Interview with Ronda Gibb Hinrichesen, author of "Missing" -- giveaway winners announced

Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen was born and raised in Rexburg, Idaho. She received her Associates Degree in English from Ricks College and studied writing at Weber State University and Utah State University. Her hobbies are music and reading, and her numerous magazine and internet writing credits include fiction and nonfiction published by The Friend, New Era, Ensign, Guideposts for Kids, Class Act, and yourLDSneighborhood.com. She maintains two blogs, RondaGibbHinrichsen.com and TheWriteBlocks.blogspot.com, contributes to a few other blogs, and enjoys teaching about writing and speaking in various venues. Her award winning novel, MISSING, is her first book.

From the back of the book:

A BYU-Idaho choir tour in British Columbia turns out to be anything but ordinary when soloist Stacie Cox spots a kidnapped child from Rexburg during a performance. Before Stacie can alert the authorities, the little girl disappears. Stacie vows to find and rescue her, a choice that forces her to deal with her guilt-ridden past and another little girl that haunts her dreams. When the handsome Matt Brennan helps Stacie in her search, she tries to resist the attraction she feels for him. Yet as he gains her friendship and trust, her resolve to never fall in love begins to crumble. And after a series of harrowing events, Stacie must decide if she is willing to sacrifice her life--and a possible future with Matt--to save a stranger.
Adventure, suspense and romance are the perfect combination for a winning novel and "Missing" by R.G.Hinrichsen definitely has it all. Hinrichsen has done a superb job of weaving various characters throughout the story and twisting the plot in a way that keeps you guessing what will happen next. I also appreciated that the main character, Stacie, was able to show that we can overcome trials and obstacles if we listen to the whisperings of the spirit inside of us. If you like books that keep you up late reading and give you a story and characters that linger after you've put it down you will love this book.

Here is my interview with Ronda:

M.B.: When did you first know you wanted to be an author?

Ronda: I was in the 6th grade. My teacher was reading S.E. Hinton’s THE OUTSIDERS to the class, and when she reached the section where Johnny urged Ponyboy to stay “gold” I realized I wanted to write "golden” words just as Hinton had. More than that, I wanted those words to encourage the "golden" in others.

M.B.: What was the pathway like for you to get your first book published?

Ronda: Hard work. I began my writing career by submitting to and being published in magazines, especially the LDS Church magazines. I had small children at the time, so I thought if I wrote short stories and articles I could begin to build my name while I learned my craft. After about 15 years of doing that, I decided I was ready to write a full-length novel. I started by creating a critique group with Josi Kilpack and a few other ladies and buying a book on novel structure. It took me three years to write MISSING and another year and a half to find a publisher. Walnut Springs Press was the third publisher I submitted it to.

M.B.: Were you ever discouraged along the way? If so, how did you deal with it?

Ronda: I was discouraged from time to time, but because I was always writing and submitting something, when I received a rejection, I still had hope because I had something else out there. I also received good feedback and acceptances along the way.

M.B.: What is your writing schedule like?

Ronda: I used to believe that my best writing time was from 10 a.m. to noon or so. Now, life is so crazy I write whenever I get the chance, usually in the evening.

M.B.: Where do your ideas come from? How do you know the idea is
good enough to write a book about it?

Ronda: Ideas are everywhere, but the one I think is good enough to write a book about is the one that excites me. The “what if” that makes me want to find out what happens next. The initial idea for MISSING came while I was walking in a parking lot several years ago. I saw a man get out of his car and tell a child to stay inside it. The child was crying and the man was angry. After the man walked away, the kid looked straight at me with a terrified look on his face. My first thought was, “What if that kid was kidnapped?”

M.B.: What words of advice do you have for other writers who desire to
have their manuscripts become books in print?

Ronda: Learn your craft, study the market so you have an idea of what is selling, write what interests you within those parameters, and then submit, submit, submit.

M.B.: What is your process of brainstorming a story? Do you just sit
down and write, waiting to see what happens next? Or do you outline
first?

