Character Spotlight ~ Deeanne Gist's Georgie Gail & Luke Palmer

Character Spotlight ~

Georgie & Luke

Deeanne Gist returns with another historical romance novel with Love in the Line!  Enjoy meeting Georgie and Luke!

Over to you, Deeanne:~

Brief physical description

If I could cast a celebrity into the role of Georgie Gail, I would choose Rachel McAdams. Her green eyes, blonde hair, ready smile, and the teeny mole just below her lower lip would fit the bill perfectly.

Paul Walker’s square jaw, blue eyes and great smile would make him the perfect candidate for taking on the role of my Texas Ranger, Luke Palmer.

Strengths and weaknesses

Georgie Gail is a telephone operator who wants to protect those who can’t protect themselves. This protective instinct compels her to lead a campaign to boycott merchants in town who sell hats decorated with innocent songbirds. But taking on a lucrative, popular industry could cost her job and her independence.

Luke Palmer is a Texas Ranger who sees everything in black and white. His frustration mounts when the townspeople thwart his efforts at locating a gang of train robbers because they idolize the villain.

Quirk (if any)

In Georgie’s youth, she tried to be the son her father always wanted. As a result, she learned to ride bareback, jump high hurdles with her horse, raft across a raging river, and various other unladylike endeavours.

Luke has spent a lifetime trying to be the best at everything he does. He works hard and excels at riding, shooting on sight, and acting quickly in the face of danger.

Your inspiration for the character

When compiling my characters, I always study biographies of people from the time period. In Georgie’s case, I based her character on a mixture of suffragettes. For Luke, I combined the histories of three different Texas Rangers.

Background to the story

Georgie was four when she was first told life was better for boys. She determined then to prove that statement wrong and learned to read by age five. At seven, she read an article in the paper: What Girls Are Good For. It stated girls should stay out of the workplace and instead focus on cleaning, sewing, and keeping a nice home. It said a woman’s mission in life was to be a helpmate to a man, not to compete with him.

A follow-up article written by Nellie Bly urged readers to consider the plight of widows and unmarried girls who were not blessed with great beauty, talent or wealth. Those women needed the opportunity to earn a living, but current attitudes restricted the types of jobs available to them.

Credit

That day Georgie vowed she would do all she could to be more like a man so she could earn her own living and never be dependent on anyone other than herself.

When Luke Palmer was ten, one of the worst hurricanes to ever hit the United States touched land at his Gulf Coast town of Indianola. The Category 4 hurricane started a fire which had been ignited by lamps burning in houses blown down by the wind. Luke’s house was one of them.

The fire destroyed all but two of the town’s buildings and killed a large number of citizens, including Luke’s father. The storm damaged telegraph wires and two-and-a-half miles of railroad track, making communication with Indianola very difficult, complicating rescue efforts and giving Luke a deep-seated mistrust of modern communication systems.

Fast forward sixteen years. Luke is assigned to sell and repair telephones as a cover. His horror over having to foist unreliable equipment onto a trusting public grates. But worst of all, is the tempestuous switchboard operator he’s assigned to work with.

Loved having you visit, Dee!

Relz Reviewz Extras
Reviews of Maid to Match, Beguiled, A Bride in the Bargain, Courting Trouble, Deep in the Heart of Trouble and A Bride Most Begrudging
Interview with Deeanne

Visit Deeanne's website and blog
Buy the books from Amazon and Koorong

Coming in late 2011 from Bethany House

Bethany House continues to be one of the premier publishers of historical fiction as you can see from the many historical novels below.

Don't miss the contemporary stories from Alice Wisler, Patti Lacy and Tracie Peterson hiding among all those historicals!

Author Jody Hedlund was chatting recently on her blog about the early release of covers. Do you enjoy the anticipation of seeing a new cover and synopsis months in advance or would you prefer for it only to be revealed shortly prior to a book's release? I'd love to know your thoughts.

