RBC Book Club interview with Leanna Ellis

Our last book club selection was Leanna Ellis' Facelift ~ humourous, meaningful and thought provoking.


Leanna was gracious in sharing her time with us by answering our many and varied questions! I hope you enjoy reading our Q&A.

RBC: What is the most fulfilling part of being an author?

Leanna: Hi, y’all! Thanks for having me here today. Hearing from readers is probably the most fulfilling part of being an author. Knowing that my characters have touched a readers’ heart or moved them to laughter and tears or changed them in some way is very heart-warming. It was heartbreaking and encouraging when I received letters from young widows who had read Elvis Takes a Back Seat. Reading their stories broke my heart. But also, hearing that my little story often read like their personal diary in what it felt like to lose their husband and that they’d learned they needed to let go of whatever they were clinging to in the past and reach for the future was a testament to God and how he’d inspired me to write that story. The same is true of my other books, and I simply praise God because I could not do this on my own.

You blend heartache and humour in perfect balance. Is this something that comes naturally, or is it a skill that you have had to intentionally develop?

Thank you. That is really nice to hear. I love blending both but it’s not always easy. Sometimes it simply takes a little time for a story to marinate and for me to stir around in it to find the humor. Angst and heartache is usually easy to find. But turning a situation into humor is not easy. Usually that balance is not there in my first few drafts, so I do have to work at it.

The psyche of authors fascinates me. Do your characters pop into your life unexpectedly and demand their story be told, or do you plan your writing in a more academic process?

For me, characters usually appear in my head and aggravate me until I finally get to their story. Some, of course, speak louder than others. Some are shy, and I have to draw them out. Some don’t want to reveal that vulnerable area of their heart and it takes patience to understand them.

What is it you most hope to accomplish as you send each of your works off into the hands of readers?

First, I hope to entertain the reader, moving them to laughter and tears, inspiring them in some small way, even if it’s just to hang on a little longer or to let go and live. Sometimes I hope to provoke thought and questions for the sake of discussion. Sometimes I like to shine the light on an area and reveal something new and interesting to a reader. I try not to get in the way and preach at a reader. If a character experiences something and that prompts the reader to hear the Holy Spirit in their own lives then that is incredible, but also between them and God.

What is your favourite way to relax and unwind?

I love to spend time with my husband and children. We really like to travel. Sometimes that’s relaxing, sometimes not. I enjoy walking my crazy Hilo Monster dog, playing with our cat and dogs. We have a new kitten coming into our family in a few weeks and that should be a lot of fun. Of course, I also love to read.

Do you have anything 'in the works' at the moment?

Right now, I’m working on book #2 of the Plain Fear series. Book #1, Forsaken, will be out in August. It’s a story about good and evil. An Amish woman grieving her first love must make a choice between two brothers that could decide the fate of her soul. You might have heard about this story because it’s been getting quite a lot of buzz. It’s an Amish/vampire story, and I’m pretty excited about this new series. It is a bit more serious, more suspenseful, but not scary, yet I still managed to get a little humor in there. It’s also not being published by a CBA publisher but by a secular publisher. The irony is that it’s probably my most spiritual book.

How did the introduction of “once upon a time come about”

It was not in my first draft. I can’t remember now how I originally began the story but sometime through my first draft when I felt I had a strong handle on the story that beginning just came to me probably while I was scrubbing toilets or something. When I first begin a book, of course I want it to be perfect first time out, but experience has taught me it rarely is. I try not to put pressure on myself that it has to be right the first time because I always rewrite the beginning a few times, especially once I get to the end. I tend to write in layers, and just yesterday while I was putting my contacts in, a line or two for the prologue of the book I’m working on came to me. So I guess that’s just how my brain works.

Who was your favourite character and why?

Cousin It was probably my favorite because I based the dog on my crazy labradoodle, who was just a puppy at the time. She originally wasn’t in the story. When I began writing Facelift, my father had just passed away and I was having a difficult time writing. But I was under deadline and I had to get busy. I tried to be patient with myself and tried not to stress when I would only write two words a day: Chapter Five. So I realized I was writing a lot about our labradoodle’s crazy antics on my blog or Facebook page. Her name is Hilo, from the town in Hawaii that we so enjoyed, but we had begun to call her the Hilo Monster. Anyway, she made me laugh. She also made my dad laugh toward the end of his life when there was nothing much to laugh at anymore. I thought a crazy puppy would be just one more thing that could aggravate Kaye and push her closer to the edge. So Cousin It was born, so to speak, and I was then able to write. So through writing Facelift, just as Kaye receives her own emotional facelift, I too experienced something similar.