Ronda: Both. I initially gather ideas as they come to me in a notebook, and then I begin to outline the important points of the story. I absolutely have to know my beginning and my ending or I can’t write. However, as I write from point to point, a lot of “waiting to see what happens” takes place.

M.B.: Do you ever experience a snag in a story, a form of writer's
block? If so, how do you deal with it?

Ronda: Definitely! And the best way I’ve found to get out of that snag is to take my problem to my critique group and let them help me brainstorm my way out of it. They are wonderful and invaluable!

M.B.: Do you need absolute quiet to write? Do you listen to music when
you are writing?

Ronda: I prefer quiet. I can write with other stuff going on, but it’s a much slower process.

M.B.: What kinds of inspiration do you use during your story creation periods?

Ronda: Scriptures, words of wisdom from great thinkers, movies, other books.

M.B.: Who has made the greatest difference for you as a writer?

Ronda: Other than deity, I’d have to say it was Dorla Jenkins, my creative writing teacher at Ricks College. She both taught me important principles and made me believe in my ability to succeed as a writer.

M.B.: Do you use a critique group during the writing process? Why or why not?

Ronda: As I mentioned before, I rely on my critique group. We meet weekly, and most of what we do is help each other with story structure.

M.B.: Which of your books is your favorite, and why?

Ronda: MISSING is my first book, and I really like it. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have written it. I also really like the one I’ve just finished writing but do not yet have under contract. But the book I’m starting to gather ideas for now is what REALLY excites me at the moment. Perhaps my favorite book will always be the one I’m working on? Only time will tell.

M.B.: Where can our readers go to find your books and order them?

AUTHOR: The easiest place is to go to my website at RondaHinrichsen.com because I have direct links there. But you can order it at Amazon.com, Deseretbook.com, and BarnesandNoble.com. It’s also available in other LDS bookstores.

WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK
If you would like to win a copy of "MISSING" please post a comment here and your name will go into a drawing. The winner will be announced next week.

WINNERS OF BOOK GIVEAWAY
Thank you for your awesome response for the book giveaway. The winners were drawn at random and are as follows:

An Angel on Main Street -- Malynne
Saving Madeline -- Laura Derry
Shudder -- Robin

Please email me at micheleabell@gmail.com and send me your mailing address and I will send your books to you.

Next week I am interviewing a dear friend and wonderful author, Cheri Crane. You don't want to miss this interview.

Have a wonderful and merry Christmas. I love and appreciate all of you!

Interview with Diony George and WINNER announced in the Linda Weaver Clarke book giveaway

Author Diony George is a dedicated wife and mother of seven. Originally from Alaska, she enjoys traveling, cooking, appliqué quilting, and spending time with her family. Through personal experience she’s become passionate about helping those whose lives have been drastically affected by pornography addiction. She currently lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with her husband Daryl, and their children.



From the back of the book, Torn Apart:
Alyson thinks her life is perfect. Hectic and tiring, of course, but no more so than any other wife and mother of four boys. But with her husband becoming increasingly distant, Alyson wonders if there is something she’s doing wrong. Little does she know that the actions of someone she loves dearly are about to change her life forever. Alyson never imagined it could happen to her, and when it did she realized it could happen to anyone... Based on a true story, Torn Apart is a heartrending inside look at how pornography can rip families apart and shatter the lives of everyone involved. This growing problem can infect any family and often goes unnoticed for years. Full of heartache and courage, Torn Apart provides hope for those affected by pornography by showing that, through God’s love even this devastating addiction can be overcome.


Diony has courageously tackled a topic that is far too prevalent in today's world. Pornography is destroying lives and families. Torn Apart is a powerful account of a woman who watches her own life and her family fall apart because of her husband's choices, and how she puts her life back together. The message is powerful and will enlighten and inform readers about the dangers of pornography.

Here is my interview with Diony:

M.B.: When did you first know you wanted to be an Author?

