Shellie Neumeier and Free Books!

Robyn can’t help but notice the handsome new guy at her school. She ignores, however, the arrival of another being at Brookfield Central High School—a demon assigned to destroy her…

Before we visit with today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of Laura Hilton's new release, Patchwork Dreams, is:

twinwillowsfarm@ . . .

Congratulations! I'll contact you today for your snail mail address, and we'll get your book to you right away. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (below my list of books) in order to participate in future book give-aways!

Now let's meet novelist Shellie Neumeier, author of Driven (Risen Fiction, March 2011).

Married for over 20 years, Shellie and her husband have four wonderful kiddos and two goofy greyhounds.

After receiving her undergraduate degree in Secondary Education from the University of Wisconsin—Madison, she went on to acquire an early childhood education certificate. Shellie also served in youth, children’s, special needs and family ministries for over twenty-two years.

Now she enjoys teaching her teens how to drive and chauffeuring her preteens across the Wisconsin countryside. And once in a while, she loves to read big people books (you know the kind without pictures).

Shellie writes because it keeps her away from her husband’s power tools and because every now and then, she doesn’t have the choice, it just takes over. Her best inspiration comes from God and the occasional walk along a country road with her greyhounds.

Please tell us five random things we might not know about you.

-- I usually get into some type of trouble when I have too much time on my hands and power tools in reach, so when the tax season wound down (my day job) my husband suggested I write the stories I tell. He thought it would be safer than playing with his power tools. I’m not so sure though, you should see what I do to my characters.

-- I’ve always wanted to zip line through the rain forest. Any rain forest will do. Flying above the tree tops sounds amazing.

-- I was once asked which animal I most resembled. The best I could come up with was that dog on UP (the one that says “squirrel” with energized distraction). That pretty much sums it up.

-- My favorite word is ataraxia. It’s defined as a calm and relaxed state, but the word itself sounds so harsh, kind of a cundrum. I think it’s cool.

-- I have one leg which is shorter than the other, so I wear a lift in my shoe. Kind of limits the cute shoe selection.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Driven.

Robyn loves her friends, enjoys her youth group, and looks forward to meeting cute Caleb Montague. But when a caustic news reporter challenges her school’s prayer team, Robyn must choose: defend their right to meet on campus and pray for whomever they wish or back down at the principal’s request.

Now she must learn what God wants her to do. And she had better learn fast, because there’s a supernatural enemy in town whose sole mission is to stop her—no matter the cost.

What is it about your lead character that will make your readers care about her/him?

Robyn cares for her friends. She cares enough to step in front of a TV reporter to save her best friend from humiliation, enough to apologize to the principal if it means protecting her prayer team, and enough to forgive even when it might cost her dearly.

Why will readers enjoy your novel?

I love drama and suspense, so to write that way was one of my goals. I wanted to write something the reader wouldn’t want to put down, so I studied that part of the craft first. I worked hard on making sure there was conflict and emotion that would draw the reader in and pull them through the book. Plus I tried to create characters the reader would root for so when those moments come that leave you afraid for Robyn and the gang, you’re really afraid for them and you can’t wait to flip the page to know they’ll be okay.

If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead roles?

I’d love to see Abigail Breslin play the part of Robyn. She’s a terrific actor with amazing skills. I think she’d do a wonderful job of making Robyn come to life on screen.



As for Caleb and Stewart, I might go for Jake T. Austin

and Sean M. Cunningham respectively.



Wow, your cover girl looks exactly like Abigail Breslin!

What is the last book you read that you would recommend?

I loved Kathryn Cushman’s Another Dawn. Fantastic story that carried several intertwined layers. Well written with just enough emotion to make me cry. Fantastic.

What are you working on now?

I just signed a mid-grade chapter book to be released in February 2012 entitled The Wishing Ring. My twelve and nine year-old helped develop the plot, which makes the story one wild and imaginative ride. I’ve also teamed up with Lisa Lickel in writing a romance novel. I enjoyed writing the young adult sections. But my favorite project is another YA novel written about a young boy with special needs. After a fit of rage, he finds himself struggling to survive life in a treatment center. It’s been eye-opening writing that piece.

Where else can readers find you online?

shellieneumeier.com
Twitter: shellie_c
Facebook

Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

How do spiritual battles impact you?

Thank you, Shellie, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel. Readers, Shellie has offered to give a signed copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Thursday, May 12. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Shellie's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Be sure to check out my interview with Arlene James, below, and leave a comment at the bottom of the post to enter the drawing for a signed copy of her book.

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer HERE.