I had the wonderful honor of being on Norma Gail's book launch team for her debut novel. I learned so much about the writing and publishing process. Also, I read an early release copy of this fantastic book. If you like Christian fiction or Scotland, you will love this book. Here is an interview Norma Gail did about the book and the writing process.
Land of My Dreams by Norma Gail
Tell us a
little bit about Land of My Dreams.
Land of My Dreams had its earliest
roots in a dream I had when my husband and I were preparing for a trip to
Scotland for our 30th wedding anniversary. I read so much that one
night I dreamed I lived on a sheep farm. I began to write in 2008, when a
broken foot and bad knee landed me in a wheelchair for 6 weeks and I needed
something to occupy my mind.
Alone and betrayed, American professor, Bonny
Bryant longs for a haven of peace. She accepts a position at a small Christian
college in Fort William, Scotland, craving escape from her painful past. The
passionate love which develops when she meets fellow professor and sheep
farmer, Kieran MacDonell, is something she never anticipated.
Kieran harbors a deep anger toward God in the
face of his own devastating grief. When Bonny’s former fiancé reenters her
life, Kieran’s loneliness draws him to a former student.
How will Bonny decide between her rivals? Can
they set aside the past to make way for a future, or will it drive them apart?
Land of My Dreams spans the distance
between New Mexico’s high desert mountains and the misty Scottish Highlands
with a timeless story of overwhelming grief, undying love, and compelling
faith.
What do you think makes your
style of storytelling unique?
I
think all writers put some of themselves into their writing. Most of the
situations in my writing are things that I or someone close to me has
experienced. I am a very serious person, so I have to work to lighten things
up. I’m very introspective. I write poetry and love words. I want to make the
reader feel the setting—to feel the rain on their face. I want my readers to be
better people and better Christians because they read my book.
Of
course I want to entertain. As a Bible study leader and devotional writer, I
have seen a lot of people struggle with trusting God when hard times come, and
I have struggled myself. It is helpful to use real-life situations to
illustrate biblical principles.
Good fiction can teach valuable spiritual
lessons. People who would never attend a Bible study will read a novel, and
they can learn how to live the Christian life. A novel is a very
non-threatening way to introduce someone to the gospel or get a spiritual
message across. It might open someone open up to talk about things they might
not otherwise discuss.
What was the greatest problem you faced in writing
this book?
It
was challenging to write about a country I had only visited for two weeks and
couldn’t return to for more research. It didn’t matter when I was just making
up a story, but when I became serious, I needed to be accurate. I watched
movies and documentaries, listened to music, and made a screen-saver with over
400 photos, found a Scottish-Gaelic dictionary on-line, and searched sites with
slang and common terms. I found a wonderful writer and editor, Amy Drown, who
had lived in Scotland to edit my book for accuracy.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I
read a lot. I have led women’s Bible studies for eighteen years. I lead two
studies a year, and used to lead three. I love living in the mountains, going
to my mom’s cabin, and vacationing in the mountains. I enjoy taking my Jeep on
4x4 trails in Colorado. I study, write, and enjoy making my home beautiful and
welcoming. I do quite a bit of family history research, which I hope will
eventually lead to a book or two. I collect old family photos and love fixing
them up in Photoshop. I make my own greeting cards, and enjoy making stationary
and cards for gifts.
How can readers find you on the Internet?
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/normagailth/boards/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/b/102717101441594679714/+Normagail/about/p/pub
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7874459.Norma_Gail
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Norma_Gail
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