Could you tell us a little about your faith journey regarding this book and what inspired you write this story?

Where I live, I see a lot of women who have obviously had some work done to enhance their looks. Sometimes, I must say, the results are not that great. However, one day I thought what if a character had a botched facelift. Of course, that character would have to be a perfectionist and how would that affect them, how would they cope? So Facelift was born from that idea. I didn’t have much more than that when I pitched the story and went to contract. It really wasn’t until I turned in Once in a Blue Moon that I had to start writing Facelift and had to figure out what the story was ultimately about. I knew I wanted one character to have a botched facelift and another to experience an emotional facelift. This was also right after my father died, and so as I said before I experienced my own emotional facelift as I wrote this book. I had to walk through grief and depression myself, much as Kaye does. That’s one reason I got her out running and walking because I discovered that when you’re depressed if you get out and enjoy the sunshine and walk it can really help lift that cloud of depression. I have not been through a divorce, but I have heard people describe divorce like grieving a death. And so I was really able to relate to Kaye in that regard.

After reading that you went to England and Scotland on your honeymoon, I was curious to know where you went and where you would like to go if you went back. (I was born in England and have spent approximately half my life there and half my life in Australia.)

I’m jealous! We love England and we are anxious to visit Australia some day! It’s funny that you ask this question because we did just go back! We took the kids to England for the first time over spring break. What an amazing trip! Of course, we had to do all the usual things like the Tower of London, Natural History Museum, and Harrod’s. We had to eat fish and chips, have a spot of tea, and sample the cheese sandwiches from Burrough Market. We walked down Portobello Road, across the Millennium Bridge and rode the London Eye. One of the highlights of the trip was taking my daughter to see Les Miserables, because she is a budding singer/actress, and I love going to the Westend. I also loved taking my son to the Imperial War Museum, which he loved. We saw the Rosetta Stone and the Magna Carta and so much more. I had never been to Bath or to Stonehenge, and we so enjoyed going to those places. We also flew up for one day to Edinburgh, and not only saw Princess Anne and Edinburgh Castle but tasted fried Mars bars. As you can see, I can go on and on.

What type of dogs do you have and what are their names?

We have a white Labrador named Liberty because we got her right after 9/11. And we have the crazy labradoodle named Hilo. We also have a black cat. We rescued her mother off the highway. She had a concussion and injured leg. She was also pregnant and delivered three kittens ten days early. The other two did not survive but we dropper fed the one surviving kitten and she thrived. We named her Miracle, not only because she survived but also because I’m not allergic to her. My father in law just passed away last week, and he had several cats, including 5 four-week-old kittens. So one of the kittens is coming to live with us in a few weeks. You’ll have to watch my Facebook page for the name this little cutie gets. My daughter wanted to name her Annie, because she was recently in the musical Annie. However, not all minds think alike in our family. So we’ve batted around a few names: Hula, Harper, Beatrix, Paddington. If you have any suggestions, please post them on my blog because I’m running a contest. J

I was completely lost in your novel after the first couple of chapters until I finished (fortunately I have a tolerant hubby)! However we have had some interesting discussions around divorce and its implications for remarriage for Christian couples (we have a solid loving long marriage!). I would be interested in your thoughts and how you approached this topic and your referencing.

You are very welcome. And I’m so glad it prompted discussions! And I’m delighted you have a happy marriage! Divorce can be a challenging topic in the Christian community. I don’t think God likes divorce. I don’t think it’s His first choice for any of us. But it happens. We certainly can’t deny that. I read a statistic that said Christians have the same divorce rate (50%) as non-Christians. Honestly, that makes me sad. But I also don’t believe divorce is the end. Life goes on. And I believe we have a God of second chances.

I enjoyed your book, Are any of the characters known to you? (Especially liked the ex mother-in-law.)

Are you trying to get me in trouble? I can definitely say that the mother-in-law in the book is not my actual mother-in-law. The character in Facelift really is a figment of my imagination. But I do draw from experiences and people I meet or know and utilize characteristics when drawing characters. However, that’s probably all subconscious.

What type of films do you enjoy?

I enjoy a variety from romantic comedies to action adventure to epics. I like old moves and new ones. I loved The King’s Speech and The Young Victoria. Again, more British stuff! I watched To Kill a Mockingbird with my kids a couple of weeks ago. And I also enjoy movies like Enchanted and Tangled. I love musicals like Singing in the Rain and even modern ones like Chicago. I love movies like The Patriot. And I love Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice. Full circle back to the British again.