DIONY: I grew up loving to write, publishing a book wasn’t something I thought much about, until I knew I had to share my story. I grew so much as a writer in the process, I’m well into writing my second novel.

M.B.: What was the pathway like for you to get your first book published?

DIONY: Wow, it was a long pathway! I wrote the book several years ago, had it edited and began to send it out to publishers. Over about a year’s time, maybe a little longer I received rejection letters from everyone I contacted. That was a blow. I set the manuscript aside, not wanting to think about it. After more editing and lots of prayers I decided to try again. People were brought into my life that played a part in the process and gradually things fell into place. With persistent hard work, editing, editing, editing and editing again, I was offered a contract from a publisher within a few days of contacting them.

M.B.: Were you ever discouraged along the way? If so, how did you deal with it?

DIONY: Absolutely! There were times I had to set my manuscript aside and focus on other things because I was so frustrated. At one point I set it aside for close to a year and tried not to think about it. I kept praying to know what the next step was and sometimes I felt nothing. Once the time was right the answers and guidance came.

M.B.: What is your writing schedule like?

DIONY: I try to block out one day a week to write, or a couple of hours each day, depending on how hectic my life is during that time frame.

M.B.: Where do your ideas come from? How do you know the idea is
good enough to write a book about it?

DIONY: My ideas have come from personal experiences, interacting with others, and life in general. Sometimes great ideas pop into my head at random. The best way I’ve found out if an idea is good enough, is to simply start writing. If it is, thoughts begin to flow and the story builds on itself.

M.B.: What words of advice do you have for other writers who desire to
have their manuscripts become books in print?

DIONY: Never give up if you believe you have something worthwhile to share with the world.

M.B.: What is your process of brainstorming a story? Do you just sit
down and write, waiting to see what happens next? Or do you outline
first?

DIONY: I actually do it both ways.

M.B.: Do you ever experience a snag in a story, a form of writer's
block? If so, how do you deal with it?

DIONY: The best way I’ve found to deal with that is to set my manuscript aside and focus on something else. When I’m not trying so hard to figure out what to write, the ideas start flowing again.

M.B.: Do you need absolute quiet to write? Do you listen to music when
you are writing?

DIONY: I prefer quiet when I write but as a mother of seven, that doesn’t happen a lot. I don’t listen to music when I write.

M.B.: Who has made the greatest difference for you as a writer?

DIONY: I would have to say my mother, and my husband. They both help me in different ways but most of all, they’ve believed in me, when I didn’t.

M.B.: Do you use a critique group during the writing process? Why or why not?

DIONY: I haven’t used a formal critique group per say, but I do have several readers give me their feedback. It makes a big difference in the editing process.

M.B.: Where can our readers go to find your book and order it?

DIONY: Torn Apart is on several well known book seller online sites, including Amazon.com. Deseret Book and Seagull Book and Tape also carry it in their stores.

If you want an autographed copy you can order from my website http://tornapartbyporn.com or my blog http://DIONY-george.blogspot.com

Also, because I truly have mush for brains lately, the winner of the Linda Weaver Clarke book giveaway is . . . Jewel Adams. I made an error in the giveaway (I know how much this shocks you) and the book that is being given is Melinda and the Wild West. It is a wonderful book and is part of the same series. Congratulations Jewel. Please email me with your mailing address and Linda will send your book to you.

What's on My Nightstand . . . WINNER ANNOUNCED and GIVEAWAYS GALORE!!!

The winner of GG Vandagriff's book, "The Hidden Branch" is . . . TAFFY LOVELL.

Congratulations Taffy! You are in for a very late night of reading. Please contact me at micheleabell@gmail.com so I can get your mailing information.

The winner of Linda Weaver Clark's book hasn't been chosen yet, so I will post the results of that giveaway when I have them.

