Tonight I am happily welcoming Ms. Eide to my blog, as our paths originally crossed whilst watching the First Season of “When Calls the Heart” on Hallmark Channel. I was joyfully thrilled to support a series of heart-warming drama and inspiring story-lines as I readily became caught up in the joy of being a “Hearties” girl! Through my enthused and joyful tweeting on behalf of the series, cast, and crew, Ms. Eide and I started to cross paths with each other through the twitterverse. It was through this connection to each other, she had reached out to me to see if I would be interested in reading her debut novel “Like There’s No Tomorrow” for which I was happily excited about learning more about!
I have always been drawn into inspirational fiction stories where the cast of characters not only endear you to their lives but they have a wonderful uplift of spirit attached within the heart of where the novels lead you to go as a reader. I believe this is one reason I have always read between markets of Inspirational & Mainstream Fiction — in order to capture a well-rounded selection of classical and contemporary writers who knit heart and soul into the backbone of their releases.
I was thankful I could converse with Ms. Eide ahead of posting my thoughts on behalf of Like There’s No Tomorrow, not only a chance to explore the back-story of how the novel was created but to get to know a follower and chatter of mine from Twitter! I am including her in my showcase for #IndieWriterMonth as she is published by a small independent publisher: Ashbury Lane Publishing. You can read the full story of how this Indie Pub began and how it is run by a mother-daughter team, but what interested me is how beautiful of a job they did with the cover art for Like There’s No Tomorrow as much as the arrangement of the book in print; from the back-cover copy to the typography they picked for the text of the novel itself. I was quite impressed by the way in which they packaged the book and how they highlighted both the story and the author.
To me, Indie Publishers are the publishers who operate outside the Major Trade market, are independently run, owned, and support publishing those writers who want to have the flexibility and the freedom which indie pub affords those who want to maintain their creative liberties. Throughout November, it is my pleasure to highlight the writers who are choosing alternative avenues towards being published, such as Ms. Eide and who are releasing stories outside the Major Trade market.
The small press branch of publishing are creating beautiful opportunities for readers to read stories that otherwise might not have become published and available in print. Likewise, most writers cross-release their stories in ebook & print formats, but for me, novels will always remain read in print.
Book Synopsis:
Like Theres No Tomorrow is an amusing yet tender love story about two kind, single caretakers, two quirky, old Scottish sisters bent on reuniting, and too many agendas. Its a tale of family, fiery furnaces, falling in love, faith, and the gift of each new day.
What if loving means letting go?
Scottish widower Ian MacLean is plagued by a mischievous grannie, bitter regrets, and an ache for something hell never have again. His only hope for freedom is to bring his grannie’s sister home from America. But first, he’ll have to convince her lovely companion, Emily, to let her go.
Emily Chapman devotes herself to foster youth and her beloved Aunt Grace. Caring for others quiets a secret fear she holds close to her heart. But when Ian appears, wanting to whisk Grace off to Scotland, everything Emily needs to protectincluding her heartis at risk.
As you debuted as a short story author, what do you feel is the best part about releasing your first debut novel? Do you find that you appreciate writing one style of story over the other or enjoy each equally?
Eide responds: Since my first book, a Christmas novella, released only as an eBook, the best part of releasing a full-length novel is the ability to hold the book in my hands! I enjoyed taking a break from full length stories to write the shorter one when the opportunity arose, and it was gratifying to see a story come together in such a short time – in one month instead of nearly a year. But at this point in my writing journey, I feel a full-length story is where my heart is. It allows for deeper exploration of each character’s heart and soul, allows for a little more complexity of conflict and some interesting subplots. And of course, more room for those kooky secondary characters who try to take center stage.
Letters & Correspondences play a role in the story “Like There’s No Tomorrow” – did you have a moment in your life where the exchange of letters inspired this thread of narrative? Why do you think today’s world is so focused on immediate responses when taking time to compose our thoughts on paper and inside a card gives the receiver the benefit of hearing our innermost thoughts?
Eide responds: Unfortunately, we are so used to quick responses that leave so much unsaid, and tone and so much is lost. There is a true story that inspired the letter-aspect of the story. My Norwegian friend’s sister met my American brother when she visited the US, and when she returned home, they began corresponding and married soon after. Of course, their correspondence was via email, but the idea of a couple getting acquainted by letter rather than face to inspired this story. I wanted to use letters for this setting instead of email (at first) because it provided a better look at the type of bond between the two elderly sisters. Since I happen to appreciate the “voice” that comes through in a person’s written words, I wanted Emily to “know” Ian through his written voice, his word choice, his subtle wit, etc. I find the written word (fully formed thoughts and dialogue) fascinating and think it’s becoming a lost art form.
Scotland is a classic setting for a Romance, how did this curiously attractive locale stitch itself into your heart when you chose it for your story?
Eide responds: First off, it made best sense that both countries in this story should be English-speaking, which narrows the field a bit. And yes, Scotland is a very attractive locale. I suppose it’s a place I’ve longed to visit. So setting a story there allowed me to visit it the next best way—via research—while crafting and dreaming up the story.