Do you enjoy writing humourous novels?

I do! First, I love the angst and need that because that’s what makes us empathize with the character and feel his/her pain. But I love to utilize humor. I just simply love to laugh.

Please share a little of your faith journey

I was saved when I was twelve. But God used an experience when I was pregnant with my son, my first born, to really get my attention. My son was born with a hole in his heart. There is nothing like sitting in a pediatric cardiologist’s office with your two-week-old newborn to put you on your knees. God healed my son’s heart and used that experience to really change mine. During that time, God had been teaching me a lot, changing my heart. I’d been a Christian for a long time, but had never really given my writing to God. So I did. The first thing I prayed about was whether God even wanted me to write. A scary request, especially for an already published writer. What if God asked me to give up writing? Frankly, my life would have been easier if I quit. I had two small children who needed my attention. Besides, who needed the pain of pouring out my heart on paper and then having it rejected again and again? Even so, I prayed. For three years, I prayed and watched for signs or some kind of an answer. During that time, I did continue to write, but I wasn’t sending out any proposals. I was trying to grow my writing. Believe it or not, I kept hearing messages at church or in other places and felt God wanted me to write. Me! So, I finally said, “Okay.”

You have said to me your next book, Forsaken, an Amish Vampire story, is your most spiritual yet. What makes it so?

It’s a story of good versus evil, about how alluring evil can be. If evil looked like our caricature of Satan, with horns and a pitchfork then we’d avoid it, right? But evil is appealing. At least at first. It lures. And so, my heroine feels that draw. When I first thought of this crazy idea, it was just a joke and I didn’t intend to write it at all. However, the seed of that story burrowed into my brain. One day, I realized it could be a story similar to Phantom of the Opera, which is one of my all time favorite musicals. Christine is drawn toward the Phantom. There’s a line in one of the last songs where Christine laments, “I gave my mind blindly.” That is the heart of my story: how a young, vulnerable, grieving woman opens herself to evil.

Can you explain the current fascination with vampires?

I think there are all sorts of reasons for that fascination. Originally vampires were an interesting type of villain. They’ve sort of morphed over the years into the ultimate bad boy. It’s a fantasy, the same way that Amish fiction is a fantasy. I don’t think readers who read Amish fiction actually want to give up their cars or electricity. But I think they dream of simpler times, more innocent times. Which is why an Amish girl works so well for my story. I didn’t want to just write an Amish/vampire story because those were two hot genres. There had to be a good reason. In so many ways, the Amish represent an untouched part of our society, untouched by the craziness of our world. They somehow seem like the last bastion of innocence. Which made a visitation by a vampire very interesting.

Is there a challenge for you switching between writing Christian and non Christian books? Do you have challenges writing a non Christian book and making it appealing to a secular audience?

Not really. I would say it probably depends on the publisher, because each is very different. Honestly I was a bit worried that if I put scripture into my Amish/vampire book that my publisher might take it out. Because the spiritual aspect is very rooted in the characters and the story, there was no problem at all. It’s very normal for an Amish character to use scripture. Not so much for my ex-cop from New Orleans. My stories come from deep inside of me, whether the stories are labelled as Christian or not, they are seen through the prism of how I view the world. And that is from a Christian perspective. Finally, readers are readers. They simply like a good story. I try not to worry if I will offend a secular reader with some reference to God or scripture. Frankly, whatever prickly sensation they might be feeling may be a prompting from the Holy Spirit. Also, the same is true of a Christian reader. I had a reader who was quite offended by a reference to a gay couple in San Francisco in my book Ruby’s Slippers. 5 words of that manuscript ruined the entire book for her. Honestly, I would say that’s the Holy Spirit maybe trying to speak to her heart as well. My guide has to be what God lays on my heart to write, not if I use an offensive word or topic.

What restrictions do you for see for writers in the CBA that you wish weren’t there?

Even in the CBA publishers have different restrictions and guidelines. Those will change in some ways and not in others. What once used to be taboo really isn’t as much anymore. Before I came to the CBA, divorce was really not acceptable for a character so there were a lot of widowed characters. When I was pitching Elvis Takes a Back Seat, an editor said, “Could you make your main character divorced rather than widowed?” Unfortunately I could not. The catalyst for that story was that my heroine discovers a letter her husband wrote before he died and asked her to take an Elvis bust back to Memphis. I didn’t think a heroine who was divorced would be as motivated to follow her ex-husband’s request. LOL! Anyway, things do change and will continue to do so. I really think it all depends on what publisher and what editor you work with.