NOW . . . this week, on my nightstand, is the book An Angel on Main Street by Kathi Oram Peterson.
From the back of the book:
Micah Connors promised his mother he would be good in their new town. But with Christmas only three days away, being escorted home by the sheriff does not bode well. Can the towering officer be trusted not to tell what happened? Perhaps the ramshackle stable that has appeared on Main Street will sidetrack him from spilling the day’s events — or maybe his interest in Micah’s widowed mother will do the trick. The last thing Dawn Connors needs is to hear her son is in trouble. She has enough to worry about with her husband gone and her daughter, Annie, ill. Even though Micah has told his sister the rustic structure in the middle of town is simply part of the town’s holiday decorations, Annie is sure that unseen angels are building the crude stable — which means baby Jesus is coming, and he can make her better. Terrified that his little sister might die, Micah vows to find the baby Jesus for Annie, even if it is only a plastic doll. But as Micah gets nearer to his goal he finds angels are closer than he ever would have believed.

This is a precious story that will fill your heart with the Christmas spirit and remind you of the true meaning of Christmas. Beautifully written and filled with nostalgic imagery and timeless messages, An Angel on Main Street is perfect reading for this holiday season.

I will be giving out a copy of this book. To enter please post a comment on my blog and your name will be entered. Please mention that this is the book you want to win.

And because winning is so fun, I am also giving away copies of the book SHUDDER and Saving Madeline.


From the back of the book:
Darcy and Clare grew up as best friends, sharing trials and triumphs from preschool through college graduation. Now they’re sharing an apartment in Boise, Idaho, where Clare just landed a great job and Darcy is pursuing a teaching certificate. There’s only one problem: Blaine, Clare’s boyfriend. His chauvinistic, know-it-all ways set Darcy’s teeth on edge. Darcy vows not to let Blaine ruin her lifelong friendship with Clare, but when Blaine insists on moving in, Darcy suddenly finds herself alone.

The estranged friends forge ahead on seemingly separate paths. Engaged to Blaine, Clare becomes trapped in ugly family politics and vicious treatment from her fiancé. Darcy finds a temporary home with Karlene, an accident victim seeking live-in help, but a twisted plot soon threatens their safety. Clare’s wedding briefly reunites her with Darcy, yet the friends have never been farther apart. And when Clare finds herself in mortal peril and finally calls on Darcy to help, it might be too late.

Jennie outdoes herself with this story and creates a plot with more twists and turns than a bag of pretzels. It's a great mystery filled with suspense and powerful emotion. Anyone who has experienced any type of abuse or seen a friend or family member in this situation will understand the clear message of the story-- abuse destroys lives and should not be tolerated.



From the back of the book:

As a public defender, Caitlin McLoughlin dreams of someday locking the bad guys in prison instead of defending them. But prosecuting jobs are scarce, and Caitlin’s future seems bleak. When her current client is about to walk away from a brutal crime, she risks her career to make sure he doesn’t hurt anyone else. But how far is she is willing to go — especially when she needs her job so she can continue caring for her mentally disabled sister? Then Caitlin meets Parker Hathaway, charged with kidnapping a four-year-old child. Just another criminal, just another job, Caitlin thinks. But when she learns the real story, she realizes that she must put everything on the line to defend her client and save the little girl before it’s too late. Saving Madeline is the story of a man determined to protect a child he loves, and the woman who dared to trust him.

Rachel writes a story that exposes the critical issues of drug abuse, protecting children, and how sometimes our legal system can injure the innocent. Packed with real emotion and depth, I highly recommend this book.

To win either of these books please post a comment on my blog and mention which book you want to win and your name will go into a drawing. Winners will be announced on my blog next week.

Good luck, happy shopping and thanks for being awesome, incredible friends and fans.

AMAZING ANDIE!

I wanted to share this photo of my daughter taken in New York. She is there studying ballet at the School of American Ballet and going to high school at the Professional Performing Arts School where she is a junior.

She was chosen by Grishko, a pointe shoe and dancewear company, as their 2009 Model Search Winner and got to do a photo shoot with Dane Shitagi. He included her in his Ballerina Project, which you can find on Facebook.

