Interview & Giveaway with Author Judy Christie

It's my great pleasure to welcome back fellow Abingdon Press author Judy Christie!

Q:  What was your inspiration for a series about the town of Green, Louisiana?
A:  A long-time newspaper editor and a southerner, I thought it would be interesting to plop a big-city journalist down into a little Louisiana town and see what happened. The first book was “Gone to Green,” about Lois Barker’s move to Green. But I knew immediately I wanted to write a series and let readers follow the characters. There’s always a lot going on in Green, from marriages to tornadoes to the current threat to close the school. Readers tell me they look forward to seeing what happens next. “Rally ‘Round Green” is the fourth book in the series. “Downtown Green,” book 5, will be out next year.

Q:  Have you always wanted to be a writer?
A:  I didn’t try to write my first novel until I turned 50. It was my birthday gift to myself, and I committed to write a novel before I turned 51. So, I sat down and stared at my laptop for a while and started typing. That was four years ago, and my fourth novel just released. I’m still amazed! I have kept a journal since I was nine and have all of them. For many years I was a journalist and wrote or edited daily. I love putting words together and consider it a wonderful gift from God. I also love to talk! 

Q:  How do you come up with your story ideas?
A:  I have tons of ideas waiting to be turned into novels. I get most of them by paying attention to the world around and making up crazy scenarios in my mind. I ask “what if?” a lot. I carry a notebook everywhere and jot notes on everything from how the sky looks to something one of my brothers tells me. Two of my Green readers recently gave me a subscription to their small-town newspaper because it reminds them of the fictional Green News-Item.I always see potential novels in that paper!

Q:  How does your faith impact your writing?
A:  I believe each of is created to do something with our lives and that we are to slow down and enjoy each day more, using our gifts. I trust God to guide me in my daily life and to help me take the best next step, whatever that might be. I pray every day – including about my work and how God wants me to use my time and energy.

Q:  Do you plot out your story ahead of time, or do you think it up as you go?
A:  I’m a Seat of the Plotter writer, a combination of seat of the pants and outlining. I always know the beginning and end of each novel when I start. I have a general idea of what will happen along the way, but much of it unfolds as I’m writing.

Q:  Do you treat yourself to something special when a project is completed?
A:  I celebrate everything! I think we all should enjoy life more. My husband and I throw a party of some sort for every book I have published – with cake and other refreshments. I have stamps made with the cover of my book on them and send out real snail-mail invites. And, I treat myself along the way. When my first novel sold, for example, I bought expensive and wonderful personalized note cards with a typewriter on them and use them to write notes to the many people who encourage me.

Q:  After becoming a published author, what surprised you the most?
A:  How hard it is to maintain the discipline of sitting down at the computer and writing. There are many distractions, and they all seem more immediate than the need to finish a manuscript. My agent told me early on to guard my writing time, and I try to live by that advice. I am thankful for the opportunity to be a writer. My mother worked in food services, and that’s much harder work than making up stories. I try never to whine about the job of writing.

Q:  What’s the most important piece of advice you would give to a fledgling writer?
A:  Sit down and write. I have a free, very un-fancy tip sheet I send to people who want to write a book. Just e-mail me at judy@judychristie.com if you want a copy. The sheet includes a handful of tips that have helped me.

Q:  There’s been a lot said about the future of publishing and the possible death of the print book. What’s your take on eBooks, self-publishing, and such?
A:  Our world is full of change, and somehow we adapt. When I was a teenager, I listened to albums, then 8-track tapes, then cassettes, then CDs and now my iPod. I still listen to music, just in a different form. I like to read certain books in their “old-fashioned” format, but I also enjoy e-readers. My goal is to write good stories that grab readers, no matter how or where they choose to read. I keep a close eye on trends but try not to obsess on this. I have an excellent agent, and I like working with publishing houses who know way more about publishing and distributing books than I do.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The first place Judy Christie ever drove was to the public library. A longtime journalist, she entered the newspaper world as the editor of The Barret Banner in elementary school. She loves primitive antiques with peeling green paint, walking in the park near her North Louisiana home and sitting on her vintage green Kitchen Couch! She’s the author of the Green series of novels and the nonfiction Hurry Less Worry Less series, including the upcoming “Hurry Less Worry Less for Moms.” Her first Young Adult novel, “Wreath,” will be released this fall. For more information, see www.judychristie.com. Judy loves to visit with readers on Facebook, too.