Enjoy these ones....months in advance....so I guess you know my answer :)

To Have and To Hold by Tracie Peterson & Judith Miller

When Audrey Cunningham's father proposes that they move to Bridal Veil Island, where he grew up, she agrees, thinking this will help keep him sober and close to God. But they arrive to find wealthy investors buying up land to build a grand resort on the secluded island--and they want the Cunninghams' acreage.

Contractor Marshall Graham can't imagine why the former drinking buddy of his deceased father would beckon him to Bridal Veil Island. And when Boyd Cunningham asks him to watch over Audrey, Marshall is even more confused. He has no desire to be saddled with caring for this fiery young woman who is openly hostile toward him. But when Audrey seems to be falling for another man--one who has two little girls Audrey adores--Marshall realizes she holds more of his heart than he realized.

Which man will Audrey choose? And can she hold on to her ancestral property in the face of overwhelming odds?

September, 2011




The Mercy by Beverly Lewis

Rose Kauffman pines for prodigal Nick Franco, the Bishop's foster son who left the Amish under a cloud of suspicion after his foster brother's death. His rebellion led to the "silencing" of their beloved Bishop. But is Nick really the rebel he appears to be?

Rose's lingering feelings for her wayward friend refuse to fade, but she is frustrated that Nick won't return and make things right with the People.

Nick avowed his love for Rose--but will he ever be willing to sacrifice modern life for her.

Meanwhile, Rose's older sister, Hen, is living in her parents' Dawdi Haus. Her estranged "English" husband, injured and helpless after a car accident, has reluctantly come to live with her and their young daughter during his recovery. Can their marriage recover, as well? Is there any possible middle ground between a woman reclaiming her old-fashioned Amish lifestyle and a thoroughly modern man?

September, 2011





Wings of a Dream by Anne Mateer

Rebekah Hendricks dreams of a life far beyond her family's farm in Oklahoma, and when dashing aviator Arthur Samson promises adventure in the big city, she is quick to believe he's the man she's meant to marry.

While she waits for the Great War to end and Arthur to return to her so they can pursue all their plans, her mother's sister falls ill. Rebekah seizes the opportunity to travel to Texas to care for Aunt Adabelle, seeing this chance to be closer to Arthur's training camp as God's approval of her plans. But the Spanish flu epidemic changes everything.

Faced with her aunt's death, Arthur's indecisiveness, and four children who have no one else to care for them, Rebekah is torn between the desire to escape the type of life she's always led and the unexpected love that just might change the dream of her heart.

September, 2011




A Whisper of Peace by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Ostracized by her tribe because of her white father, Lizzie Dawson lives alone in the mountains of Alaska, practicing the ways of her people even as she resides in the small cabin her father built for her mother. She dreams of reconciling with her grandparents to fulfill her mother's dying request, but she has not yet found a way to bridge the gap that separates her from her tribe.

Clay Selby has always wanted to be like his father, a missionary who holds a great love for the native people and has brought many to God. Clay and his stepsister, Vivian, arrive in Alaska to set up a church and school among the Athabascan people. Clay is totally focused on this goal... until he meets a young, independent Indian woman with the most striking blue eyes he's ever seen.

September, 2011





The Doctor's Lady by Jody Hedlund

Priscilla White knows she'll never be a wife or mother and feels God's call to the mission field in India. Dr. Eli Ernest is back from Oregon Country only long enough to raise awareness of missions to the natives before heading out West once more. But then Priscilla and Eli both receive news from the mission board: No longer will they send unmarried men and women into the field. Left scrambling for options, the two realize the other might be the answer to their needs. Priscilla and Eli agree to a partnership, a marriage in name only that will allow them to follow God's leading into the mission field. But as they journey west, this decision will be tested by the hardships of the trip and by the unexpected turnings of their hearts.

September, 2011







Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin

Alice Grace Ripley lives in a dream world, her nose stuck in a book. But the happily-ever-after life she's planned on suddenly falls apart when her boyfriend, Gordon, breaks up with her, accusing her of living in a world of fiction instead of the real world. Then to top it off, Alice loses her beloved job at the library because of cutbacks due to the Great Depression.

