A Hope Undaunted by Julie Lessman

Today, I'm honored to have the author of "a Hope Undaunted", Julie Lessman with me.

Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion With a Purpose” underscores her intense passion for both God and romance. Winner of the 2009 ACFW Debut Author of the Year and Holt Medallion Awards of Merit for Best First Book and Long Inspirational, Julie is also the recipient of 13 Romance Writers of America awards and was voted by readers as “Borders Best of 2009 So Far: Your Favorite Fiction” at http://www.borders.com/online/store/ListView_best2009favefiction. She resides in Missouri with her husband, daughter, son and daughter-in-law and is the author of The Daughters of Boston series, which includes A Passion Most Pure, A Passion Redeemed, and A Passion Denied. You can contact Julie through her website at www.julielessman.com.

Matter-in-fact, Julie is up this week for another award, ACFW Carol Award, with her book, A Passion Denied at the ACFW conference. Winners announced here.

I first became acquainted with Julie's writings when Passion Most Pure came out in 2007. She had me sold from the first page. She's absolutely wonderful. Welcome Julie and thanks for taking the time to answer questions for my readers. Could you tell my readers a little bit about yourself.

Well, I’m a baby boomer (how’s that for neatly side-stepping the age issue?) married to an incredible artist who’s the love of my life for 32 years come September 29. We have two children, a son married to a doctor, and a daughter who is in her second year of law school and dating a computer whiz (Whoo-Hoo, we have all the bases covered for any help we need—doctor, lawyer, artist, writer and IT assistance!! J). We are blessed, not only because they are amazing kids, but because God is extremely important in both of their lives. A while back, I quit my travel writer job (after over 30 years!) to write fulltime and have never regretted the decision. Besides writing, my favorite things are Gone With the Wind, old romance movies, great romance novels, and dinners out with my hubby, family or good friends.

Loved the way you side-stepped your age. I got in on the tail end of baby boomer age. Congratulations on your up coming wedding anniversary. Come January my hubby and I will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. Yes, for a writer it sounds like you have all your bases covered as far as help you need. Cool! Could you tell us what was your first ever published item?

Oh, good question, Abi! Would you believe after answering over 700 questions, I have NEVER been asked this question before??! My first published items were two poems published in the National Anthology of High School Poetry when I was a high school sophomore and OMIGOSH … I STILL remember them!! Uh, I think. It seems they went something like this …

Francis Park (or any other)

Whenever I’m a swing,
I sail through the air, hair wind-raped and toes touching the clouds.
And I never stop to think that the swing is tied down
or that I can’t go any further than the blue of the sky.
I just feel free … completely free.
Whenever I’m on swing.

Mrs. Jones’ Cat

“Hey, Cat,
With you I wish to chat.
They think I’m crazy in the head.
Yep, Cat, that’s what they said.
But someday I’ll prove them wrong,
Then without them I’ll get along.
Oh-oh, Cat—better run,
Hurry and scat,
Here they come.”

“Mrs. Jones, why are you mumbling to yourself so low?
I’m not a deaf nurse, I heard you, you know.
And why are you holding that blanket like that?”

And Mrs. Jones screamed, “Don’t you touch my cat!”

How neat. thanks for sharing that piece of information with us.
Who has been your greatest influence to your writing journey?

Goodness, there are so many that I can’t just name one. Without question, Margaret Mitchell got it all started for me with her amazing novel, Gone With the Wind and then, of course, King Solomon with his “Song of Solomon” in the Bible, which opened my eyes as to just how passionate God’s love is for each of us. As far as craft, Donald Maas and his Writing the Breakout Novel, and more recently, The Moral Premise by Stanley D. Williams, influenced me greatly, but none more so than my amazing agent Natasha Kern, who not only secured a publishing contract for me against great odds, but continues to impart the benefit of her vast wisdom and experience with every book I write.

As far as encouragement when I was a kid, that would be my little sister, Kate. As the last two of thirteen children, we shared a room, and at the age of nine, Kate would lie on her bed with chin in hand and eyes wide as I read my “novel” to her night after night. Her interest, love and encouragement meant everything because I was not a favorite of my mother’s, who died when I was sixteen. God used Kate to channel His love and encouragement to me, and continues to do so today. Kate is the first person to read all of my books, and her input is invaluable. Throughout my life, her love has been like God’s love to me—unconditional and boundless, and I love her with all of my heart.

My daughter wants to watch Gone with the Wind, but we just don't have the 3+ hours to devote to it. Maybe someday when I'm old and gray. Oops!! I am old and gray. It is cool to have a sister so devoted to your work. What do you enjoy most about writing?

The most? Oh, that’s a no-brainer—writing love scenes, of course! I like tension, lots and LOTS of romantic tension, so when I write those scenes, my keyboard is smoking because my fingers fly. In fact, one of my friends wanted to know why I couldn’t just write a nice, “sweet” love scene. Duh, because I would fall asleep! J Even my husband noticed the fast and furious pace of my love scenes—he said he would be meandering along in a nice, easy passage and then, bam! A love scene would hit, and before he knew it, he was 20 pages down the road!

