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?
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,
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.