Fleeing small-town gossip, Alice heads to the mountains of eastern Kentucky to deliver five boxes of donated books to a library in the tiny coal-mining village of Acorn. Dropped off by her relatives, Alice volunteers to stay for two weeks to help the librarian, Leslie McDougal.

But the librarian turns out to be far different than she anticipated--not to mention the four lady librarians who travel to the remote homes to deliver the much-desired books. When Alice is trapped in Acorn against her will, she soon finds that real-life adventure and mystery--and especially romance--are far better than her humble dreams could have imagined.

October, 2011




A Wedding Invitation by Alice J Wisler

After returning home from teaching English at a refugee camp in the Philippines, Samantha Bravencourt enjoys her quiet life working at her mother's clothing boutique in Falls Church, Virginia. When she receives an invitation to a wedding in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, she looks forward to reconnecting with her college friend. Instead her life collides with Carson, a fellow teacher and the man who broke her heart, and a young Amerasian refugee named Lien, who needs Samantha and Carson's help to find her mother before Lien's own wedding.

When the search for Lien's mother reveals surprising secrets from the past, Samantha must reevaluate her own memories and decide whether to continue to play it safe or take a risk that could change her life.

October, 2011




The Still of Night by Kristen Heitzmann (Repackaged)

Known professionally as the "success guru," Morgan Spencer is the turn-around genius who revitalizes failing corporations. His gift for identifying problems and finding solutions extends to the personal lives of his friends and acquaintances. But the one life he can't seem to set straight is his own. Behind his charming rebel facade is a need that drives him toward success--and emptiness.

Then Jill Runyan reenters his life with news that will either set him free or bring him to his knees.

October, 2011








Reclaiming Lily by Patti Lacy

A storm the size of Texas brews when Gloria Powell and Kai Wang meet in a Dallas hotel. They have come to discuss the future of Lily, a rebellious, hurting teenager whom Gloria adopted from China and is the sister Kai hopes to reclaim.

Kai is a doctor who had to give up her baby sister during the cultural revolution and has since discovered that an inherited genetic defect may be waiting to fatally strike Lily.

When their best hope rests back in China, a desperate journey brings Gloria and Kai to the brink of despair. But God has plans for both women to reclaim Lily and fulfill destiny in a way that exceeds their wildest imaginations.

October, 2011




Love on the Line by Deeanne Gist

In 1904 Texas Ranger Luke Palmer arrives in Brenham, Texas, with one goal--to capture the gang of outlaws led by Frank Comer. Undercover as a telephone repairman, he uses his days on the range to search, not realizing there's another pair of eyes watching him.

Georgie Gail, switchboard operator and birder, heads out on a birding expedition, but instead of sighting a painted bunting, her opera glasses capture her telephone man, armed and far away from telephone lines. Palmer is forced to take this alluring troublemaker into his confidence and unwittingly puts her in harm's way. The closer he comes to the gang, the further she works her way into his heart--and into trouble. Soon it's more than just love that's on the line.

October, 2011




House of Secrets by Tracie Peterson

When her father orchestrates a surprise trip to the summer house of her childhood, Bailee Cooper is unprepared for what follows. What is intended to be a happy reunion for Bailee and her sisters, Geena and Piper, quickly becomes shrouded by memories from the past. Together again, the three sisters sift through their recollections of fifteen years ago... of an ill mother, and of their father making a desperate choice. They vowed, as children, to be silent--but one sister believes the truth must now be revealed. Yet can they trust their memories?

Mark Delahunt arrives in the wake of this emotional turmoil. Determined to win Bailee's affection, Mark becomes the strong fortress for her in this time of confusion, and what was once a tentative promise begins to take root and grow. Caught between the past and an uncertain future, can Bailee let God guide her to heal the past and ultimately to embrace love?