Oh, I love romance scenes too. What lady doesn't??? What is your least favorite (hardest) part of writing?


Book promotion and research.

I could see where selling your book would be a hard task. That's why you have bloggers like myself. ;P What is your favorite activity (hobby) to engage in when not writing?

Reading—preferably on a sunny beach with my husband by my side!

Ok. I should have stated that question a little differently to get the answer I really wanted, but I'll accept it since you described your preferred reading spot. Tell us a little bit about the featured book? (a Hope Undaunted)

A Hope Undaunted is book one in the brand-new “Winds of Change” series, and here’s the jacket blurb:

What happens when the boy she loved to hate …
becomes the man she hates to love?

The 1920s are drawing to a close, and feisty Katie O'Connor is the epitome of the new woman--smart and sassy with goals for her future that include the perfect husband and a challenging career in law. Her boyfriend Jack fits all of her criteria for a husband--good-looking, well-connected, wealthy, and eating out of her hand. But when she is forced to spend the summer of 1929 with Cluny McGee, the bane of her childhood existence, Katie comes face to face with a choice. Will she follow her well-laid plans to marry Jack? Or will she fall for the man she swore to despise forever?

It is such a yummy plot. I don't know how you author's do it. You know how to keep a reading coming back for more. What is the theme or message you are trying to get across in this book?

The message I would most like to see readers take away is that when life goes sour for whatever reason, God—the “God of Hope” as He is called in Romans 15:13—is the only means of maintaining your peace and “a hope undaunted.”

Isn't that the truth. Something we all have a hard time learning. I love the fact that you use KJV Bible that is my preferred version. That is a big seller for me when looking for a book to buy and whole-hardheartedly push as I do with your books. How much of yourself do you put into your characters?

Probably more than I should! J There’s definitely a part of my personality in each of the three sisters in “The Daughters of Boston” series. Faith, the sister heroine of A Passion Most Pure, is my spiritual self. Faith has an intimate relationship with God—she talks and prays to Him as naturally as if He is her best friend, but she gets angry with Him too. You might say she (and I) are emotionally engaged with the God of the Universe—we laugh with Him, tear up at His goodness to us, and worship Him with all of our hearts.

Charity, the sister heroine of Book 2 A Passion Redeemed, is my rebellious and “passionate” self, before I came to the Lord. I was a wild child of the seventies, you know, like so many of us. Thank heavens that Jesus got a hold of me (as he does Charity in Book 2)!

Lizzie (or Beth), the sister heroine of Book 3 A Passion Denied, is my dreamer self. Lizzie is a bookworm bent on fairytale romance, just like I used to be as a little girl, sneaking downstairs to watch romantic movies after my parents went to bed. In her story, Lizzie has to learn (just like I did) that true romance, the kind that really satisfies, comes from following God’s precepts, not the world’s.

In book 1 of my new “Winds of Change” series, A Hope Undaunted, Katie O’Connor is actually based on my 22-year-old daughter Amy rather than myself. In the book, Katie is in law school just like my Amy, both have sharp and witty tongues, and Katie is very list-oriented to the point of having a “list” for what she wants in a husband, just like my Amy!

There are, however, a number of my own personal experiences in A Hope Undaunted. For instance, Katie O’Connor broke out with a skin rash in kindergarten and was totally mortified when a crotchety, old nun asks her if she has leprosy in front of the whole class. She then wore knee socks and sweaters to school even when it was hot outside, just to hide the rash. Of course all the kids in the class made fun of her, which is exactly what happened to me in the 2nd grade. It’s this incident that makes Katie a champion for the underdog, just like it did for me. Also, there’s a memory scene where Cluny McGee teases an 11-year-old Katie with the phrase, “What’s new in the dog world?” Again, that happened to my best friend while we were walking to school one day and that memory has always stayed with me.

I love each of your characters in the Daughters of Boston series. They each are very strong in their personalities. You had me hooked from the very beginning. Comparing this O’Connor saga series (Winds of Change), how important is it that the reader reads the first three books (Daughters of Boston) first?

Oh man, what a loaded question!! Well, my publisher would say each book stands alone and can be read in any order, which is basically true, especially for A Hope Undaunted since it’s the first book in this new series. HOWEVER… and this drives my publisher crazy when I say this, I know, but this really is a saga that is best read in order in order to enhance the reading experience. The reason is that book 1 of “The Daughters of Boston” series A Passion Most Pure introduces the family and sets the groundwork for the next five books as well as revealing several big surprises that would be ruined if the books are read out of order. So I would encourage new readers to read A Passion Most Pure first, and then you can go on to any of the other books that you want, including A Hope Undaunted, although obviously I think it would be best to read both series in order.

