Interview (+ GIVEAWAY) with author of A Hope Undaunted -- Julie Lessman!!!

Are you a huge "Julie" fan?  Do you enjoy passionate romances?  Have you been desperately trying to get your hands on Julie's newest release, or maybe one of her Daughters of Boston titles?

Well, if you enthusiastically answered "YES!!" to any of these questions -- you're in the right place, at exactly the right time!

Julie has dropped by for an interview, and will be giving away a signed copy of one of her books to one lucky commenter at the end of the interview.

GOOD LUCK everyone!!

(I'm sorry some of the formatting is wacky.  I can't seem to fix it.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Welcome, Julie -- I am honored *and excited!* to have you visit us today!  I feel it's only fair to warn y'all up front, that Julie and I both love to talk, so this could get a little long!  ;)  Let's get right to it..........

me:   Tell us a little bit about yourself.

1     

Well, I’m a baby boomer married to a man who makes me feel like I’m living my own personal romance novel. I have a 27-year-old son married to a wonderful girl who is a doctor (and for whom I have prayed for since my son was a baby!) and a 22-year-old daughter in law school who hates to read. And, yes, it’s true – I paid her $20 just to read the first chapter of A Passion Most Pure. I’m happy to say it hooked her, and the rest of the book and the other three didn’t cost me a dime! :) My husband of 32 years is an artist/designer, and we are together 24/7 and actually love it—working back-to-back in a tiny, little office when I’m not outside on the deck with my laptop and hazelnut coffee.

me:  That's funny!  At least you didn't have to pay your daughter but the one time.  If it were me, I would be giving you your money back -- I was hooked on the first page!  :D

me:  How do you choose your characters names/book titles?

As far as character names, mostly I go with what feels right. For instance, in the original manuscript I wrote at the age of 12, the heroine’s name was Faith O’Connor, just like in A Passion Most Pure (which is based on that early manuscript). Of course, I wasn’t a girl of “faith” back then, so I’m not sure why I named her that, but I did. Ironically, it suits her perfectly in A Passion Most Pure because she is the consummate woman of “faith.”

The names of her parents Marcy and Patrick were also from that early manuscript, but I ditched the original names for Faith’s rival sister, Charity, and the bad-boy hero, Collin, because their names were, well, pretty awful! Are you ready?? Charity was Del, short for “Delatha,” and Collin was “Bart.” Don’t even ask me what I was thinking at the age of 12 except that I do remember liking the TV show Maverick, which featured a handsome character named Bart Maverick. When I came to my senses, I chose Charity’s name because Faith had a twin named “Hope” who died at the age of 9, and I was going for “Faith, Hope and Charity.” And Collin’s name, pure and simple, came from a listing of Irish male names.

As far as book titles, my original name for the “The Daughters of Boston” series was “The Wind of God” series because I wanted each of my titles to be a “wind” Scripture. A Passion Most Pure was originally A Chasing After the Wind from Ecclesiastes 2:26, A Passion Redeemed was Chaff before the Wind from Psalm 83:13-16, and A Passion Denied was On the Wings of the Wind, Psalm 104:1-4.

After Revell said the original titles above had to go, I came up with the title of A Passion Most Pure for book 1 along with about 80 others (yes, I am a bit anal), but I admit that I did not like it at first. My daughter remarked, “Mom, will anybody really buy a romance novel with the word ‘pure’ in the title?” Unfortunately, I wondered the same thing, but as usual, Revell knew what they were doing, and I now feel the title fits perfectly—reflecting not only romantic passion that strives to remain pure, but passion for God, which really is “A Passion Most Pure.”

I was, however, sad to let go of my original title of A Chasing After the Wind from Ecclesiastes, which is pretty much the theme that is woven throughout that book, so Revell let me keep that Scripture on the opening page, as they did for the next two books as well.

You see, for me, “wind” is symbolic of the Holy Spirit, which fits because Faith is "chasing after the wind," that is, the Holy Spirit or God's leading in her life. Collin, too, is "chasing after the wind," but in his case, it is the wind of futility, chasing after his will (sin) rather than God's, which according to Solomon, is "meaningless" and nothing more than “a chasing after the wind.” I do, however, have a less spiritual reason (and maybe a bit silly one) for having originally chosen that title. Because of my obsession with Gone With the Wind—I always wanted to write a book with the word “wind” in the title. And I got my wish, sort of. Revell chose the name “Winds of Change” for my second 3-book series and I LOVE it!!

me:  Seriously?!?!?!  Del and Bart?  *giggling*  I just don't think Collin would have being the "bad-boy hero" that he is with a name like "Bart"!  And, Del just doesn't fit Charity at all.  I'm so glad you decided to change their names.  ;)

me:  Do you have a favorite sport?