ABOUT THE BOOK
Rally ’Round Green (Abingdon Press) is the fourth book in the Green series, about the owner of a small-town newspaper in Green, La. Journalist Lois Barker Craig changes the town, and the town changes her. In book 4, newlyweds Lois and Chris want life to return to normal after a horrific tornado, but other threats loom on the horizon. Lois, Mayor Eva, and a group of Green School graduates unite to fight to keep their school open, with surprising – and unexpected -- results.

WIN THE BOOK
If you’d like to be entered to win a copy of Rally 'Round Green just leave a comment on this blog. I’ll pick a winner at random on Thursday, August 11th. NOTE: This time round, US addresses only. Please leave an email address so I can contact you if you're the winner. (To prevent spammers from trolling for your email, please use this format with the brackets--you [at] yourmail [dot] com--or something similar.) Good luck!

Hooray for the Buffet of Ways to Get Your Hands on a Book! by Judy Christie

It's my great pleasure to welcome author Judy Christie back to the blog!


When I was in elementary school, a bookmobile rolled up every so often and parked on the side street. A few at a time, students entered the cool bus of books. I vividly recall the wonder of a new collection of volumes from which to choose.

When I got my driver’s license, the first place I headed was the Cedar Grove Branch Library. Tons of great reading entered my mind from those shelves.

In my second novel, Goodness Gracious Green, the town’s little newspaper organizes a used book sale. I had such a great time writing that scene because I love book sales. As I wrote, I could see books being dropped off in cardboard boxes and lined up on tables.

These days there is a lot of talk (and even arguing) about where people get their books and in what form. While some debate hardback versus paperback, others discuss electronic readers – and the pros and cons of the “page-turning” experience. Some readers champion independent bookstores, while many like the convenience of online book shopping or large retail chains.

I confess: I like them all! The many ways to pick up a book don’t compete, but complement one another. I stroll through my local library, spend hours in used bookstores, and enjoy books on my Kindle. On vacation, I scour tourist information to discover new bookstores. If I have business in a city, I explore the public library.

The buffet of options for where to get books is as wonderful as a great potluck supper at church, where the choices are so good that I take a little of everything – leaving extra room for my favorites.

How about you? Do you have a favorite place to pick up a book? Have you ever stumbled on a wonderful read in an unexpected spot? I’d love to hear about your encounters with books. Leave a comment below. We’ll draw a winner at random and send you a signed copy of either Gone to Green, first in the series, or Goodness Gracious Green, your choice!

Happy Reading!

Judy Christie

ABOUT THE BOOK

Goodness Gracious Green is the second in The Green Series, about charming and uncertain journalist Lois Barker who is trying to settle into her second year in the small southern town of Green. The year has scarcely been rung in before Lois is wrung out, but in the midst of challenges, Lois’s journey explodes with possibilities. The Glory of Green, book 3 in the series, will be out in February 2011. I can scarcely wait for you to see what happens next!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Judy Christie (that’s me) is the author of The Green Series, about the town of Green and the many interesting folks who live there – and how they change a big-city journalist who moves to town. I’m a frequent retreat and workshop leader who loves to help people hurry less and worry less and have written a series of nonfiction books on how to slow down and enjoy each day more. A former journalist, my husband and I live in Louisiana, where I have fun exploring flea markets and used bookstores, wandering through the park and sitting in the porch swing. For more information or to contact me, see www.judychristie.com. I also love Facebook friends and look forward to visiting with you.

REVIEW: Gone to Green by Judy Christie

Sometimes, life doesn't turn out the way we expect it to.

Lois Barker has a game plan. She's already city editor for The Dayton Post, and she's determined to work her way up through the newspaper ranks. But when she inherits a twice weekly paper in the small town of Green, Louisiana, the best laid plans of Lois Baker go astray.

In Gone to Green, Judy Christie has created a small town full of interesting folks. Some of them you will recognize. "Hey, I know someone like that," you may say to yourself. Others, you'll shake your head and think, "Glad I don't know that guy." Still others will make you wish you could drive to Green tomorrow and join them for a piece of pie.

Christie has a very gentle style of writing. Even when a town mystery is about to blow, the pace is as relaxed and languid as a Louisiana afternoon. And that's a good thing. I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Green and the opportunity to join Lois on her personal journey. It's a good one, and I think you'll enjoy it, too.

CFBA presents GONE TO GREEN by Judy Christie - WIN THE BOOK!

