Getting to know you Thursday with Linda S Clare with giveaway

Today I welcome Linda S Clare to my blog today. Its been good getting to know Linda. I read her first book last year when it came out and found it a very good read. Thanks Linda for being on my blog today.

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I grew up in the Arizona desert, mainly in the Phoenix area. I thought of myself as a tomboy, and my dear grandmother would complete that look every year with an ultra-short “pixie” haircut, which I hated. I was adopted by a stepfather when I was around five, but from a very young age I longed to reconnect with my biological father.

2. When you were a child did you have a favourite book or books?

My granddad was the superintendent of a Phoenix-area school district, and I frequently got to hang around the district office and library. I brought home a book from the discard box called The Ant Men by Jay North. It’s set in Australia and is science fiction about some scientists who get lost in the Outback, and their encounters with a race of giant ants and their enemies, the Praying Mantises, as tall as skyscrapers. I loved the story but couldn’t understand why the book was discarded until I reached the final chapter—it was missing! I read and reread that book, making up new endings every time. My family teased me about it, but it was great writer training. I still have that book! (Jenny here, I don’t know the Ant Men but it sounds really cool and I love how you made up endings.)

3. Do you have a favourite Genre to both read and right write?

I love mainstream and literary fiction and women’s fiction. It follows that so far, I write women’s fiction. I never thought I’d be an inspirational fiction writer, but God wouldn’t take no for an answer.

4. Did you have favourite authors growing up who have influenced you?

Besides that Australian author, I grew up wondering what England was like, loving Lewis Carroll, C.S. Lewis. I also loved the Oz books by L. Frank Baum. I read every sci-fi book I could, especially Robert Heinlein. Others who’ve influenced me: Madeleine L’Engle, Barbara Kingsolver, Jodi Picoult and Elizabeth Berg. (Jenny I have to say I love sci-fi but haven’t read a lot of it yet)

5. When did you know you wanted to be an author?

When I was about 10 years old, I wanted to become a mystery author, like Carolyn Keene, Nancy Drew’s creator. Maybe so I could solve the mystery of my other dad, who disappeared out of my life after my adoption. In between ten and adulthood, I majored in Art, taught Art in public schools and raised four kids, including a set of twins. I had to wait a long time to pursue my writing dreams.

6. How did you go about becoming an author?

I began by reading a lot. I wrote during my kids’ naptimes, took pen & pad to the pool and the playground, attended a couple of writing conferences in Oregon, where my husband and I settled. I wrote a lot of poetry, had a few published. Then got a boatload of rejections. I learned so much from those rejections—what not to do, how not to write. After a good long while the rejections began to have handwritten notes on them. “Keep trying!” “Nice, but not for us, send more.” I joined a wonderful critique group. And I wrote and wrote and wrote.

7. If you were not a writer what would you like to be?

A famous movie star would be nice. Or perhaps a painter, a dancer or a singer. But I’m really a writer at heart.

8. Outside reading and writing what do you like to do?

I do a lot of teaching of writing, which I enjoy. Also, I love gardening. Oregon is an awesome green place that is rainy but wonderful. In the rainy cold winter, I stay in and write, when the sun comes out (this year it was July!) everyone rushes to get their flowers and veggies in. I love to walk the beach too, and play with my little grand-doggy, a teacup Chihuahua named Bella. And my five cats threaten to spread vicious lies about me if I don’t mention them too: Oliver, Xena Warrior Kitty, Paladine, Melchior and Mamma Mia! (Jenny again love the cats names and I have heard this about cats)

9. Do you have a place you love to visit or would love to visit?

Well Australia would be great! I’d love to go to the Great Barrier Reef and all the wonderful places in Australia—maybe find out about those giant Mantises.  Also, I’ve always wanted to visit the UK, especially Ireland—my birthday’s on St. Patty’s and I’m in fact a good bit Irish (with Cherokee thrown in). (Jenny again, You would love Australia it’s a vast country and you may find the giant Mantises)

10. If you could have a meal with 3 living people who would you choose and why? I seem to remember someone asking me this before. I don’t remember what I said, so for now I’ll choose: Tom Petty, cuz I love his music, Michelle Obama, because I admire her poise and fashion sense and my editor at Abingdon Press, Barbara Scott, because we have yet to meet and she’s brilliant.

Finally can you tell us about your current books and/or any that will
be coming out soon. Also where we can find you on the web.

My debut novel, The Fence My Father Built, was published by Abingdon Press in 2009. It’s been an amazing experience, a little different than my three previous nonfiction books. My latest project is an historical novel set in the 1880s territory of Idaho called (for now) From Where the Sun Now Stands. Dinah Clark is sent by her parents, as a way to break up her relationship with an unsuitable suitor, to the far-flung Presbyterian Mission to the Nez Perce Indians in Lapwai, Idaho, where she works beside real life missionary sisters Kate and Sue McBeth. Dinah must decide if falling in love with Desmond Pond, a Christian Nez Perce man, can ever be acceptable to her culture. Will she risk everything or bend to the social mores of the day?

My blog! I blog about writing tips several times per week at Linda Clare’s Writer’s Tips (http://godsonggrace.blogspot.com/) or @Lindasclare on Twitter. You can also join my Group, Linda Clare’s Teachings and Books on Facebook, or drop me an email @ Lindas352@comcast.net. I’d love to hear from you.

Giveaway
Linda is giving one of my readers a copy of her book The Fence my Father Built. For a chance to win this book please leave a comment and a way to contact you by Saturday 21st 6pm Aussie time.