Actually, no. My husband and I were into biking until about three years ago before I was published, always heading out to the Katy Trail or other bike trail in the St. Louis area. But we’ve both been so busy lately, me with my books and my husband with his design business, that the closest we get to sports today is him with his HD-TV and me with the athletic ventures of my heroes in my books.

me:  When did you realize you wanted to become a writer?

Gosh, a LONG time ago, at the tender age of twelve after reading Gone With the Wind, a novel that swept me away into the world of romance for the very first time. It captured me like no other book had done, and I immediately set out to write (along with thousands of other love-struck young girls, I’m sure), what I hoped would be “the great American novel.” Obviously my dreams of grandeur didn’t go anywhere, but I did write 150 pages of a story that became the basis for my debut novel, A Passion Most Pure.

Fast forward almost forty years later—I was sitting in a beauty parlor reading a Newsweek magazine July 16, 2001 cover article about Christian entertainment. It said Christian books, movies and music were on the threshold of exploding. My heart jumped, and something in my spirit said, “It’s time to finish your book.” Now, I have to be honest—up until that moment, I had never seriously considered writing a book. But the pull was so strong, that I started writing A Passion Most Pure one month later.  And now writing is my full-time career ever since I gave up my part-time job as a travel writer to pursue writing novels full time. But trust me … it didn’t come with a pay raise … :)

me:  I think I speak for all your fans when I say I'm so glad you decided to follow that "pull"!  Everyone who has the pleasure of reading your books can't help but have God touch them in some way, even if they don't realize it at the time.

me:  How did you come to know the Lord?

Well, it’s not a pretty story, except for the ending, of course!! :) I was a 23-year-old hard-nosed agnostic from a devout but dysfunctional Catholic family of 13 kids. I was so angry at God that I actually used to say I wanted to burn Gideon Bibles in hotel rooms. As a wild child of the 60s and 70s, I tried everything to be happy—from astrology and tarot cards … to transcendental meditation and witchcraft—you name it. My vocabulary would have made a sailor blush. Suffice it to say that I was pretty angry at God. According to the world’s standards, I had everything going for me—a hunky boyfriend with a Corvette and a boat, a great job, my own apartment (at a time when other friends still lived at home), and I was acing an advanced writing course at Washington U., a prestigious college in St. Louis. But I wasn’t happy. I felt a lot like Peggy Lee singing, “Is that all there is?”

Then one day, this annoying gal at work approached me. She had a lesser job than me, was divorced with a kid and no boyfriend in sight. I hated her because she came in humming every day, happy as a lark while I was utterly miserable. And then it happened—one life-altering moment when she and I were alone—I looked up from my typewriter and said, “Just what in the heck (except my language was a bit saltier back then) makes you so happy all the time?” She said, “I’ve been praying you would ask.”

Oh, no, a Jesus freak, I thought to myself, but I found myself going to lunch with her, badgering her with questions and accusations. I don’t remember now if it was weeks or months, but either way, I met Jesus Christ through the remarkable patience of a God-sent angel by the name of Joy—pretty appropriate name, eh?

Since then, my life has been a journey of “joy,” because EVERYTHING with Jesus Christ at the center is pure joy—especially romance! So you might say that my books are my love letters to a God whose love took me from the dark into His glorious light, and I hope and pray it brings Him the glory He so richly deserves.

me:  That's a wonderful testimony, Julie!  Thank you for sharing.

me:  What are you currently reading -- when you're not working?

Oh, it’s been a realllly good month for reading, let me tell you! Believe it or not, I manage to get about 4-5 books read in a month just by reading in the car while my husband is driving, on powder-room breaks, briefly before bedtime and while waiting in checkout lines and at doctor’s appointments.

First off, there was Mary Connealy’s Doctor in Petticoats (love Mary’s humor!), then MaryLu Tyndall’s Surrender the Heart (love MaryLu’s romantic edge and tense adventure!), Myra Johnson’s Where the Dogwood Blooms (probing spiritual message and romance that is wonderfully sigh-worthy), Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz (Laura always packs an emotional punch with a story and characters as alive and real as my own family), and finally, my current read (and I’m almost done!) is Melanie Dickerson’s The Healer’s Apprentice, which is simply a delightful medieval YA that is pure magic. Yep, all in all, a very good month!

me:  YAY!  You've finally had a chance to read -- I'm so happy for you!  I've read a couple of those, so I know you've been enjoying yourself.

me:  Name one food that you just cannot stand?!?!