Hey, I'm trying to get you some sells in you first three books too. Readers let me tell you. You won't be disappointed if you start at the beginning and read all the way through. Julie writes what is know as "long" novels (500+) pages, but don't let that get you down. You'll be begging for more at the end. Beware: It's kind of an addiction! Do you have much time to read? If so, what genre do you like to read, when you read?


I don’t really have much time to read, but I make time because reading is so important to me and my writing. Consequently, at ALL TIMES, I carry a book in my purse, keep one in the powder room during the day and then on my nightstand at night. I read in the car while my husband drives (after we’ve finished talking, of course!), in store checkout lines, at railroad crossings while I’m waiting for a train, in doctor’s offices, and even when my husband goes to the restroom when we are dining out. I never miss an opportunity to read if I can help it, and as a result, I read about four to six novels a month, if not more.

Well, I haven't bent to putting a book in my purse; however, if I go to the doctor's office I will carry one with me. When I'm driving around, I don't feel the need to have one. However, on long trips I'll read. I carry one to music lessons for the wait. What is favorite genre?

Historical romance, of course!!

Well, that is a no-brainier!!! I love clean romances (yes there is such a thing), but I pretty much drool over historical romances. What is your favorite day of the week? Why?

Are you kidding??? FRIDAYS!!!! You would think a woman who practically works 18/7 would not even know what day it is, much less if it is a weekend. But I gotta tell you, I have this built-in “celebration” radar whenever Friday rolls around, which I guess stems from all the years I worked outside the home. Rain or shine, on Fridays, I always wake up with a little extra bounce in my step and that, my friend, is why I love Fridays!

I love Saturdays. They are my do-whatever-day. Take it easy. What happens, happens and if it doesn't oh, well. No set schedule. What is your favorite food?

Steak and lobster, with turkey and dressing a close second.

I love a good melt-in-you-mouth steak and breaded shrimp, oh, yummy! I can taste it now. Before we end this interview do you have any closing thoughts to share and how can someone find you on-line?

I LOVE to hear from readers, so they can contact me 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. Also, I invite your readers to visit The Seekers, a group blog devoted to encouraging and helping aspiring writers on the road to publication as I previously mentioned, so drop by at http://seekerville.blogspot.com/. Thank you, Abi, for hosting me on your blog. It’s been fun! God bless!

By the Way, nothing to do with this interview. However, I loved your Christmas greeting you sent out last year to select few. I was honored to have been in that select group. It was most unique. Thanks so much Julie for taking the time to visit with us. I enjoyed it. Readers I trust that you enjoyed this interview. Julie has graciously given me permission to offer a book giveaway to one of you readers for her newest featured book, A Hope Undaunted. So, You'll have to read on to find out how you can enter this giveaway.



With a heart for romance author Julie Lessman is back with a most powerful novel, a Hope Undaunted. WoW! She defiantly keeps her readers wanting more. Lessman is a wonderful author. She knows how to form deep characters. Her plot and settings are very well thought out and she loves the love scenes. Lessman is a romanticist in writing.

With a PASSION that's PURE and a REDEEMING LOVE yet to be DENIED, there is an UNDAUNTED HOPE that you'll find in Julie Lessman's O'Connor Saga: Daughters of Boston series and Winds of Change series.

You'll love Julie's books if you love...

• romantic tension
  
• rich deep characters
• good clean Christian reading
• books that draw you into the story
• stories that you never want to end
• long novels (some refer to them as door stops)

Now for the giveaway. One commenter will receive a copy of A Hope Undaunted.

I will draw a winner from the comments posted on Oct. 1st. Be sure to leave a way of contact. No mailing restrictions. Come on Out-of-North American region readers let me hear from you.

Please do mandatory before any extra bonus goes into effect.

Mandatory:

• be a follower of my blog
• leave a question or comment for Julie. Remember she loves to hear from you. Have you read any of her books? What intrigues you most about this book? Ask her a question you've always wanted to as an author. Julie says she'll keep an eye on this tour and answer any questions so come on. I know you can ask an author something.
  

Here's your first question Julie
What is your favorite holiday? and Why?

(I think I have an idea let's see if I'm correct.)

Extra bonus:

+1 subscribe to my blog

+1 tell me where you heard about this giveaway

+1 tell me where you live

+1 follow my Scraps of Life blog

+2 visit Julie's site here and come back and tell what you learned or liked

+3 sign up for Julie's newsletter here

+3 read one of Julie's seekerville articles and leave her a comment concerning the article. Find a listing of her articles here.

+3 add my button

+5 blog about this giveaway. leave link to post

+5 readers from out of North American region

Just for FUN:

Monday I added a new feature to my blog. If you can correctly tell me what I added to my blog I'll give you a bonus entry. Leave your guess in a comment.

 to winner

A copy of this book was provided for this review from WMC.