Christian fiction has changed significantly in the last 15 years. Where do you see it going in the next 15?

I honestly don’t know. So much is changing in publishing right now with ebooks really changing the dynamics once again. So it will be fun to see what happens and how that effects fiction in all genres.

Who has influenced you the most in your writing career?

God. I know that sounds like a simple answer and it is and yet it’s also incredibly complex. He started me on this journey and He has led me through the valleys and over the peaks and along the bumps. He has taken me in new directions that I never would have imagined. Believe me, I prayed about my Amish/vampire book even more than my other stories because I did not want to go that path if God was not leading. I don’t know where He will take me next. But I guarantee it’ll be exciting!

Thanks so very much, Leanna :)

Thank you and blessings!

Relz Reviewz Extras

Character spotlight on Cousin It

View the trailer

Character spotlight on Bryn Seymour

Reviews of Elvis Takes a Back Seat, Lookin' Back, Texas and Once in a Blue Moon

Interview with Leanna

Visit Leanna's website and blog

Buy Leanna's books at Amazon and Koorong

Coming soon from Leanna Ellis & Sourcebooks

I love Leanna Ellis' novels with B&H Publishing, her quirky characters and bold storylines but with her August release from Sourcebooks she is really stepping out of the box!

Check it out :)

Forsaken by Leanna Ellis

Hannah Schmidt pines for Jacob, the boy who saved her life. But Jacob is gone, buried. Levi Fisher loves Hannah. But he knows how much Hannah loved his brother Jacob. He also knows the troubling event that took Jacob out of their lives.

So when a stranger named Akiva comes into their community, he carries with him two secrets: he is, in fact, Jacob. And he is now a vampire.

When secrets are revealed, Hannah must choose between light and dark, between the one she has always loved and the new possibility of love-a decision that will decide the fate of her soul.

Facelift by Leanna Ellis ~ Tracy's Take with giveaways

Publisher’s Synopsis:

Kaye Redmond, a "can do" kind of woman, has the magical touch when it comes to staging houses to attract buyers. Her ability to make things "perfect" has served her well in her career. If only it could transform her personal life as well. With a failed marriage, an angry teenage daughter, and an ex-mother-in-law who is no fairy godmother, Kaye's life is about as imperfect as it gets.

But sometimes blessings come in the strangest packages. Like her ex-mother-in-law landing on Kaye's doorstep after a botched facelift. Could caring for the impossible woman help Kaye get what she wants most: her husband back? Isn't that what God would want? And what her daughter needs? But no fairy princess ever faced such obstacles: an ex-husband's surgically enhanced mistress, hormonal teenagers, and--worst of all--an extra handsome prince! How's a woman supposed to find happily-ever-after with all that going on?

What I thought:

Leanna Ellis has once again delivered in fine style, with her sassy humour, quick wit and pithy one-liners. “Facelift” was everything I expected from this brilliant author, who skillfully weaves lightheartedness with deeper truths to produce a superb work of art.

‘Facelift’ is overflowing with strong characters that make this book the success that it is. Kaye views herself as an emotional weakling, and yet finds herself in a war zone in her own home. Only a woman of strength could cope when caught between Marla, the ex-mother-in-law who has declared Kaye mortal enemy number one, and Isabel, the moody, rebellious teenage daughter. Add that to an ex-husband who still expects Kaye to clean up his substantial messes and a new client who is far too attractive and Kaye is destined to discover the strength she had all along.

Whilst never having experienced any of Kaye’s turmoils, I related to her and the way she felt that she needed to keep everything together. Her ability to rebuild her life out of the ashes of a broken marriage is inspiring. I was also inspired by the way Isabel begins to grow into herself and acts upon things that are important to her, becoming a young woman who chooses to “act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with her God”.

Amidst the layers of craziness and difficulty in Kaye’s life is Cousin It. This monster-dog provides more than her fair share of frustration for Kaye with shovelfuls of comic relief, adding to the story in a way that only a boisterous, energetic canine can.

Leanna strongly brings home the message that living an authentic life means we must step out from the façade we try to hide behind. Hiding who we really are deprives us and those around us from the full abundance of God’s blessing in our lives. Choosing authenticity takes a great deal of courage, yet brings unsurpassed rewards.

