Chatting with t
he lovely Maggie Brendan today about Fall, Little Women, and a dressmaker. My apologies to Maggie as this post was scheduled a few months ago and it slipped my mind. Enjoy this belated, but no less worthy, chat with Maggie. Be sure to enter for a chance to win a copy of Trusting Grace!
The Writer
Please describe yourself in three words (ask your best friend or family if you are struggling!)
Ok, it’s hard for me to describe myself so I asked my best friend. She told me I’m compassionate, refined (as by fire), spiritual.
What’s your favourite season, and why?
Fall is my favorite time of year. The crisp air promotes a bounce in my step and brilliant fall leaves are a pleasant sight to behold. It conjures up fat, orange pumpkins, sweaters and jeans again, wood burning fires, leaf raking and times spent outdoors. Football games, candied apples, hiking, a perfect fall wreath on my door with homemade soup simmering and the smell of cornbread in my hot iron skillet. It gives me a lot to look forward to, including time spent fireside reading a good book with a fluffy afghan and a strong cup of coffee.
What is the best part of your day?
I love mornings, especially before the world is up and the silence engulfs my senses while I ponder and reflect on the wonder of the world with a fresh new day before me with all of its possibilities.
What do you miss most about your childhood?
The carefree times playing with my brother and sister having no ‘real’ responsibilities. It was a time before I realized how vast and how evil the outside world was. More like living in the cocoon of a butterfly when your biggest worry was what to play next or having to come in and get a bath. To sum it up—the innocence of a child is a wonderful time of wonder and just being.
Which TV talk show host would you like to be interviewed by? Why?
Probably Terry Meeuwsen of the 700 Club because they give insight into the story behind the author they have on their program. We all have a history that is a part of who we are and what we write, and to me makes for a great interview.
You are at a fruit market – what do you reach for first?
Peaches! I love them and their fragrant smell. Besides, I love peach cobbler.
What was the first Christian Fiction novel you read?
I guess that would be Little Women which still continues to be at the top of America’s reading list by sales.
What is one author and/or book you always recommend?
Francine Rivers—Redeeming Love.
What book character has stuck in your mind from a book you have read this year?
Since we’re not too far into 2017 and I’ve had page proofs, marketing, etc. I’ve only recently started taking time to read fiction again. When I’m writing—I read almost no fiction. Only research for the book, I’m working on, theology books or commentaries, devotionals, and of course, my Bible.
The Book
All of her life, Grace Bidwell has longed for a loving husband and children, but now the chances of her dreams coming true are looking slim. Widowed and caring for her elderly father, she struggles to maintain her late husband’s ranch, until she places an ad for a hired hand.
Robert Frasier arrives in town with three pitiful, bedraggled children who have nothing but the tattered clothes on their backs and a load of hurt, pride, and anger. Believing this is divine intervention in her life, Grace welcomes them with open arms. As feelings grow between her and Robert, Grace will have to convince him that she is a woman who can be trusted with his heart.
Readers will be swept away into 1860s Montana’s lush Gallatin Valley, nestled among towering mountains and proud pines, in this emotional conclusion to the Virtues and Vices of the Old West series.
What was the working title?
The Commitment.
Describe your book in 5 adjectives
Compelling, charming, well-crafted, spiritual, page-turner.
Which character took you by surprise?
Probably my hero, Robert. He had so much to work through before he could trust again. Robert dealt with the loss of his farm, the sudden death of his wife plus an instant family of three children to care for. He was full of anger, and resentment-which was his biggest vice—but God changed his heart so he could build a new future.
What was the latest you stayed up working on this story?
I’m not a late owl, so probably 12:30 or 1 am.
Which character’s name was the hardest to choose? Why?
The dressmaker-Opal. I’ve chosen so many character names over the years that it was simply hard to find one that might fit the era and one that I hadn’t used before. I always try to use fresh new names for each book. Opal was a minor character so I didn’t want to pick a name that I might decide would be the perfect main character name for another book.
What’s something that didn’t make it into the final copy?
No scene was cut from my original manuscript.
Thanks Maggie!
Maggie Brendan is the CBA bestselling author of the Heart of the West series and The Blue Willow Brides series, as well as The Trouble with Patience and A Sweet Misfortune. Her books have received the Book Buyers Best Award from the Orange County Chapter of Romance Writers of America and the Laurel Wreath Award. A member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association, Romance Writers of America, Georgia Romance Writers, and Author’s Guild, Maggie lives in Georgia.
Relz Reviewz Extras
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Buy at Amazon: Trusting Grace or Koorong
October 4, 2017 at 9:08 am
I love the cool weather,changing colors of the leaves,and apples .