October, 2011




Valley of Dreams by Lauraine Snelling

Addy Lockwood's mother died when she was little, so Addy traveled with her father's Wild West Show and became an amazingly skillful trick rider, likened by some to the famous Annie Oakley. When her father died, she continued to work with the show, having nowhere else to go. Now Addy has discovered that "Uncle" Jason, the show's manager, has driven the show into debt, and he's absconded with what little money was left. Devastated, Addy decides to try to find the hidden valley where her father had dreamed of putting down roots. She has only one clue. She needs to find three huge stones that look like fingers raised on a giant hand.

With Chief, a Sioux Indian who's been with the show for twenty years, and Micah, the head wrangler, she leaves both the show and a bundle of heartache behind and begins a wild and daring adventure.

November, 2011




A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander

To create something that will last is Claire Laurent's most fervent desire as an artist. It's also her greatest weakness. When her fraud of a father deals her an unexpected hand, Claire is forced to flee from New Orleans to Nashville, only a year after the War Between the States has ended. Claire's path collides with that of Sutton Monroe, and she considers him a godsend for not turning her in to the authorities. But when they meet again and he refuses to come to her aid, she realizes she's sorely misjudged the man.

Trading an unwanted destiny for an unknown future, Claire finds herself in the middle of Nashville's elite society and believes her dream of creating a lasting impression in the world of art may finally be within reach. All that Sutton Monroe holds dear lies in ruin. He's determined to reclaim his heritage and to make the men who murdered his father pay. But what he discovers on his quest for vengeance reveals a truth that may cost him more than he ever imagined.

Set at Nashville's historic Belmont Mansion, a stunning antebellum manor built by Mrs. Adelicia Acklen, the richest woman in America in the 1860s, A Lasting Impression showcases the deep, poignant, unforgettable characters that set Tamera's stories apart and provides an inspiring love story that will capture readers' hearts and leave them eager for more.

November, 2011

Maid to Match by Deeanne Gist

Synopsis:~

From the day she arrives at the Biltmore, Tillie Reese is dazzled--by the riches of the Vanderbilts and by Mack Danvers, a mountain man turned footman. When Tillie is enlisted to help tame Mack's rugged behavior by tutoring him in the ways of refined society, the resulting sparks threaten Tillie's efforts to be chosen as Edith Vanderbilt's lady's maid. But the stakes rise even higher when Mack and Tillie become entangled in a cover-up at the town orphanage. They could both lose their jobs...and their hearts.

My take:~

Deeanne Gist once again offers up a treat to lovers of historical romance, bringing to light the opulence of Biltmore, the famous Vanderbilt mansion and the people that worked hard to maintain the image of wealth and prestige. All the elements of an engaging romance are present, the beautiful parlourmaid with ambition, a rugged mountain man roped into service, and the resultant sparks of a forbidden attraction. Deeanne's prose brings the mansion, the staff and the family to life with fascinating insights into the inner workings of such an estate. Dee's A Bride Most Begrudging and The Measure of A Lady remain the benchmark of her books and Maid to Match did not quite reach that high standard for me, but it remains an enjoyable read.

With thanks to Bethany House for my review copy

Relz Reviewz Extras

Reviews of Beguiled, A Bride in the Bargain, Courting Trouble, Deep in the Heart of Trouble and A Bride Most Begrudging

Interview with Deeanne

Visit Deeanne's website and blog

Buy the books from Amazon and Koorong

Beguiled by Deeanne Gist & J Mark Bertrand

Synopsis:~

Rylee Monroe, a dogwalker in Charleston's wealthiest neighborhood, never feared the streets at night. But now a thief is terrorizing the area and worse, someone seems to be targeting her. Reporter Logan Woods is covering the break-ins with the hope of publishing them as a true-crime book. The more he digs, the more he realizes this beguiling dogwalker seems to be at the center of everything.As danger draws ever closer, Logan must choose: Chase the girl, the story, or plunge into the shadows after the villain who threatens everything?

My take:~

Beguiled continues another current trend in Christian Fiction, the collaboration of two authors to produce a story which highlights their writing specialties. Deeanne Gist is well known for her excellent historical romances and J. Mark Bertrand is soon to debut on his own, with a crime novel. The collaboration results in a contemporary romantic mystery that is entertaining and intriguing but lacks the fast paced action I personally prefer in my suspense novels. Lovers of a good mystery will enjoy this tale that takes the reader on a tour of the streets of Charleston and into the lives of dogwalker Rylee and Logan, dedicated reported and avid dog fearer. Beguiled is nicely done and I certainly enjoyed walking the streets of Charleston with Rylee and her hounds!