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingGone To Green(Abingdon Press - August 2009)byJudy Christie

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Judy Christie is a writer and consultant who lives in Northwest Louisiana. Gone to Green is her debut novel and launches this month as part of the new line of inspirational fiction from Abingdon Press. It is the first of a series set in Green, Louisiana. Judy is the author of the Hurry Less, Worry Less nonfiction series (also Abingdon Press) and loves to help busy people slow down and enjoy each day more. Her next book, Hurry Less Worry Less at Work, comes out in September. Judy likes to poke around flea markets, write in her journal and sit in the porch swing with a cup of coffee.


THE INTERVIEW

JA: You've written several non-fiction books, but this is your first novel. How do you feel being one of the debut authors for Abingdon Press's new fiction line?
JC: Thrilled. Scared. Hopeful. Thankful. I have enjoyed working with the wonderful Abingdon team on several nonfiction projects, and it’s a real blessing to be part of the fiction launch. Plus, the new Abingdon fiction writers are such a fun group. We have a great time!

JA: Gone to Green is about a big-city newspaper editor who moves to a small town to take over the local twice-weekly paper. How much of your own journalistic background came into play as you were writing the book?
JC: I was a reporter and editor for nearly 30 years and can tell you about the ink stains on the floor, the mold in the newsroom refrigerator and how to write a headline or a news story. That certainly came into play when I wrote Gone to Green. But I also called upon my many years as a Southerner and my love of small-town people. What surprised me as a new novelist was how the characters took on a life of their own and shaped the story in unexpected ways.

JA: Lois Barker finds life in Green to be nothing like she expected. What's your favorite thing about Lois?
JC: What I love most about Lois is that she is a strong, uncertain woman who is trying to find the right path for her life – and she needs a course correction here and there to become the woman she was created to be.

JA: What do you hope people take away when they finish reading Gone to Green?
JC: I hope readers are encouraged to see life as an interesting adventure and to take a leap of faith or two along the way. I know different readers receive unique messages from novels, depending on where they are in life, so I look forward to hearing what they get from this story.

JA: What's next for you in the writing arena?
JC: I’m happily and nervously working on Goodness Gracious Green and Green Through and Through, the next two novels in the Green series (2010 and 2011), and getting ready to start on Hurry Less, Worry Less for Moms (Spring 2011). I’m also looking forward to the release of Hurry Less, Worry Less at Work next month (September 2009) and Hurry Less, Worry Less for Families (Spring 2010). Whew! I need a nap!

JA: As the author of the Hurry Less, Worry Less books, what's one tip you can share with readers today to help them get more enjoyment out of life?
JC: Make a quick list (no over-thinking!) of what gives you energy and what drains your energy. Then do more of the first and less of the second. Remember: When you say “no” to one thing, you are saying “yes” to something else. (I can talk about this all day, but I believe we’re supposed to enjoy each day and have fun in life. If you’re not doing that, consider what needs to change.)

JA: The current theme of my blog is The Year of Dreams. If you could realize one life-long dream right now, what would it be?
JC: Love that theme and believe in dreaming big! The release of Gone to Green is a dream come true. I’d sure like to see Gone to Green and the rest of the series on the NYT and USA TODAY bestseller lists!

JA: Last but not least, how can people keep up with your latest publishing news?
JC: Visit me at http://www.judychristie.com/ and sign up for my free e-newsletter. Visit me on Facebook (I love FB friends) or email at judy@judychristie.com.

Come on down to Green!


WIN THE BOOK

If you’d like to be entered to win a copy of Gone to Green, just leave a reply to this blog. I’ll pick a winner at random on September 7th. Please leave an email address so I can contact you if you're the winner. (To prevent spammers from trolling for your email, please use this format with the brackets--you [at] yourmail [dot] com--or something similar.) Good luck!

Abingdon Press launches fiction line... TODAY!

I'm bursting with pride to be among those celebrating the birth of a new Christian fiction line.

Abingdon Press, an imprint of The United Methodist Publishing House, has been in operation since 1789. Now beginning its ninth decade, it has a commitment to providing the best, most effective religious publications available. Which is obvious in this bold new venture. When other publishing houses are talking about scaling back, Abingdon has chosen to expand and enter the world of fiction.

I'm particularly excited about this because Abingdon is the publisher of my next book. The Pastor's Wife comes out in February 2010, but is available for pre-order through Cokesbury at a 40% discount. If you'd like a preview, scroll down to the bottom of this page and take a gander at the book trailer.