I was most appreciative to see that you included a story about Foster Care and Foster Children inside “Like There’s No Tomorrow”. I was curious if you based Emily Chapman on someone you knew in real-life who was dedicating their lives to fosters?
Eide responds: The home where Emily works, Juniper Ranch Group Home, is the setting for my second book coming May 2015, Sandcastles in Snow. By the time I put Emily to work there, I was already planning the second story which focuses on Sue Quinn, the home’s director. Juniper Ranch was inspired by a real group home. The idea for Sandcastles in Snow came to me after I received a Christmas letter (see, some people still write them!) from my niece who was a live-in counselor at a similar foster group home for teens. Her heart for kids with diminishing prospects for adoption touched and inspired me to write about a place where unwanted kids lived, run a woman who sympathizes because her own history of abandonment. It’s a painful subject, one that I wanted to bring into the light with the hope offered in the Psalms.
Psalm 68:5 King James Version (KJV)
5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
King James Version (KJV) by Public Domain
sourced from: Bible Gateway
Do you personally know of a family who either fosters children and/or has adopted children out of foster care? I always hope to find more adoptive and foster stories in fiction as I am a future adoptive Mum who will be adopting children from the foster care system. Have you noticed this to be a thread that is starting to gain traction for your novel?
Eide responds: I have a friend who both fosters and adopts from foster care who is very gracious to help me understand some of the issues the kids in my stories might be dealing with. The foster children thread is only in these first two books at this time.
As our paths crossed through the Hallmark Channel tv series “When Calls the Heart” what is your favourite part of Sweet Romances both in fiction and on tv? (or in film)
Eide responds: A believable chaste romance, such as what you see in When Calls the Heart, or a Jane Austen novel, is especially appealing to me because in such a story, the couple spend most of their encounters discovering one another’s true character, as opposed to rushing right into physical intimacy. I am a fan of Jane Austen’s work because her heroes and heroine grow to (ardently) admire and respect one another’s strengths of character. I am of the belief that to love the soul is to love the whole. I try to write a romance in such a way that two souls find something in each other that makes them feel complete, making the overcoming of obstacles all the more rewarding. If done with care, it is possible for a romance to be sweet and clean (and believable) without being sappy or melodramatic.
As there is a hummingbird on the cover of your novel, was it inspired by a symbolism of faith or is there another symbolic affirmation attached to seeing its presence?
Eide responds: It is definitely symbolic. The mother-daughter team running Ashberry Lane (my Publisher), chose a hummingbird for the cover and I suspect this is because it symbolizes a very special mother-daughter relationship in the story. I think they chose well.
Trust plays a strong part in your story, as much as faith, what do you hope readers will takeaway from Ian and Emily’s tribulations? What were you hoping to inspire the readers to feel as they read the story?
Eide responds: I hope a number of things can be gained from Ian and Emily’s tribulations, including hope that we don’t have to face the trials of life alone. That we may not understand why we go through fires of testing, but we can be assured God will not leave us to face them on our own. That the heavy weight we often carry is not ours alone to bear, that though we may feel alone, we never are. That there is freedom in surrendering our burdens into God’s powerful, loving hand, and there is hope even though we may not feel it. That each day is a precious gift, and we may discover we enjoy this precious gift the most when we are giving to someone else.
Do you think that one of Emily’s difficulties is not allowing her thoughts to off-set her strength of faith? The old adage that ‘thoughts are things’ and if we can keep our minds set on the positive even if difficulties arise, our thoughts will help guide us through the times where we’re tested the most? Or is it simply an element of trust that Emily has to overcome?
Eide responds: Emily is definitely torn between her natural thoughts and her spiritual faith. Our thoughts are powerful. I have found that though the thoughts of a Christian can line up with the mind of Christ (when we purpose to keep our minds set on the truth of his word) they can also veer off the path of truth when steered by our human nature, especially when we allow fear and past pain to cloud our thinking. Emily has faith in God, but she also fears loss and feels the tremendous weight of responsibility placed on her, so her fear and her sense of duty sometimes drown out the voice of Truth. I don’t know that anyone ever fully masters a 100% trusting thought-life, though it is a worthy goal. A walk of faith in God is a day to day journey (with his help), forging through new tests that reveal our lingering areas of weakness, and facing challenges to surrender yet another area of our human nature. Some days all we can do is take one blind step at a time, surrendering our fear and control, and trusting God.
Fear is powerful if people allow it to wash over them without the light pulling them through. Why do you think your characters had to walk through their fear and the seedlings of doubt in order to better understand where their life was meant to take them?
Eide responds: That’s a very good question. It’s often said that trials show us what we’re made of. In this case, trails show both Ian and Emily (in different ways) that they can never be strong enough to face what they need to on their own, but, ironically, there is greater hope because of this. By relinquishing control and giving their fears to God, they discover that he will be an even greater Source of strength than they realized. It isn’t until they honestly face defeat that they understand where true victory lies, and that victory (or peace) is possible.
What were your early influences and wanderings in literature!? Which authors spoke to you as far as a style of story-telling endeared itself to you ahead of creating your own stories? Are there any titles you could share which are still brought forward to mind in fond affection?