That would be, of course, the same food nobody else can stand either—liver. But two things that a lot of people love but I can’t abide are … dumplings and Heath candy bars … two of my hubby’s favorites. Uh, except not together!

me:  I'm with you on the liver and dumplings, but I gotta go with your hubby on the Heath bars -- yum!

me:  What is  your fave vacation spot, or dream vacation?

Mmmm … a beach bungalow on an unspoiled tropical island with my husband and lots of my favorite things—good friends, great books and old movies.

me:  Sounds great!

me:  Do you have a favorite sitcom/TV series that you just hate to miss?

Funny you should ask! My husband and I just finished ten seasons of JAG with David James Elliott (sigh), and at first, I wasn’t sure our marriage would survive after the last episode! ;)

You see, I watch almost NO television anymore due to lack of time, but my husband got in to the habit of watching reruns of the old TV show JAG on his HD-TV (he LOVES that thing!). So I thought the first season on DVD would be a great Christmas gift and I bought it, realizing he probably wouldn’t watch it but still figured it was a great “surprise” gift.

Well … he didn’t watch it … that is, until I agreed to watch it with him on my laptop, the two of us tucked all warm and snug in bed (it was a cold January as I recall!). Well, that did it. We enjoyed the cozy atmosphere of watching that truly terrific show SO much, that we bought the next season and then the next … until we were in hock on DVDs to the tune of $250 or so, but I have to admit, it was SO worth it!! We finished the last episode of the tenth season about a month ago, and we are still going through withdrawal and actually contemplating watching them over again … Yeah, yeah, I know—we need to get a life! :)

me:  Hubby and I used to watch JAG, too.  I was quite upset when it ended.  David James Elliott would make a great Collin!  *BIG sigh*

me:  Please share 5 random things we don't know about you.  :)

 

1.) I’m a Duck Tape Queen! I’ve used it for every and anything—from wadding around a rod to lift sheers up an inch off the floor (my husband HATED that one!) to taping it over itchy labels in a blouse or mending a tear in my purse. You see, I’m dirt-practical like my father used to be. Although he was an eye surgeon, that man would throw a wad of string over the telephone wire outside his bedroom window so he could tell which way the wind was blowing. :)

2.) I’m a freak about ambiance. I have to have candles lit when I watch TV or eat dinner or visit with friends, and the lighting has to be turned down real low. Which drives my husband crazy because he likes to actually see his food, so we do compromise.

3.) I’m not a girly-girl, meaning I’m not big on diamonds and flowers and shopping, contrary to my daughter! In fact, about 15 years ago, the diamond in my engagement ring fell out of its setting while I was cleaning, and I never did find it. Told my husband I didn’t want another one because a diamond on your hand just gets caught on fabric and things like that. But oh, boy, cheap costume jewelry, especially dangle earrings?? To die for!! :)

4.) I dressed up like a Southern bell with hoop skirts and upsweep hairdo for my very first job at age 16. I was a concession girl at a new theatre that featured Gone With the Wind as their first movie—how cool is that!!

     5.) I have 40 nieces and nephews who are all married, so the first 100 people at all of our family weddings are … well, family!!

me:  I love finding out interesting info about my favorite authors -- thanks for sharing!

me:   Where can everyone find you online?

Through my Web site at www.julielessman.com, either by sending an e-mail via my site or by signing up for my newsletter at http://www.julielessman.com/sign-up-for-newsletter/. My newsletter is chock-full of fun info on my books and there’s always a contest featuring signed book giveaways and currently, a contest to have a character named after you in my next book! Also, I have a cool feature on my website called “Journal Jots” (http://www.julielessman.com/journal-jots/), which is a very laid-back ongoing journal to my reader friends that would give your readers an idea as to my relaxed style of writing. Finally, I can be found daily at The Seekers blog (http://seekerville.blogspot.com/), a group blog devoted to encouraging and helping aspiring writers on the road to publication.

Thanks, Lori, for allowing me to connect with your readers and God bless!

Hugs,

Julie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you, again, Julie for stopping by for an interview -- it's been great having you here.  Until next time!  *HUGS*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rules for the giveaway:

* Void where prohibited.
* U.S. residents only please. 

* Leave a comment.  

* You MUST be a follower, if you're not you can sign up now using Google Friend Connect, under My Followers.  Please leave a valid email address in your comment so I can reach you, if you're the lucky winner!  Example: sugarandgrits at hotmail dot com
* Giveaway runs from October 4, 2010 thru October 7, 2010 at 11:59 PM EST.  Any comments made after that time will not count.

* The winner will be announced on October 8, 2010.  I will contact the winner via email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond (once the email is sent), or another name will be drawn.

~ Neither the author, nor myself, is responsible for prizes lost in the mail. ~