With thanks to Bethany House for my review copy

Relz Reviewz Extras

Reviews of A Bride in the Bargain, Courting Trouble, Deep in the Heart of Trouble and A Bride Most Begrudging

Interview with Deeanne

Visit Deeanne's website and blog

Visit Mark's blog

Buy the books from Amazon and Koorong

Coming in June/July 2010 from Bethany House

Historical v. Contemporary, Romance v. Suspense ~ what's your preference?

Check out these 2010 releases from Bethany and let me know whether you are an historical fan or contemporary or both!

For me, I enjoy both but contemporary suspense is probably more my thing! Love Robin's cover for Nightmare!

A Hopeful Heart by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Dowryless and desperate, Tressa Neill applies to the inaugural class of Wyatt Herdsman School in Barnett, Kansas, in 1888. The school's one-of-a-kind program teaches young women from the East the skills needed to become a rancher--or the wife of one. Shy and small for her twenty-two years, Tressa is convinced she'll never have what it takes to survive Hattie Wyatt's hands-on instruction in skills such as milking a cow, branding a calf, riding a horse, and cooking up a mess of grub for hungry ranch hands. But what other options does she have?

Abel Samms wants nothing to do with the group of potential brides his neighbor brought to town. He was smitten with an eastern girl once--and he got his heart broken. But there's something about quiet Tressa and her bumbling ways that makes him take notice. When Tressa's life is endangered, will Abel risk his own life--and his heart--to help this eastern girl?

Releasing June, 2010

Maid to Match by Deanne Gist

From the day she arrives at the Biltmore, Tillie Reese is dazzled--by the riches of the Vanderbilts and by Mack Danvers, a mountain man turned footman.

When Tillie is enlisted to help tame Mack's rugged behavior by tutoring him in the ways of refined society, the resulting sparks threaten Tillie's efforts to be chosen as Edith Vanderbilt's lady's maid. But the stakes rise even higher when Mack and Tillie become entangled in a cover-up at the town orphanage. They could both lose their jobs...and their hearts.

Releasing June, 2010

A Tailor-Made Bride by Karen Witemeyer

Jericho "J.T." Tucker wants nothing to do with Coventry, Texas's new dressmaker. He's all too familiar with her kind--shallow women more devoted to fashion than true beauty. Yet, except for her well-tailored clothing, this seamstress is not at all what he expected.

Hannah Richards is confounded by the man who runs the livery. The unsmiling fellow riles her with his arrogant assumptions and gruff manner while at the same time stirring her heart with unexpected acts of kindness. Which side of Jericho Tucker reflects the real man?

When Hannah decides to help Jericho's sister catch a beau--leading to uproarious consequences for the whole town--will Jericho and Hannah find a way to bridge the gap between them?

Releasing June, 2010

Tomorrow We Die by Shawn Grady

Jonathan Trestle is a paramedic who's spent the week a few steps behind the angel of death. When he responds to a call about a man sprawled on a downtown sidewalk, Trestle isn't about to lose another victim. CPR revives the man long enough for him to hand Trestle a crumpled piece of paper and say, "Give this to Martin," before being taken to the hospital.

The note is a series of dashes and haphazard scribbles. Trestle tries to follow up with the patient later, but at the ICU he learns the man awoke, pulled out his IVs, and vanished, leaving only a single key behind. Jonathan tracks the key to a nearby motel where he finds the man again--this time not just dead but murdered. Unwilling to just let it drop, Jonathan is plunged into a mystery that soon threatens not only his dreams for the future but maybe even his life.

Releasing July, 2010

Nightmare by Robin Parrish

Ghost Town is the hottest amusement park in the country, offering state-of-the-art chills and thrills involving the paranormal. The park's main ride is a haunted mansion that promises an encounter with a real ghost.

