1st Blogoversary: Interview with Lorna Seilstad & Giveaway!

Lorna, welcome to Hardcover Feedback! Thank you SO much for being a part of my 1st Blogoversary Celebration! Would you tell us a little about yourself?

First of all, Megan, I want to say Happy Blogoversary! And thank you for inviting me to celebrate with you.

A little about myself, huh? I’m married to a wonderful man, and as of this month, it will be for 22 years. We have three children. I have a son who’s a sophomore in college, a daughter who’s about to graduate high school, and another daughter in seventh grade. Besides writing, I love to read, bake, and teach. I used to teach high school English, but now my teaching is limited to classes at church or summer camp.

I’m the author of the Lake Manawa Summers Series. Making Waves and A Great Catch have already released, but the third book of the Lake Manawa series, The Ride of Her Life, releases in May and I’m very excited about it.

 What or who made the biggest influence on you wanting to become a writer?

I had the same teacher for English in 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th grade. Every Friday, we had creative writing. Sometimes we’d arrive at school and find footprints taped around the walls and she’d tell us to write about how they got there. Other times, she wrote prompts on the board or handed us a shape from a bag. We had to hand in a rough draft and a final draft (proofed by our parents) every Monday morning. I fell in love with writing.

What was the first book you ever wrote about and was it ever published?

I’ve written a lot of novel length stories because I wrote fan fiction before I started writing original material. My stories are still available on the internet under Oreolover at romancefanfiction.net in their archives.

The first original manuscript I wrote has not been published, but the second one I wrote became Making Waves.


Do you have any writing habits that people might find unusual?

Habits? Probably not. But my office is in the basement and it’s very cold. I wear gloves with the fingertips cut off, two blankets and have a space heater. If it’s below zero outside, I usually have to wear a coat and scarf to write down there.


 Do you have a favorite character or one that is especially close to your heart?

I don’t have a favorite because that would be like picking a favorite child, but Emily in A Great Catch is near and dear to my heart because she is a klutz like me. I can so relate to her.


What is the best gift you have ever received and who gave it to you?

Oh, that’s a hard one Megan. I’ve been blessed by a lot of gifts. One special one was from my dad. When I was a girl, we collected antiques. I came home one day and my dad had been to an auction. Lying across our living room floor was 30 Nancy Ann Storybook dolls in their original boxes. That was amazing.

Another one was from my husband. After the birth of our second child, my husband gave me a special “mother and child” necklace. It was of a mother holding her child. He had their birthstones put on it, too. 


What is something that you have always wanted to do, but just haven't gotten around to it yet?

Clean my house? No, actually, I think I’d like to learn web design.

What is your all-time favorite book? 

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle. I wrote to her when I was in elementary school and she wrote me back. I’d asked for advice on becoming a writer, and she said to keep a journal of all your thoughts and feelings. I didn’t keep the journal on paper, but I did in my head. I became much more aware of my thoughts and feelings after that.

Other than yourself, who is your favorite author?

I have always loved Anne McCaffrey, a science fiction/ fantasy author, and of course, Madeline L’Engle, but I have waaaaay too many favorites to count.

If a TV show was based on your life, what would the theme song be and why?

“I’m in a Hurry to Get Things Done”—I always feel like there’s more to do than hours in the day.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Read. It feeds my soul and my muse. I also like to bake.

Are you an early bird or a night owl?

I’m really an early bird in that I’m at my highest energy level in the morning, but I can stay up late and work, too.

What is your favorite TV show and/or movie?

Currently, my favorite television shows are Bones, Castle, NCIS, and Burn Notice.

If you had the opportunity to go anywhere you wanted, at any time in history, where would you go and why?

I’d go back to the day when Jesus fed the 5,000 with five loaves of bread and two fish. I would love to see that happen.

You are given an unlimited budget to plan your ultimate party. Please describe it (i.e. Where would it take place? Who would be on the guest list? What would be on the menu? Would there be a theme? etc.).

I also do wedding planning, so I’ve gotten the chance to plan a lot of fun, romantic events. But the party I’d love to throw is quite different than that.

One of my best friends has been a foster mother to about 30 teenagers, besides having six children of her own. She stay in close contact with nearly all of the kids who have lived in her home. Most of them have their own kids call her grandma. (She’s only 45.) I’d love to throw a special party in her honor where all those she’s touched could come together and tell her how she has helped them over the years.

I would hold the party someplace where we could have a big sit down gala and serve her favorite foods—and of course there would be chocolate. Then afterwards, I’d extend the party with just the two of us going on a vacation. She doesn’t get to do things like that. I’d have to hire super nanny to take her place while she was away, too. 

What are you currently working on?

I’m working on book 1 of a new series which is tentatively called The Gregory Girls series. It will come out in May of next year. I’m also getting ready for the release of The Ride of Her Life this May. 


Where can people connect with you online?

I love to chat with readers and can be found at www.lornaseilstad.com , on Facebook, and on Twitter. I think I’ll be dipping my foot into Pinterest this week, too.


Thank you so much Lorna for being on Hardcover Feedback!

GIVEAWAY:

Lorna has graciously offered to give away a signed copy of one of her books, including The Ride of Her Life - winner's choice! If the winner is from the US they may choose a autographed book or an e-book. If the winner is NOT from the US, then they would receive an e-book.

To enter, all you have to do is follow this blog in at least one way and then complete whichever extra entries you want in the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway is open internationally!

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