Eide responds: My first favorite book was E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web, although as a seven-year-old, I didn’t fully understand the skillful storytelling style, I just knew I connected with the story of the underdog (er, runt pig) not only coming out on top, but saving the day. Oddly, I first felt inspired to write when I picked up the work of Stephen King as a teen, and not because of the horror—which I actually dreaded—but because of his masterful dialogue. Later, I developed a deep appreciation for all things Austen. I love Jane’s subtle wit and gentle irony, and I love her wisps of quiet sarcasm slipped between lines of observation.
What was the impetus which gravitated you into writing? And, when did this occur? Who was your best cheerleader?
Eide responds: I started writing sequels to the Peanuts column in the newspaper in about second grade, so I suppose Snoopy was my first Muse. Later on, Stephen King launched me into phase of “dialogue story-telling.” I challenged myself to write stories that contained nothing but dialogue, just to see if a story could be fully told and understood that way. About that time, I had an English teacher who must have wondered if there was a writer lurking in me, so she loaned me well-written novels, and then asked me what I liked and didn’t like about the story when I returned them. It was the first time anyone had ever asked me to analyze a story like that, and it left an impression. The more I read, the more my instinct for story developed. Later, when I discovered that learning the writing craft is as important as training the writing instinct with reading, I found a good writer’s group to steer me toward good craft books and helped me shape up my skills.
What are your favourite tools to use whilst writing? And, where do you write to gain the most inspiration?
Eide responds: Tools? My desktop PC and a mini dish of peanut M&Ms. Where? In my home office. The truth is, that is only where the work of writing takes place. Creativity and inspiration often comes while driving or playing bass or praying. Being creative in other ways or talking out a story knot with a friend (or to myself in the car, or when I first wake up and ideas just pop and I have to find paper and pen to jot them down) is often when the best layers and details of plot or character are free to come to mind, when I’m open and not feeling pressed to come up with pretty words.
Outside the realm of writing and research, what enriches your spirit the most? Where do you find your serenity?
Eide responds: Spending time with real people (even though my characters are so nearly real). Playing bass, playing with my new grandbaby, spending time with God. And dates with hubby, now that our kids are all grown, are actually more special now than when we were dating. ;)
Official Authors Websites: Website | Blog | @CamilleEide | Facebook
Converse via: #LikeTheresNoTomorrow
This author interview & the forthcoming book review are courtesy of:
Camille Eide
I would like to thank Ms. Eide for not only giving such a wonderful dialogue exchange of who she is as an inspirational fiction writer, but for providing keen insight into her style of writing stitched in such a way as to uplift the spirit as much as the heart whilst reading how her characters come to live through the path she is writing them to walk. I had to smile when she lamented that some of us still write letters, as I had hinted in a conversation attached to this one, that I have written letters by postal mail for more than half my lifetime. I continue to seek out moments where I can settle my heart and thoughts down to paper, casting off a conversation I hope my friends’ who receive the letters will enjoy having in their hands. I have always been grateful for the friendships I have knitted together through postal conversations & the exchanges have become quite dear to me over the years. I do realise most in this world are attached to instant notes and instant short pieces of conversation via text messaging or emails, but to me, the greatest joy I have always had is by selecting stamps to fit onto my envelopes (as I do like to create lovely envelope art to send with the letters themselves) in such a way as to keep the colour scheme fluid and to await the return reply after my friend has selected a moment to put down her own thoughts and musings to paper; blessedly the circle continues from there!
As I had learnt how to quote Biblical passages properly from my conversation with Ms. Gray, I was thrilled I could insert the passage Ms. Eide wanted to include on her interview as well! I was wicked happy to see we share a classical author in fond affection: Ms Jane Austen! Of whom, I will happily be reading throughout December, as mentioned on my last tCC SPIN. I am hopeful that this interview will whet your curiosity for what I will be sharing next in regards to Like There’s No Tomorrow! Stay tuned! And, you came to find this Interview and/or the forthcoming review via Twitter and your a fellow #Hearties(!), I thank you for your support as I am hoping each of you have already found out about Ms. Eide’s writings!
Please take note of the Related Articles as they were hand selected due to being of cross-reference importance in relation to this book review. This applies to each post on my blog where you see Related Articles underneath the post. Be sure to take a moment to acknowledge the further readings which are offered.
Be sure to stay attune to the Bookish Events I’m hosting by visiting my Calendar of Events! To see which book will become my next reads selection of choice, visit my AUTUMN TBR List on Riffle!
Similar to blog tours, when I feature a showcase for an author via a Guest Post, Q&A, Interview, etc., I do not receive compensation for featuring supplemental content on my blog.
This author interview is being cross-promoted via:
Find out the schedule for #IndieWriterMonth!
{SOURCES: Book cover for “Like There’s No Tomorrow”, Author Biography, Book Synopsis were provided by the author Camille Eide and used with permission. Post dividers by Fun Stuff for Your Blog via Pure Imagination. The scripture quotation from the King James Version of the Bible was used with permission as the King James Version of the Bible is in the public domain (info). The KJV is in the public domain for the United States where I reside and blog.}
Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2014.
Related Articles:
Small Press – (en.wikipedia.org)
Leave a Reply