When Maia Peters visits during her senior year of college, she's not expecting to be impressed. Maia grew up as the only child of a pair of world-renowned "ghost hunters," so the paranormal is nothing new. In fact, the ride feels pretty boring until the very end. There, a face appears from the mist. The face of Jordin Cole, a girl who disappeared from campus a year ago.
Convinced what she saw wasn't a hoax and desperate to find answers to Jordin's disappearance, Maia launches into a quest for answers. Joined by Jordin's boyfriend--a pastor--s kid with very different ideas about the spirit realm--Maia finds herself in a struggle against forces she never expected to confront.

Releasing July, 2010



Back on Murder by J. Mark Bertrand

Det. Roland March is a homicide cop on his way out. But when he's the only one at a crime scene to find evidence of a missing female victim, he's given one last chance to prove himself. Before he can crack the case, he's transferred to a new one that has grabbed the spotlight--the disappearance of a famous Houston evangelist's teen daughter.

With the help of a youth pastor with a guilty conscience who navigates the world of church and faith, March is determined to find the missing girls while proving he's still one of Houston's best detectives.

Releasing, July, 2010

A Bride in the Bargain by Deeanne Gist

In 1860s Seattle, a man with a wife could secure himself 640 acres of timberland. But because of his wife's untimely death, Joe Denton finds himself about to lose half of his claim. Still in mourning, his best solution is to buy one of those Mercer girls arriving from the East. A woman he'll marry in name but keep around mostly as a cook.

Anna Ivey's journey west with Asa Mercer's girls is an escape from the griefs of her past. She's not supposed to be a bride, though, just a cook for the girls. But when they land, she's handed to Joe Denton and the two find themselves in a knotty situation. She refuses to wed him and he's about to lose his land. With only a few months left, can Joe convince this provoking--but beguiling--easterner to be his bride?

My take:~

If you want to be swept away to another time and place, look no further than A Bride in the Bargain, the newest release in Deeanne Gist's Bride books. Deeanne has the rare ability to completely transport you to the location she sets her book, so immersing you in the social norms and people of the period, you will forget you are sitting in your own loungeroom! While character driven, the setting is detailed and beautifully described and I could almost feel myself dwarfed by the giant Redwood trees Joe so loved. Humour, romance, conflict and sacrifice combine to make this book the perfect escape and is guaranteed to make your heart feel lighter!

I adore Deeanne Gist's books and A Bride in the Bargain highlights once again, Deeanne's talent for creating loveable characters and an absorbing and joyful tale.

Relz Reviewz Extras:~

Reviews of Courting Trouble, Deep in the Heart of Trouble and A Bride Most Begrudging

Interview with Deeanne

Visit Deeanne's website and blog

Buy Dee's books from Amazon and Koorong

Deep In The Heart of Trouble by Deeanne Gist

Flamboyant Essie Spreckelmeyer from Courting Trouble is back with fussier hats, abundant bloomers and her overworked independent streak! While Judge Spreckelmeyer continues to grieve the loss of his wife, Essie has taken the helm of his Sullivan Oil interests while continuing her duties as founder and active member of the Corsicana Velocipede Club. With no time on her hands for courting and with the knowledge her thirty fourth birthday is around the corner, Essie has resigned herself to the life of spinsterhood, albeit a very full and fulfilling one!

Licking his wounds from the shock of being disinherited by his father, the owner of Morgan Oil, Tony Morgan reverts to his mother's name of Bryant and arrives in Corsicana hoping for a job in Spreckelmeyer's oil fields. Aghast at finding a woman in charge, especially one who dislikes him on sight, Tony determines to make the most of it. Little does he know that Essie's spunk and unusual behaviour will become more and more appealing until his heart is the one that is in trouble!

