Our featured author today at GraceReign is Amber Miller. The first time I met Amber she was wearing huge, fuzzy slippers and prancing around one of Denver’s finest hotels in them. She saw me bored and immediately put me to work at the registration table for the first American Christian Fiction Writer’s Conference I had attended. It’s with great celebration that I get to ask her about the journey to the publication of her first novel, Promises, Promises.
Promises, Promises is an historical romance set in 1739 in present-day Delaware. It was released through the Heartsong Presents Christian romance book club.
Welcome, Amber!
First, I just want to let you know that I enjoyed Promises, Promises. It’s a sweet story with a feisty heroine and strong hero. References to the famous 18th century evangelist, Jonathan Edwards were an added plus to a sweet story with a unique ending.
Why, thank you! Feisty heroines are fun, but writing Gustaf as adamant in his own way was fun too. J And although there is no bonafide confirmation for Jonathan Edwards appearing in New Castle at that time, he did travel throughout the colonies. I enjoyed researching his sermons and finding just the right one to use for Raelene.
If you were to summarize your book in a sentence or two, how would you do it?
After losing her parents and being left alone as the sole owner of the family farm, Raelene Strattford believes God has forsaken her. Her neighbor proves just the opposite while giving her a voice in a world where women have none.
What was your favorite part of writing this story and why?
I’d have to say it was Gustaf and portraying his “oafish” ways while also staying true to his Swedish origins and delving into his inner thoughts where his goals and feelings for Raelene were concerned. He was what many call a “gentle giant,” and his witness as well as the admission of his faults brought a whole new level to the story.
Where did you get your idea for this novel?
The ‘what if’ moment came when I tried to develop the story line for the first book. Without a lot of background, I had to rely on the elements I had learned would make a good story. Some excellent advice given to me included the method of taking your character to a point that seems hopeless…and making it worse. So, I asked, “What if a heroine with no siblings also loses her parents, then finds herself as the sole owner of land in a new world where women have no voice, feeling as if God has forsaken her?”
And thus, Promises, Promises was born!
Which character do you like best and why?
Oh, that’s a tough one. I like Raelene and Gustaf equally, but each for different reasons. And although she only had a small part, Gustaf’s mother always makes me smile. Kaariana was a lot of fun, and Cedric had a way about him that just warmed my heart. Raelene’s vulnerability hidden beneath her hurting exterior made for some emotionally charged scenes. Gustaf with his steadfast devotion and integrity made him seem like the perfect man, but he had his faults, which made him real to me.
The writer’s journey is not without its highs and lows. Could you share the most difficult part of pursuing the publication of this story?
This was the first book I wrote after fully decided to pursue this writing as a career. I’d written 2 others before this, but when I focused on this one, I embarked on a difficult journey to discover who I was as a writer and my true voice that would come through in my writing. It took me 2 years from start to finish, including research, to get this book done. Then, it was another year-and-a-half before I received a contract. Maintaining the patience while not giving up on my dream came with its own share of struggles. But, isolating my voice and my style were probably the hardest part about the journey for this one.
How about the most glorious?
That’s easy. Receiving word that Barbour/Heartsong Presents wanted to buy the book. J But second to that was being able to say “The End” to the book after typing the final word.
Describe for us how it felt to receive THE notification that Heartsong was buying your book.
It was one week before Christmas and I had worked late that night. I didn’t get home until near 11pm, but I after being gone all day, I had to check email. When I received the notification that my first book was actually going to be bought, I almost jumped out of my chair in my office and screamed. But everyone in the house was sleeping.
The first thought that went through my mind is, “I have to tell someone!” Since the hour was late, and everyone had gone to bed, I logged online. The only one signed on was the man who is now my husband. Some people would call that ironic. I call it God. One of the biggest moments of my life, and the first person I tell is the man I would marry just 8 months later. Amazing!
Now tell us about the first moment you held a copy in your hands.
Oh! This is such a glorious moment, it’s difficult to put it into words. The small envelope came on a Tuesday during the 3rd of January. My family had recently visited from the East Coast and I was feeling somewhat melancholy in the wake of their departure. After the UPS man delivered the envelope, I flipped it over to read who sent it. Excitement made my heart pound and my stomach quiver. I could hardly wait to tear it open and see what was inside.
As I dumped out the contents, there, in full color, bound and packaged in beautiful paperback was my book. My very first book. The one I wrote! And there on the cover were Raelene and Gustaf. I couldn’t stand, so I sunk into the nearest chair and just stared. I kept telling myself I was dreaming, but no. It was real. The book was real. It had finally happened. I was a real published author! My name was on the cover. And other people would be reading my books. Wow!
Some people might wonder if the amazement dulls after the first. Not a bit. I went through all those same emotions with book #2, and I’m sure it will happen again with each book I publish. God is so awesome!
We all pursue dreams of different kinds. What advice would you give to someone reaching for a dream that sometimes feels unreachable?
If it’s a career in publishing, all I can say is writing is not for the faint of heart. But that can just as easily apply to any dream you’re pursuing. It takes a lot of hard work, determination, patience, perseverance and faith. And it won’t happen overnight. You have to maintain a teachable spirit and be open to constructive criticism, no matter how far along in your journey you get. In the end, the rewards far outweigh all the sweat and tears you shed along the way. Most importantly, if you feel this is the path for you, never give up!
Do you have another book coming? If so, tell us about it (them?).
Book #2, Quills & Promises, released this month. A brief blurb is: Separated from Madison when he leaves to fight the French and Indians, Elanna Hanssen must choose between her heart and her head, especially when Madison’s integrity is questioned. It’s available for order on my web site, and it will hit bookstores and online retailers in February 2009, unless my publisher gets their new software up and running sooner. In that case, it might be available before Christmas. Stay tuned to my web site for the latest information.
Book #3, Deceptive Promises, releases to the book club in December. It takes the same family from books 1 and 2 through the Revolutionary War as lived through the eyes of the granddaughter from the couple in book 1. It will complete the trilogy that will be repackaged as Delaware Brides in 2009.
For other books, I just turned in my 4th book, Copper and Candles, about two high society members who spend time living as middle class members for different reasons. When they realize each other’s ruse, sparks fly and their relationship faces possible destruction. It’s the first in a new series set in Detroit, Michigan during the Industrial Revolution. In the 2nd book, I cover the financial crisis of 1893. In the 3rd, the first Model-T ford and the Assembly Line invented by Henry Ford are showcased. The first releases in May 2009, the second in October 2009 and the third in March 2010. They’ll also be repackaged as a 3-in-1 by Christ
mas 2010.
Other than those, I have 2 trade-length (full-length) historical novels and 1 contemporary that I’m shopping around to editors and agents. We’ll see what happens with those.
Guess that’s all for me. Thank you so much, Paula, for hosting me here today at Grace Reign. I pray your readers are blessed and inspired by your blog and this interview. This concludes my 3-week blog tour, and I can’t think of any other place where I’d rather bring everything to an end.
I’d love to offer a free copy of book 2 to a random winner from those who leave a comment. So, do that, and I’ll have Paula email me with your information once she’s picked a winner.
Thanks for sticking with me today. God bless.
