Heather Norman Smith and Free Books!

What good can come from being abandoned?

Before we meet today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free copy of The Outlaw's Lady and Love Thine Enemy, by Laurie Kingery and Louise Gouge, respectively, is:

linderellar@...

Congratulations! We'll get your book right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to learn about new releases! U.S. subscribers are entered in the drawings a second time when they comment.

And now let's chat with novelist Heather Smith, author of the coming-of-age novel, Where I Was Planted (Ambassador International, July 2019).

Heather Norman Smith is an author of inspirational fiction and a devotional blogger. Her goal is to use the written word to entertain and encourage, while illuminating the redemptive love of God. She also enjoys writing songs and singing about Jesus.

Heather is proud to be a life-long North Carolinian and aims to present the beauty of the Tar Heel State in her writing. Her home is just outside Winston-Salem, NC, where she lives with her husband and their three children. She and her husband are also foster parents.

Please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.

I play the alto saxophone, and I’ve had the same instrument since sixth grade.

My son played alto sax all through middle and high school! He's very good. That's just about my favorite instrument. Very cool that you play.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Where I Was Planted.

In the spring of 1961, ten-year-old Nate "Weenie" Dooley has a revelation—his father is not a good one. Inspired by National Geographic, his favorite thing next to the Bible storybook his mother gave him before she died, Nate plans to leave his father and their home in the Smokies to set out on adventure.

When he discovers that his father has left him first, it will take the help of a stray dog, some kind neighbors, a one-man-band, letters from a long-lost-aunt, and a new understanding of God to figure out he isn't really alone.

Will he find that Copper Creek is where he's always belonged? Or will his wanderlust keep him from ever coming back?

What is it about Nate that will make your readers care about him?

My main character is an abandoned ten-year-old boy, so right away, readers will be compelled to care. They’ll want him to be okay.

Absolutely. What a heartbreaking life he has. 

Tell us in a few words a scene in your novel and name a song or piece of music that would make good a good soundtrack to the moment.

There are a few songs and artists from the time period actually referenced in the story. There’s a moment when Nate is alone in his house listening to the radio, and the mournful sound of Patsy Cline’s voice bounces off the walls of the lonely room and lands heavy heart. In my mind the song was I Fall To Pieces.

Such a fantastic song and artist. I had a greatest hits album of hers, and I think I still know every song by heart. Great stuff.

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

I recently read a middle grade novel by a fellow Ambassador International author. The Heart Changer by Jarm Del Boccio imagines the details of the Biblical story of Naaman’s servant girl, Miriam. I enjoyed it because it contains a message that I strive to weave into all my writings—that God is still good, regardless of our circumstances.

What are you working on now?

For a very short while, I’ve put novel writing on hold to work on a devotional. I didn’t intend to start this project until much later, but it feels like what I’m supposed to be doing now.

Projects like that can be at least as edifying for you, the author, as they'll be for future readers. It's like an in-depth study of the peace and guidance God provides for us in His Word.

Where else can readers find you online?

www.heathernormansmith.com
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Goodreads

The book can be purchased online via the following button:



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

What is the number one thing about a Christian Fiction book that helps you decide to read it?

Thank you, Heather, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your novel. Readers, Heather has offered to give away a free copy of her book. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to her question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that U.S. subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. 

Only United States residents are eligible for the drawing, but anyone can subscribe to the blog posts via the GDPA-compliant Feedblitz box above my list of books, at right.

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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, GDPA notice, and my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE