Today I'm very excited to share with you a new author, Lacie Nation. She's a wonderful friend and writer with Secret Cravings Publishing. Her books are known for their strong characters and tough decisions that they face. I've put Lacie in the hot seat. Here's what she had to say when I grilled her on writing, her life and her book.
Interview Questions for Lacie
Hello and welcome to my blog. I’m so excited to have you here today. I know that the readers are looking forward to learning more about you. Please tell us a little about yourself.
I live in Columbus, Ga with my fiancée and our dog, Libby. I spend most of my time reading and writing. I write from a very personal place and find that creating a story based off of things I have been through is very cleansing. I am extremely close to my family so I tend to use little quirks that I love from my family members to create characters that are realistic.
Now onto some fun questions!
If you could change one thing about our world, what would it be and why?
I would change the fact that people are so cruel to each other. You can’t turn on the news without there being something about an act of violence. I will never understand how one human can hurt another so badly. My brain just doesn't work like that.
That was a very deep question by the way…lol.
If you knew the exact date of your death down to the minute, what would you change about your life starting tomorrow?
Honestly, I wouldn’t change anything. The pain I’ve been through in my life and the mistakes I’ve made have made me who I am now, and I am happy with who I am and where my life is.
When was the last time you felt alive? I mean really alive!
Christmas day when my BF of seven years purposed to me. It was a really amazing moment.
When was the last time you helped someone that was desperately in need? What did you do? Was this person grateful?
My fiancée and I were out to lunch one day and a man approached us. He said he was here to see his son graduate from his Army training (we live near a really big military base). He said his truck had broken down and he didn’t have any money to fix it. He said he just needed $20.00 for the belt that broke. We went to the ATM and gave him the $20.00. He was extremely grateful.
What television sitcom is most like your family? Why?
I honestly don’t know. We could be compared to the show Friends. Mostly because it’s rare that there isn’t total hilarity going on.
What’s your favorite thing to do to relax?
I’m pretty lame because just chilling out with my fiancée is the best. Sometimes we’ll rent movies and just lay around and do nothing.
Let’s find out a little bit about you as an author.
Did you always want to be an author?
Considering I worked in in emergency medicine for 10 years, I would say no. I have, however, always written down my feelings and stuff. I wrote a story about things I had been through just to simply get it off my chest. A friend of mine read it and said if I didn’t submit it to a publisher, she was going to it for me. So, I did and that’s how my writing career began.
What authors had an impact on you growing up and as an adult?
I didn’t read much when I was younger. As an adult there are so many authors that have had an impact, I could’t begin to list them all.
Do you have any “must haves” with you while you’re writing?
Normally, I have to have a favorite movie I have seen about a billion times, some coffee, and if I’m writing a really emotional scene, a bunch of tissues.
What have you learned the most from being in the writing business?
You have to have a tough skin. As a writer, you can’t please everyone and those who may not like your writing are really mean about it. A bad review, especially the first one, can really be a slap in the face.
I hear you about that one. We've all been there! Tell us about your latest release: (blurb, excerpt, cover):
Hello and welcome to my blog. I’m so excited to have you here today. I know that the readers are looking forward to learning more about you. Please tell us a little about yourself.
I live in Columbus, Ga with my fiancée and our dog, Libby. I spend most of my time reading and writing. I write from a very personal place and find that creating a story based off of things I have been through is very cleansing. I am extremely close to my family so I tend to use little quirks that I love from my family members to create characters that are realistic.
Now onto some fun questions!
If you could change one thing about our world, what would it be and why?
I would change the fact that people are so cruel to each other. You can’t turn on the news without there being something about an act of violence. I will never understand how one human can hurt another so badly. My brain just doesn't work like that.
That was a very deep question by the way…lol.
If you knew the exact date of your death down to the minute, what would you change about your life starting tomorrow?
Honestly, I wouldn’t change anything. The pain I’ve been through in my life and the mistakes I’ve made have made me who I am now, and I am happy with who I am and where my life is.
When was the last time you felt alive? I mean really alive!
Christmas day when my BF of seven years purposed to me. It was a really amazing moment.
When was the last time you helped someone that was desperately in need? What did you do? Was this person grateful?
My fiancée and I were out to lunch one day and a man approached us. He said he was here to see his son graduate from his Army training (we live near a really big military base). He said his truck had broken down and he didn’t have any money to fix it. He said he just needed $20.00 for the belt that broke. We went to the ATM and gave him the $20.00. He was extremely grateful.
What television sitcom is most like your family? Why?
I honestly don’t know. We could be compared to the show Friends. Mostly because it’s rare that there isn’t total hilarity going on.
What’s your favorite thing to do to relax?
I’m pretty lame because just chilling out with my fiancée is the best. Sometimes we’ll rent movies and just lay around and do nothing.
Let’s find out a little bit about you as an author.
Did you always want to be an author?
Considering I worked in in emergency medicine for 10 years, I would say no. I have, however, always written down my feelings and stuff. I wrote a story about things I had been through just to simply get it off my chest. A friend of mine read it and said if I didn’t submit it to a publisher, she was going to it for me. So, I did and that’s how my writing career began.
What authors had an impact on you growing up and as an adult?
I didn’t read much when I was younger. As an adult there are so many authors that have had an impact, I could’t begin to list them all.
Do you have any “must haves” with you while you’re writing?
Normally, I have to have a favorite movie I have seen about a billion times, some coffee, and if I’m writing a really emotional scene, a bunch of tissues.
What have you learned the most from being in the writing business?
You have to have a tough skin. As a writer, you can’t please everyone and those who may not like your writing are really mean about it. A bad review, especially the first one, can really be a slap in the face.
I hear you about that one. We've all been there! Tell us about your latest release: (blurb, excerpt, cover):
Blurb:
Jolie Baker had it all, amazing friends, a college degree, and a man she planned to spend the rest of her life with. When her love is killed in action, Jolie has to learn to live again. Three years after Ethan’s death, she moves to Gravity Beach to start a new life. At her new teaching job, one of her students is surprised when her father returns home from war. Jolie never imagined how important the returning solider and his daughter would become.
David Stokes wants nothing more than to raise his daughter, Madison, and give her the best life he can. Because Madison’s mother abandoned them, David is all she has. When he meets his little girl’s teacher on the beach, he is surprised by how much he wants to know her. David sees the pain in Jolie’s eyes, but will his love be enough to ease her tattered soul?
Excerpt:
Jolie wanted to say something profound to him. She wanted to tell him how much she loved him. How important he was to her very being. But, when she pressed her hand against his chest every single word left her brain. There was not a single trace of his normal warmth. His chest, normally firm, because he was a muscular man, now was hard to the touch and she could feel the coldness radiating through the thick layers of his uniform. Jolie jerked her hand away and stumbled back. She couldn’t catch her breath. Her heart beat so fast it was painful. She needed air, so she rushed back through the mourning people and crashed through the front doors of the funeral home. The fingers she’s pressed to his chest still felt cold and the chill seemed to be spreading throughout her entire body. Jolie wanted her love back. She wanted her life back. She wanted Ethan.
Jolie Baker had it all, amazing friends, a college degree, and a man she planned to spend the rest of her life with. When her love is killed in action, Jolie has to learn to live again. Three years after Ethan’s death, she moves to Gravity Beach to start a new life. At her new teaching job, one of her students is surprised when her father returns home from war. Jolie never imagined how important the returning solider and his daughter would become.
David Stokes wants nothing more than to raise his daughter, Madison, and give her the best life he can. Because Madison’s mother abandoned them, David is all she has. When he meets his little girl’s teacher on the beach, he is surprised by how much he wants to know her. David sees the pain in Jolie’s eyes, but will his love be enough to ease her tattered soul?
Excerpt:
Jolie wanted to say something profound to him. She wanted to tell him how much she loved him. How important he was to her very being. But, when she pressed her hand against his chest every single word left her brain. There was not a single trace of his normal warmth. His chest, normally firm, because he was a muscular man, now was hard to the touch and she could feel the coldness radiating through the thick layers of his uniform. Jolie jerked her hand away and stumbled back. She couldn’t catch her breath. Her heart beat so fast it was painful. She needed air, so she rushed back through the mourning people and crashed through the front doors of the funeral home. The fingers she’s pressed to his chest still felt cold and the chill seemed to be spreading throughout her entire body. Jolie wanted her love back. She wanted her life back. She wanted Ethan.
How did you decide on your story plot?
This is the second book in a series. It’s the story of a secondary character from book one, Courageous Dare. I never intended on making this a series, but several people begged for Jolie to get her moment to shine.
How did you choose your characters names and location for your story?
I’m a true southern lady, so the setting, names, and actions are all very southern.
Do you have a favorite scene? Why?
The first kiss between the hero and heroine in, Gravity Beach. I absolutely loved that scene.
Do you have a character that you identify with? Who and why?
I identify with the main character, Jolie. She’s been through hell, but she’s still kicking. She’s strong and while she wants to curl up in a ball and let the pain of her loss crush her, she fights through and ultimately finds happiness.
Let our readers know how they can get a hold of you…
Blog: http://soulshakinromance.blogspot.com/
Website: http://soulshakingromance.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLacieNation
Twitter: @lacie_nation
Is there anything else that you want to share… feel free!!
Thank you so much for having me. I hope you’ll check out the Courage Series. Thanks again!
Lacie's book comes out soon and can be purchased at Secret Cravings Store: and then at ebook retailers everywhere.
This is the second book in a series. It’s the story of a secondary character from book one, Courageous Dare. I never intended on making this a series, but several people begged for Jolie to get her moment to shine.
How did you choose your characters names and location for your story?
I’m a true southern lady, so the setting, names, and actions are all very southern.
Do you have a favorite scene? Why?
The first kiss between the hero and heroine in, Gravity Beach. I absolutely loved that scene.
Do you have a character that you identify with? Who and why?
I identify with the main character, Jolie. She’s been through hell, but she’s still kicking. She’s strong and while she wants to curl up in a ball and let the pain of her loss crush her, she fights through and ultimately finds happiness.
Let our readers know how they can get a hold of you…
Blog: http://soulshakinromance.blogspot.com/
Website: http://soulshakingromance.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLacieNation
Twitter: @lacie_nation
Is there anything else that you want to share… feel free!!
Thank you so much for having me. I hope you’ll check out the Courage Series. Thanks again!
Lacie's book comes out soon and can be purchased at Secret Cravings Store: and then at ebook retailers everywhere.
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