With thanks to Wynn~Wynn Media & B&H Fiction for Tracy's review copy

Guest reviewer: My friend Tracy from Beyond My Picket Fence

Relz Reviewz Extras

Character spotlight on Cousin It

View the trailer

Character spotlight on Bryn Seymour

Reviews of Elvis Takes a Back Seat, Lookin' Back, Texas and Once in a Blue Moon

Interview with Leanna

Visit Leanna's website and blog

Buy Leanna's books at Amazon and Koorong

Character Spotlight ~ Leanna Ellis' Cousin It

Cousin It

Leanna Ellis brings a first to Relz Reviewz ~ a character spotlight of the animal kind! You will love this look at a mischievous Labradoodle based on Leanna's canine friend.

Enjoy meeting Cousin It:~

Brief physical description

Cousin It is the dog that comes to visit ‘temporarily’ at Kaye’s house. She is a big furry blob with black hair and looks like a black bear but is actually a dog. She is rambunctious and full of energy.

Actor/famous dog

Cousin It actually resembles my labradoodle, which we named Hilo (pronounced Hee-lo, after one of our favorite towns on the big island of Hawaii). We thought she was laid back when we named her. Boy, were we wrong! So she developed the name The Hilo Monster. If we don’t groom her, her hair grows out and she becomes this big shaggy mop.

Strengths and weaknesses

Cousin It’s weakness is anything that looks edible, no matter what. Her strength is that once you get past that puppy energy, she has a kind heart and just wants to love and be loved. She’s a great big furry pillow that is perfect for hugging.

Quirk (if any)

Eating. Everything.

Your inspiration for the character

I began writing FACELIFT right after my father died. It was a very difficult time for me and I really struggled getting words on the page. But deadlines don’t wait for grief. Still, I’ve been writing long enough to know that I couldn’t force the words so I tried to give myself time. Some days though all I could write would be ‘chapter five.’ Literally. Two words. But I had this crazy labradoodle puppy that was the most difficult puppy I’d ever attempted to train. Have you seen the movie Marley and Me? Well, there’s Hilo! She ate about 10 pairs of glasses (to date), twelve spicy chicken wings, a whole bunch of grapes (lethal to a dog), a pound of butter, papers, bills, you name it and she attempted to eat it. Every morning would be the same…she’d grab something off a counter or table and take off running. And we’d chase after her. My mother, who is very much a dog person, did not like her. I think Hilo came closest to losing her life when she ate half of the deboned turkey from Thanksgiving. That was also the Thanksgiving that she jumped off the pier at my parents’ farm, right into the lake and attempted to swim. And she is actually a good swimmer. She took off across the lake. Unfortunately, that lake usually has a patrolling alligator. Yes, we have alligators in Texas! She got about half way across the lake before she pooped out and my husband had to get a rowboat out and rescue her. I never actually regretted getting Hilo although it would have been so easy to do so. When we first got her, my dad was in the final stages of his fight against cancer. There wasn’t a lot for him to smile about as he was in a lot of pain for so many months. But he laughed at Hilo. And I will always be grateful to her for bringing a smile to my dad during that difficult time. But of course, she was incredibly difficult. So, I learned that I had to walk Hilo each morning just to burn off some of that energy. In the process of doing that, on those days when I just wanted to wallow in bed with the grief of losing my dad, I had to get out. And I learned that when you are grieving or fighting depression, walking, sunshine, and movement helps. And I also discovered the power of laughter. Writing scenes about Hilo…er, Cousin It came easily. And so she became an important part of the book.

Background to the story

A ‘can do’ kind of woman runs her own business, raises her teenage daughter, and takes care of her ex-mother-in-law after a botched facelift. But Kaye learns a facelift is more than skin deep. Joy is more than tacking on a happy face. It's relying on her sovereign God who has a plan for her life.

The craziness in Kaye’s life, and that includes this crazy puppy that comes to stay, along with her crazy ex-mother-in-law, causes many trials in the life of Kaye. But she learned many of the same lessons I was learning in the aftermath of my father’s death, in how to cope with grief and how to continuously look to God for His will and His peace.

Loved meeting Cousin It aka Hilo, Leanna. Thanks for sharing :)

On Thursday the spotlight shines on Anita Higman's Holly Goodnight, Owen Quigley & Van Keaton from her novella Once Upon a Christmas Eve in Love Finds You Under the Mistletoe

Relz Reviewz Extras

View the trailer

Character spotlight on Bryn Seymour

Reviews of Elvis Takes a Back Seat, Lookin' Back, Texas and Once in a Blue Moon

Interview with Leanna

Visit Leanna's website and blog

Buy Leanna's books at Amazon and Koorong

Book Trailer for Leanna Ellis' Facelift

Greg Pope has been doing some amazing book trailers for many of B&H Fiction's up and coming releases. I'll be posting them over the coming weeks.