Delightfully entertaining with characters that light up the pages and a plot that entrances, Deep In the Heart of Trouble is a treat to be savoured. Gone is the meek and mild historical woman and in her place is Essie Sprecklemeyer, opinionated and headstrong yet with a vulnerability from the hurts of her past and her desire to follow God and not stumble again. Tony Morgan is just the foil for Essie, dedicated and hard working with an admirable devotion to his mother and sister, yet with his own struggles with pride and anger against his father and conniving brother, Darius. Essie and Tony's attraction fires on all cylinders making this a fun and engaging read. As their secrets are revealed, hurt and anger flow with the authenticity I have come to expect from Deeanne Gist. If that is not enough, humour abounds as the Velocipede Club's sleuthing skills come to the fore. Do yourself a favour and add Deep In the Heart of Trouble to your keeper's shelf.

Relz Reviewz Extras:~

Reviews of Courting Trouble and A Bride Most Begrudging

Interview with Deeanne

Visit Deeanne's website and blog

Buy Dee's books from Amazon and Koorong (Aust)

Interview with Deeanne Gist

Deeanne Gist is the author of the award winning A Bride Most Begrudging, The Measure of a Lady and soon to be released, Courting Trouble. Deeanne has a unique style and I have enjoyed all her books so I was thrilled when she agreed to to share with us her thoughts......

ON WRITING.....

Please share some of your writing/publishing journey with us.

With four kids under the age of four, I retired early from teaching to be a stay at home mom. At that time, I began an out-of-the-home career in freelance journalism. A few years after experiencing some success in that field, I decided to write a romance novel. I had always been an avid romance reader, but had become more and more concerned about the moral fiber of the heroines in the story. I wanted to write a compelling story about two people overcoming adversity, but who also tried to honor the boundaries God has asked us to respect while courting. Not an easy task--especially when they didn’t *want* to stay in the boundaries.

Why Christian fiction?

Why not? ;-)

What gets you through those difficult writing days?

For writer’s block, I read a book that I know is well written (so it is usually one I’ve read before and have saved on the shelf). Sometimes, I just need a break and I go do something fun--away from the office. It could be working on my scrapbook or going to lunch with my mom or catching a movie with my man.

What project or book are you working on now?

I am working on the sequel to Courting Trouble. (Should have a title for you within a week or two.) It will be released (as are all my books) in June, 2008.

ON COURTING TROUBLE....

Did the plotline or characters come first?

Essie came first.

Do we "see" some of you in your characters?

I’m sure they reflect me in some ways. I don’t see how they couldn’t, but I don’t intentionally make them personal. I couldn’t even pick out what parts of the novels are personal and what parts aren’t. I’m simply not aware of it. If you were to ask my sister, though, she would probably be able to tell you. On second thought, let’s not ask my sister. That could be dangerous. ;-)

Many authors say they "hear" their characters talking to them. How does it work for you?

The dialog definitely flows off my fingertips. It’s the narrative and descriptive parts that are killer for me.

If you were casting actors for a movie of Courting Trouble, who would you choose?

I don’t have anyone in mind for this book. I’m using Hugh Jackman as my hero’s model (looks-wise) in the sequel, though.

You are very direct when describing characters desires and the realities of attraction between men and women. How do you balance genuine writing with the constraints placed on Christian writers?

I don’t censure my characters at all. If they want to swear, I let them swear. If they feel desire, I let them feel desire. If they have uncharitable thoughts, I let them have uncharitable thoughts. Once I turn the book in, my editor lets me know what needs to be “toned down.” (Though I’ve been known to dig in my heels if I think it is necessary to the novel for the scene to be “on screen.”)

ON MATTERS PERSONAL....

Do you read Christian fiction yourself? If so, some favourite authors or books both Christian and/or secular?

Romance are my favorites. Always have been. I find I enjoy historical romances the most, but don’t particularly have a favorite time period. I do prefer American historicals over some of the others, but really I like them all.
My all time favorite book (which, ironically, isn’t a romance) is To Kill A Mockingbird. My all time favorite secular romance authors are LaVyrle Spencer and Pamela Morsi--their historicals. In the CBA, I think Francine Rivers, Beverly Lewis and Liz Curtis Higgs are at the top of their craft and always enjoy their books.

What are you reading at the moment?