But now, it's time to toot the horns of four other very talented writers. Check out these titles, available now online and in fine book selling establishments near you!


Gone to Green by Judy Christie

In Gone to Green, Lois goes from being a corporate journalist at a large paper in the Midwest to the owner of The Green News-Item, a small twice-weekly newspaper in rural North Louisiana. The paper was an unexpected inheritance from a close colleague, and Lois must keep it for at least a year, bringing a host of challenges, lessons, and blessings into her life.

When Lois pulls into Green on New Year’s Day, she expects a charming little town full of smiling people. She quickly realizes her mistake. After settling into a loaned house out on Route 2, she finds herself battling town prejudices and inner doubts and making friends with the most surprising people: troubled teenager Katy, good-looking catfish farmer Chris, wise and feisty Aunt Helen, and a female African-American physician named Kevin.

Whether fighting a greedy, deceitful politician or rescuing a dog she fears, Lois notices the headlines in her life have definitely improved. She learns how to provide small-town news in a big-hearted way and realizes that life is full of newsworthy moments. When she encounters racial prejudice and financial corruption, Lois also discovers more about the goodness of real people and the importance of being part of a community.

While secretly preparing the paper for a sale, Lois begins to realize that God might indeed have a plan for her life and that perhaps the allure of city life and career ambition are not what she wants after all.



Surrender the Wind by Rita Gerlach

Surrender the Wind is the story of Seth Braxton, a patriot of the American Revolution, who unexpectedly inherits his loyalist grandfather’s estate in England. Seth is torn between the land he fought for and the prospect of reuniting with his sister Caroline, who was a motherless child taken to England at the onset of the war.

With no intention of staying permanently, Seth arrives to find his sister grieving over the death of her young son. In the midst of such tragedy, Seth meets Juleah, the daughter of an eccentric landed gentleman. Her independent spirit and gentle soul steal Seth’s heart. After a brief courtship, they marry and she takes her place as the lady of Ten Width Manor, enraging the man who once sought her hand and schemed to make Ten Width his own.

From the Virginia wilderness to the dark halls of an isolated English estate, Seth and his beloved Juleah inherit more than an ancestral home. They uncover a sinister plot that leads to murder, abduction, and betrayal--an ominous threat to their new life, love, and faith.


The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow by Joyce Magnin

The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow is the story of an unusual woman, Agnes Sparrow. No longer able or willing to leave her home, where she is cared for by her long-suffering sister Griselda, Agnes has committed her life to the one thing she can do—besides eat. Agnes Sparrow prays and when Agnes prays things happen, including major miracles of the cancer, ulcer-healing variety along with various minor miracles not the least of which is the recovery of lost objects and a prize-winning pumpkin.

The rural residents of Bright’s Pond are so enamored with Agnes they plan to have a sign erected on the interstate that reads, “Welcome to Bright’s Pond, Home of Agnes Sparrow.” This is something Agnes doesn’t want and sends Griselda to fight city hall. Griselda’s petitions are shot down and the sign plans press forward until a stranger comes to town looking for his miracle from Agnes. The truth of Agnes’s odd motivation comes out when the town reels after the murder of a beloved community member. How could Agnes allow such evil in their midst? Didn’t she know? Well, the prayers of Agnes Sparrow have more to do with Agnes than God. Agnes has been praying to atone for a sin committed when she was a child. After some tense days, the townsfolk, Griselda, and Agnes decide they all need to find their way back to the true source of the miracles—God.



The Call of Zulina by Kay Marshall Strom

Set in 1787 in West Africa, The Call of Zulina opens as the scorching harmattan winds blow. Desperate to avoid marriage to an odious suitor, Grace escapes the family compound only to be caught up in a slave revolt at the fortress of Zulina. Soon, she begins to grasp the brutality and ferocity of the family business. Held for ransom, viciously maimed by a runaway slave, and threatened with death, Grace is finally jerked into reality and comes to sympathize with the plight of the captives. She admires their strength and courage and is genuinely moved by the African Cabeto’s passion, determination, and willingness to sacrifice anything, including his own life, for his people’s freedom.

The Grace in Africa series is a sweeping three-part historical saga of slavery and freedom that takes the reader from an island off the west coast of Africa to Southern plantations and finally on to Canada. All her life, Grace Winslow, the daughter of a mixed marriage between an English sea captain and an African princess, has been sheltered from the truth about the family business--the capture and trade of slaves.