Check out this one for Leanna Ellis' late 2010 release, Facelift - I love it! What do you think?

Facelift, book promo from Greg Pope on Vimeo.

Coming in late 2010 from B&H Publishing

B&H Publishing Group continue to impress me with the quality and diversity of the books they are publishing, not only through B&H Fiction but also their Fidelis line, headed by Oliver North.

B&H have just announced a book deal with fabulous suspense novelist, Brandliyn Collins, starting with a story about Lyme Disease ~ read more about that at Brandilyn's blog.

Now, I can't wait for Tracy Higley's first Lost Cities novel, Petra! And of course, I love Jamie's books and Leanna's, too. It is all good :)

You?


Petra by TL Higley

Petra, the wondrous ancient city carved from the mountains of modern Jordan, is at the height of its glory in this gripping historical novel by T. L. Higley. A young widow, Cassia, and her son, Alexander, have arrived there seeking protection with her late husband's estranged family. But when Cassia discovers the man she married was heir to the throne, the power-hungry Queen Hagiru plots to murder Alexander so that her own child will someday rule. The queen, priestess of the sun-god, Dushrat, calls on demonic powers in her quest, but Cassia is prepared for the fierce spiritual battle to save her son, joining a Roman named Julian and his community of believers in the Jewish Messiah. Together they seek a mighty movement of God far stronger than any dark heart or city made of stone.

September, 2010





Facelift by Leanna Ellis

Kaye Redmond stages houses for resale, so masking trouble spots with strategic decor comes naturally. She does it in her personal life as well-her can-do attitude and ready smile disguising the emotional wear-and-tear of a failed marriage and raising a teenage daughter alone. But when her former mother-in-law comes back around, desperate for a place to stay while recovering from a botched facelift, Kaye begins to realize there's a much more authentic way to brighten one's countenance: look to God and His plan for her life.

October, 2010






The Snowflake by Jamie Carie

It's Christmas in 1897, and Ellen Pierce and her brother are determined to reach the Alaska gold rush. But when ice stalls their steamship, all seems lost, until Buck Lewis makes a proposal: he'll lead all who dare follow on foot toward Dawson City. Buck is determined to leave behind a heartbreaking past. No amount of ice or weather will stop him. But he never counted on a woman joining a dangerous wilderness trek-or on falling in love with her.

In her first novella, award-winning author Jamie Carie couples soul-deep romance with epic adventure to give a joyful reminder of a redeeming God who makes us each unique, yet loves us all the same.

October, 2010

Once in a Blue Moon by Leanna Ellis with giveaways

Synopsis:~

Bryn Seymour was nine years old when her mother died under mysterious circumstances on the same day Apollo 11 made its historic lunar landing. Forty years later-divorced, working as an obituary writer, and duly cynical-she meets Howard, a conspiracy theorist who knew her mom and believes a small Texas town may hold clues to what really fueled her demise. Seeking closure, Bryn goes along for this men-in-black ride. But upon meeting Howard's son Sam, an outspoken Christian, she can't decide whose beliefs are more pie-in-the-sky.The gravity of life has pulled Bryn down for decades. But a perfect love could be her first step to soaring. It only happens once in a blue moon.

My take:~

You never quite know what you are going to get from a Leanna Ellis book and that is the very thing that makes them special! In Once in a Blue Moon, Leanna creates wonderfully abstract characters from Bryn, with the staid job but wildly adventurous spirit, Howard, the elderly conspiracy theorist driven by irrationality and Sam, the former pastor living with regrets over how he treated his family. Funny, poignant, adventurous and romantic in equal measure, Leanna's talent ensures the story doesn't become outrageous despite the subject matter. The spiritual elements are woven with subtlety yet with a pleasing directness. Once in a Blue Moon will appeal to readers who enjoy a story out of the ordinary, just like Howard!

With thanks to WynnWynn Media for my review copy

Relz Reviewz Extras

Character spotlight on Bryn Seymour

Reviews of Elvis Takes a Back Seat and Lookin' Back, Texas

What's Cooking? with Leanna

Interview with Leanna

Visit Leanna's website and blog

Buy Leanna's books at Amazon and Koorong

Open Giveaway

With thanks to the wonderful generosity of B&H Fiction, I have four copies of this book to give away. Two for my Aussie readers and two for my North American readers.