I’m judging historical romance novels for RWA’s (Romance Writers of America) RITA contest. So, I’m in the midst of reading those seven novels--but I’m not allowed to reveal which titles I am judging.

Where is your favourite place to read a book?

In bed.

Who inspires you?

The Holy Spirit, my parents, my pastor, my closest friends.

Please share some of your faith journey.

I was introduced to Christ at the same time I learned about Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. One by one, the imaginary entities fell to the wayside, making way for the One and Only. I committed my life to Christ at the age of 9 while eating a bowl of Fruit Loops. (Which is still my favorite cereal!) My faith has been an important part of everything I do ever since.

Any last words....

I have a very active online community and would love for your readers to become a part of it. If they go to my website (www.IWantHerBook.com) then they can click on the “Blog” tab to participate in our online discussions. I upload new posts every Monday and Thursday. If they would like to contact me privately, click on the “Contact Dee” tab. Those emails come directly to me. So far, I have answered every single one.

Thanks Deeanne ~ it has been a pleasure getting to know a bit more about you and your writing!

Read my review of A Bride Most Begrudging here.

Read my review of Courting Trouble here.

Courting Trouble by Deeanne Gist

4 Stars

Corsicana, Texas ~ 1894

Essie Spreckelmeyer is as awkward as her cumbersome name. Tall and gangly, outspoken and impulsive and, God forbid, unmarried at the spinsterly age of thirty!

When Essie decides God has failed her in the marriage stakes she determines to acquire a husband herself and plans a bold pursuit of one of the few eligible bachelors in her home town. Sadly, Essie is no more successful until a handsome cowboy assists her in recovering a live mouse she intends feeding to her pet snake! More than the mouse is set quivering!

Essie is both delighted and perplexed with this turn of events and finds herself experiencing feelings and desires previously unknown leaving her with a dilemma she is not sure how to resolve.

Deeanne Gist's latest novel, Courting Trouble, is stamped with her trademark humour and quirky characters. Deeanne creates great empathy for Essie, desperately wanting a husband yet with a personality and inquisitive nature that just doesn't conform to society's strict rules of etiquette particularly for women. Deeanne bravely addresses the reality many face when a desperation to be loved and desire combine but reminds us of what God's forgiveness really means. My one regret with this story is it's brevity but I take heart that a promised sequel to Essie's story will ease that! Write quickly please, Deeanne!

Courting Trouble will be released in June, 2007 by Bethany House.

Cover Art for Courting Trouble by Deeanne Gist

Check out the great cover to Deeanne Gist's third book,
Courting Trouble, releasing in June 2007.

From Deeanne's website, a sneak peek:-

Essie Spreckelmeyer, who turns thirty in 1895, decides she is through waiting on the Lord for a husband. So, she writes down the names of all the eligible bachelors in her small Texas town, makes a list of their attributes and drawbacks, closes her eyes, twirls her finger, and ... picks one.

A Bride Most Begrudging by Deeanne Gist

www.deeannegist.com

41/2 Stars

Deeanne Gist's first novel, A Bride Most Begrudging, is refreshing and entertaining in a genre where you may think you have read it all.

It's 1643 and a ship arrives in the new colony of Virginia, filled with women known as "tobacco brides", hoping to snare a husband and a chance for a new life.....except one Lady Constance Morrow, transported against her will and desperate to return to England.

After a humiliating experience as the brides were purchased, Constance finds herself at the home of Drew O'Connor, the only single man in Virginia who does not want a wife, especially one with without any practical skills in cooking or home making. Drew cannot fathom a woman who is beautiful yet argumentative, intelligent yet impractical and claims to be the daughter to an earl!

This book is beautifully written transporting the reader to the New World with rich and colourful descriptions of the scenery and culture. The dialogue between Constance and Drew is both witty and enthralling as they grapple with genuine emotions and social constraints. If you choose historicals sparingly, as I do, make sure Deeanne Gist's books make the cut!

Deeanne has a fabulous website so check out her sequel,
The Measure of a Lady which I will review soon!