:  Clarice G. James loves to read and write smart, fun, relatable contemporary women’s fiction. After many years of writing and editing for business and ministry, she now enjoys the freedom that writing fiction allows her. Clarice has been a follower of Jesus Christ for over 35 years. She and her husband live in Southern New Hampshire. Together they have five married children and ten grandchildren. Double Header is her first published novel. It was one of three winners in the 2014 Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild Operation First Novel contest.

PURCHASE AND CONNECTION LINKS:

Since Mountainview Books LLC is a traditional publisher with a distribution source, you can request Double Header, at your local bookstore. If you’re in a hurry, there’s always online ordering at Barnes & Noble or Amazon.

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