To enter, post a comment on or before Sunday 21st March, 2010 leaving an AUS or US/Canada tag at the end so I can enter you in the correct draw.

Character Spotlight ~ Leanna Ellis' Bryn Seymour

Bryn Seymour

Leanna Ellis has made a name for herself writing unique character driven stories with humour and edge. Her latest tale, Once in a Blue Moon, is no exception combining unusual and complex characters with the moon landing, conspiracy theories and romance.

Check out this look behind Bryn Seymour and come back for my review of Once in a Blue Moon later this week!

Over to you, Leanna:~

Brief physical description

Bryn Seymour, from Once in a Blue Moon, has very short brown hair and brown eyes. She’s a single mom with a daughter in college. She’s adventurous, very much a dare-devil.

Actor/famous person

Maybe an older version of Keira Knightly. I usually build a character from her goals, motivations and emotions and don’t concentrate too much on the external unless it is to reveal something about the character.

Rel: I was really taken with Leanna's character, Sam Walters and have picked Jeffrey Dean Morgan to reflect him! What do you think, Leanna?!

Strengths and weaknesses

Bryn is carrying around a lot of baggage but she doesn’t realize it is often influencing her decisions. She has many strengths that have helped her in being a single mom and yet those same strengths have made it difficult for her to have a long term romantic relationship. She is often impulsive and reckless in her attempts to fly free of the past but then fears and distrust of herself pull her down.

Quirk (if any)

She has several quirks. One is that when she meets someone she sizes them up as whether they would be buried in a casket or end up in an urn. Did I mention she has a dark side? She also constantly writes epitaphs for herself.

Your inspiration for the character

I read an article about a woman who writes obituaries. Almost instantly, I thought, what if an obituary writer’s first obit was written for her mother when she was eight? I had to know more about that character.

Background to the story

Bryn’s mother dies the night Neil Armstrong steps on the moon. It’s a night that haunts her for many years until she meets a strange scientist named Howard. He’s a conspiracy theorist. And he knew her mother. She wants to know more about her mother from an adult perspective and follows Howard to Marfa, Texas to learn more.

She learns she must let go of the past in order to embrace her future and that the first step to soaring is a step of faith.

Leanna ~ thanks for sharing about Bryn and for writing stories with a difference!


On Thursday, the spotlight shines on Debbie Viguie's Cindy and Jeremiah, from the first of her Psalm 23 Mysteries, The Lord Is My Shepherd.

Relz Reviewz Extras

Reviews of Elvis Takes a Back Seat and Lookin' Back, Texas

What's Cooking? with Leanna

Interview with Leanna

Visit Leanna's website and blog

Buy Leanna's books at Amazon and Koorong

Leanna Ellis ~ What's Cooking?

Leanna Ellis

I recently made these biscuits with my kids. They are yummy and fun to make. Just a quick story about them first -- My great Aunt Lois made these biscuits EVERY day. But she didn't use a recipe. I was visiting her once and asked for it. She looked at me oddly. To her it was just a little of this and that. So we carefully measured out what she poured into her hand or bowl and created this one together. Here's the recipe:

Great Aunt Lois' Everyday Cookies

Ingredients

2cups sifted flour
1/4 tsp soda
2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 to 1 tsp salt
4-6 tbsp shortening
2/3 to 1 cup buttermilk

Directions

Measure sifted flour; add baking powder, soda, and salt and sift again. Cut in shortening. Add milk and stir with fork until soft dough is formed (about 20 strokes). Turn out on a lightly floured board; knead 20 turns. Pat or roll lightly 1/2 inch thick. Cut with a floured 2 inch biscuit cutter. Bake on greased baking sheet in hot oven (450 degrees) for 12 to 15 minutes.

Makes approx. 14 biscuits.

My mother put together a family cook book many years ago. And throughout the cookbook are pictures of all the wonderful women who contributed their recipes. So it's always fun for me to share a recipe with my children and be able to show them a picture of the relative. Thanks Mom! Thanks Aunt Lois!

Blessings, Leanna

Sounds like a great recipe, Leanna and what a lovely story! Thanks for sharing it with us.