I am so blessed to be the mom of such a remarkable young woman.

Here is the information from Facebook if you want to check it out.

Andrea - 66th & Broadway

Grishko's YAGP 2009 Model Search winner

Pointe Shoe: Grishko 2007 Pro

Become a fan of Grishko's NYC Flagship Store: http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-York-NY/GRISHKO-NYC-FLAGSHIP-STORE/193158168443?ref=sgm

Become a fan of the Ballerina Project:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/ballerina-project/22455674948

BONUS Author Interview - featuring Betty Briggs

I'm very pleased to showcase author Betty Briggs, author of Depth of Deceit. Her books are filled with emotion, suspense, romance and adventure. In my opinion it doesn't get any better than that

Betty is the author of four previous young adult novels, Quality Concealed, Image of Deception, Challenge of Choice and A Tuff-to-Beat Christmas. Depth of Deceit is her first book for the mainstream audience. Betty was a legal secretary for more the thirty years, but has since retired. A lifelong and avid horse lover, she owns three horses––a Welch pony, a quarter horse and a thoroughbred that is trained in dressage. The mother of two and grandmother of five, Betty and her husband reside in Utah.

Betty shared with me some interesting information about the cover of Depth of Deceit. "The tree is in Montana. I always look for it while on the way to my parents-in-law’s place on Flathead Lake in Montana. My visiting teacher mentioned that it was a great symbol for deception because it has two tops, as in a truth and a lie. The horse is my thoroughbred, Major, ridden by my friend, Kelli Brown. I took this picture when Major and Kelli were competing in eventing. Eventing is dressage, stadium jumping and cross-country jumping. Major was running between two cross-country jumps in this picture. He won this event, along with numerous others that year and became Novice Horse of the Year in 2008."

I found a wonderful article in Salt Lake Magazine about Betty. If you cut and paste this link into your browser you should be able to see it.

http://www.saltlakemagazine.com/Blogs/Kid-Friendly/November-2009/Exclusive-Interview-Betty-Briggs-author-of-Depth-of-Deceit/


A short description of my book is: How does a lovely young attorney find herself mired in a web of deception? Stephanie Saunders trains horses and fights for the underdog. Pulled into a vortex of danger, she is forced to reevaluate her seemingly perfect life. Is it possible to have a handsome boyfriend, great job, loving friends and horses to adore, yet find herself drowning in a deadly swamp of deceit? If unable to fight off this hidden enemy, she could lose it all.
M.B.: When did you first know you wanted to be an author?

Betty: I have always written to some extent. I think I started my first book in grade school. I still have the first seven chapters, which was as far as I got. Later in my school years, I would take homework home at night so I could write and illustrate stories to entertain my classmates during the day. My favorite assignments in school involved writing stories.

M.B.: What was the pathway like for you to get your first book published?

Betty: Fifteen years ago I joined a critique group, which was the best thing I ever did. I had written a draft of Quality Concealed and sent it out to about twenty publishers and received exactly that many rejections. I had to have something to read at critique group, so I resurrected my draft and began a series of rewrites. When I finally got a presentable draft, I entered it in the Utah League of Writers state contest and a contest sponsored by the Utah Arts Council. It won awards in both contests. I guess that gave me the courage to think about getting it published. Since I’d been the rejections route with the earlier drafts and since I had always wanted to write and illustrate my own books, I decided to independently publish this book so I could do it “my way.” My husband is a wonderful photographer and computer genius, so we set out on our journey to get Quality Concealed into print. That was the first of my now five books. We do everything from scratch, from the covers, inside illustrations, to setting the manuscript up in print form.

M.B.: Were you ever discouraged along the way? If so, how did you deal with it?

Betty: With every big undertaking there is always a bit of discouragement when things don’t go as planned or there are delays. I have always found that if things look dark one day, they usually look better the next. Just push a little harder, or go at them from a different direction. Start with the little things and build.

M.B.: What is your writing schedule like?