Love going to the State fair.
October 4, 2017 at 10:08 am
I think fall is my favorite season; I love the cooler weather, the changing leaves, pumpkin spice, and coffee.
“Trusting Grace” looks a fun read.
October 4, 2017 at 10:16 am
I love fall. Cooler weather, harvest. Our family enjoys picking apples. I would like to win Trusting Grace.
October 4, 2017 at 7:51 pm
I love the cooler weather, crunching on fallen leaves, smell of wood burning in a fireplace.
October 4, 2017 at 9:36 pm
I love walking more in the cooler weather and enjoying the changing colors of the leaves.
We have a local fall festival in this area that includes outdoor kettle cooked apple butter and mill ground freshly baked bread. I just love the smell of the campfires and live music.
October 5, 2017 at 12:06 am
I enjoy the cooler weather, the changing colors, and the excitement of the approaching holidays, but what I love most about fall is that it means hockey is back!
October 5, 2017 at 1:24 am
I love this book cover. and the blurb made me write the title down to buy. I love the cooler temperatures. the smells and taste’s of pumpkin everywhere. I love my daughters birthday and the changing of the leaves.
October 5, 2017 at 1:47 am
I like the changing colors, cooler nights, and visiting the apple orchards.
October 5, 2017 at 6:17 am
I love seeing the fall colors, the temperature cooling off, and pumpkin pies and cookies.
October 5, 2017 at 7:11 am
I love pulling out the jeans and boots!
October 5, 2017 at 7:20 am
One of my favorite things about fall is the beautiful, colors of the trees. They’re beautiful! But, since I don’t live in an area that’s particularly abounding in fall foliage, I usually have to travel elsewhere to really enjoy the fall colors very much. I love to travel in the fall, though, so when I get to do that it makes me very happy! 😉
The thin I usually enjoy most about fall, though….. is football! 😀 After that? Bring on SUMMER!!
October 5, 2017 at 11:54 am
I love the cool, crisp air, the changing colors, and the smells of fall. 🍁🍂😊
October 5, 2017 at 12:57 pm
I live in the woods so it is always an amazing experience to watch the world around me change from green to red, orange, yellow and other beautiful colors!
October 5, 2017 at 1:25 pm
I like the changing colors of the trees. Also the cooler weather and baking with pumpkin!
October 5, 2017 at 4:03 pm
Can you say PUMPKIN?????? Or anything baked with pumpkin in it. Or pumpkin spice lattes…and the list goes on! I love traveling to visit my sister-in-law this time of year and going to the farmers market down the road where they sell the BEST sugar pie pumpkins around (and the most amazing corn maze)! I cook those up and use the puree for my baked goods. This is also baking season! My family loves my homemade goodies and I love making them….it’s a win/win all around.
I would say the changing leaves, but I live on the Oregon coast and we mostly have pine trees or birch trees where the leaves just fall. Growing up in Illinois, I loved watching the huge maple or oak trees turn vivid shades of orange, reds or yellows. I miss that part! But I wouldn’t change a thing about where I live 🙂
Thank you for the fun get-to-know-the-author post and giveaway chance!
October 5, 2017 at 10:39 pm
I love the warm breezy days and walking through crunch leaves. Love Maggie’s books. Thanks for the interview.
October 6, 2017 at 11:11 am
I love the besutgifgul changing colors of the trees in fall. We like going pumpkin picking at the local farm too. I also like eating fresh picked apples.
October 6, 2017 at 1:06 pm
I love the leaves changing color and the cooler temps!
October 7, 2017 at 10:22 pm
Oh gosh so many things to love about this season. It’s all about the sweater weather and college football for me. I live in Alabama so we are serious about our football around here. ROLL TIDE! But I also love the falling leave and watching the colors change. I’m just now starting to appreciate all the pumpkin spiced EVERYTHING, 😜. There’s a different feel in the air during this time of year. It’s just indescribable to me. There’s so many things to love about Fall🍁
October 8, 2017 at 1:08 am
I love fall with the cooler temps and crunchy laves and pretty colors. But I also like spring with the new green and flowers just starting to peek.
October 8, 2017 at 1:38 am
I love seeing the fall colors
October 8, 2017 at 4:09 am
I love the weather changing from the 100s to the 80s with an occasional 50s. We don’t see much change in the leaves but I enjoy looking at pictures from other states where the colors are brilliant .
October 9, 2017 at 11:19 am
SEC Football, the gorgeous colors and the crisp weather!
October 9, 2017 at 12:47 pm
I love the beautiful changing leaves and long walks. Thank you for the chance. Blessings