Leanna's Books

Elvis Takes A Back Seat ~ Lookin' Back, Texas ~ Ruby's Slippers ~

Once In A Blue Moon (March, 2010)

Relz Reviewz Extras

Please note the picture isn't of Leanna's cookies and I made up the name for them ;-)

All things Ellis @ Relz Reviewz

Visit Leanna's website and blog

Buy Leanna's books at Amazon and Koorong

Sneak peek at B&H Fiction releases in 2010

B&H Fiction continue to produce high calibre stories by great authors! Jamie Carie writes tumultuous historical love stories and Leanna Ellis, contemporary women fiction.

What do you think of the covers? I like the warmth and mystery of Angel's Den and the quirkiness of Once in a Blue Moon :)

Angel's Den by Jamie Carie

In 1808, when Emma meets and marries Eric Montclaire, the famed most handsome man west of the Appalachians, this young daughter of prominent St. Louis citizens believes a fairy tale has just begun. Instead, her husband's angelic looks quickly prove only to mask a monstrous soul all too capable of possessive emotions and physical abuse.

Praying for mercy, she is devastated when Eric insists on her joining his yearlong group expedition to the Pacific Ocean, following the trail Lewis and Clark blazed just a few years earlier. By the time cartographer Luke Bowen realizes Emma's plight, it's too late to easily untangle what has become an epic web of lies, theft, murder, courtroom drama, and a deep longing for love. Only God can show them the way out.

Releasing, February, 2010



Once in a Blue Moon by Leanna Ellis

Bryn Seymour was nine years old when her mother died under mysterious circumstances on the same day Apollo 11 made its historic lunar landing. Forty years later, divorced, working as an obituary writer and duly cynical, she meets Howard, a conspiracy theorist who knew her mom and believes a small Texas town may hold clues to what really fueled her demise. Seeking closure, Bryn goes along for this men-in-black ride. But upon meeting Howard's son Sam, an outspoken Christian, she can't decide whose beliefs are more pie-in-the-sky.

The gravity of life has pulled Bryn down for decades. But a perfect love could be her first step to soaring. It only happens once in a blue moon.

Releasing, March, 2010

Lookin' Back, Texas by Leanna Ellis ~ Tracy's Take & giveaways!

What is it About?

Suzanne Mullins knows her mother, Betty Lynne, has gone off the deep end this time when she receives a crackled phone call from her father asking her to come home. Suzanne hops on the first plane out of California for Luckenbach, Texas and is joined by her husband and son within a day or two.

Betty Lynne is known for her ability to get a job done, even if her ways are somewhat unorthodox. This time, she is going full steam ahead planning her husband Archie’s funeral. The only problem is he’s not dead.

As Suzanne takes on an adult understanding of her parent’s marriage, she is forced to face the cracks in her own. Coming back to Luckenbach brings to the surface a past error in judgement and the resulting consequences. Will Betty Lynne allow Archie to be resurrected? Will Suzanne’s marriage and family survive the long-buried secrets that are about to be revealed?

What I thought:

Leanna Ellis develops the characters in ‘Lookin’ Back, Texas’ beautifully. They jump off the page and remind you of people, or parts of people you know. Betty Lynne has an amazing penchant for twisting things to suit herself, thereby controlling everything and everyone that she can. Suzanne’s insecurities rise to the surface and she allows fear to determine the decisions and choices she makes.

Leanna will keep you hanging until the very last pages to resolve the issues within Suzanne and Mike’s marriage, as well as Betty Lynne and Archie’s. Mike’s unconditional love and his forgiveness had me in tears and I cheered (silently of course!) on Archie’s behalf as he was able to begin dissolving Betty Lynne’s determination.

Despite weighty issues and events, there is much humour throughout the story. With a woman as crazy as Betty Lynne it is inevitable and Leanna provides the light relief seamlessly in a way that adds to the depth of the story.

There are many strong themes through ‘Lookin’ Back, Texas’. Reminders that marriages are worth fighting for and that lies never remain buried. In Mike and Archie you will see unconditional love portrayed in a beautiful way. It is also interesting to see how the sins of one generation are repeated in the next. And all of these things are covered with forgiveness that can only come when you have a personal relationship with the One who forgives fully.

Guest reviewer: my friend Tracy from Beyond My Picket Fence

Relz Reviewz Extras

Review of Elvis Takes a Back Seat

Interview with Leanna

Visit Leanna's website and blog

Buy Leanna's books at Amazon and Koorong

Giveaway

Thanks to the fabulous folk at B&HFiction, I have two copies of Lookin' Back, Texas to give away to my Aussie readers and two copies for my North American readers! To enter:

1. Post a comment before midnight Sunday 2nd November, 2008

2. Tell me a quirk you have!

3. Add an AUS or USA at the end of your post so I know your location.