Betty: I wish I had one. When I retired, I was going to write at least an hour a day. That didn’t happen. Actually I think I’m plotting in my head almost constantly. When something comes to me I have to write it down immediately or I lose it. I have little notebooks everywhere. When I have to get something ready for critique group, every other Tuesday night, I force myself to sit down and put my ideas on paper. I try to have something ready for each meeting, even if it’s only a page or two.

M.B.: Where do your ideas come from? How do you know the idea is
good enough to write a book about it?

Betty: So far my ideas have come from my own experiences, or the experiences I wish I’d had. I start with a little bit of truth and stretch it. One thing leads to another and before long I’m wondering what’s going to happen. I guess I just hope the idea is good enough to write a book about. It’s been said that an author should try to fill a need. I guess I just write the type of books I feel I’d like to read and just hope others want to read them too. In each of my books, the main character experiences things from my past and the settings are places I’ve lived, so I guess it’s my way of writing a little family history.

M.B.: What words of advice do you have for other writers who desire to
have their manuscripts become books in print?

Betty: Just keep pushing ahead. Read. Go to writers’ conferences. Get involved with other writers. Write and rewrite. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do what you know you must. If no one will help you, do it yourself.

M.B.: What is your process of brainstorming a story? Do you just sit
down and write, waiting to see what happens next? Or do you outline
first?

Betty: I never outline, although I sometimes keep a timeline. I have a notebook handy to jot down details from each chapter so I remember names of minor characters, descriptions, etc., and remind myself of things I need to mention later in the plot.

M.B.: Do you ever experience a snag in a story, a form of writer's
block? If so, how do you deal with it?

Betty: Sometimes I do wonder how I’m going to get myself out of a predicament. I’ll sit down with a steno notebook and just start writing something, anything. At first it might not even relate to the story, but eventually I might get a sentence or even a word that starts me off again. I also bring the problem to my critique group, or talk with someone who has expertise in whatever problem my character is experiencing. In my latest book I met with a veterinarian, visited with a police officer and an emergency room doctor, and brainstormed with my brother, who is a retired FBI agent.

M.B.: Do you need absolute quiet to write? Do you listen to music when
you are writing?

Betty: I rarely write in complete silence. I do a lot of writing in the car (as a passenger), while waiting for an appointment, or even while watching TV during commercials. Sometimes I listen to music, but not any particular type. I have even written while in movies, (sometime hard to read later) particularly if I want to experience how I’m feeling at that particular moment. For instance, if the movie is scary (I really don’t like movies if they are too frightening) I record exactly what my heart is doing, my breathing, etc. and that helps get me through the movie and sometimes it’s actually material I can use later.

M.B.: What kinds of inspiration do you use during your story creation periods?

Betty: I read books and articles on my subject, watch related TV shows and movies, and talk with people.

M.B.: Who has made the greatest difference for you as a writer?

Betty: One particular person in my critique group.

M.B.: Do you use a critique group during the writing process? Why or why not?

Betty: I couldn’t survive without my writing friends. Several of us have been together for fifteen years. I trust their opinions. They don’t let me get away with anything.

M.B.: Which of your books is your favorite, and why?

Betty: I think my newest book, Depth of Deceit, is my favorite. With two knee replacements, a hip replacement, two eye surgeries, a hysterectomy, taking care of my mother and then the death of my mother, it’s been about eight years since I’ve published a book. This is my first mainstream novel and it’s given me reason to be excited about writing again. I’m already thinking about a sequel and I’ve been brainstorming with my brother again.

M.B.: Any final words you would like to share

Betty: Write for the pure joy of writing, even if nothing more comes of it. You will have a little remembrance of yourself for your family.

M.B.: Where can our readers go to find your books and order them?

Betty: My books are on Amazon, or they can be ordered from almost any bookstore. People can also buy them from me, through my website: www.bettybriggs.com or by writing to me at Sunrise Selections, P.O. Box 51602, Provo, Utah 84605-1602 or email betty-briggs@comcast.net. I sell them cheaper.