Monthly Archives: June 2012

Past Due, by Elizabeth Seckman.

Interview Questions

I am a mom, a wife, and an incurable day dreamer. I have a degree in counseling from Marshall University and a license in social work. I have way too many pets because I repeatedly fall for the “we’ll take care of it” line from my kids.

Please tell us about you novel, PAST DUE.

Jenna Austin is a widowed, single mom living on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. She is barely keeping her nose above water as the costs of living in paradise and raising a teen-age boy outpace her artist’s wages. Traveling home from a shopping trip, her car breaks down. Jenna is frustrated and thinks life can’t get much worse, but then she comes “nose to chest” with the very handsome and oh, so wealthy, Tres Coulter. Most girls would swoon, but not Jenna. She has a history with Mr. Coulter and no amount of sweet words or empty promises will make Jenna trust him again.   

What inspired you to write it? My sister, Cathy. She requested I write a book for her twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. I said fine. She said she wanted it on the beach. I said fine. She said she wanted it to include the moving of the Cape Hatteras lighthouse. I said fine. To get even with her micro-management, I patterned Jenna after her. That’s why Jenna is a slightly anal retentive artist who can’t cook. Burning a box of Jello? My sister totally did that.

Who is your favorite character and why? In PAST DUE, my absolute favorite character is Maureen, Jenna’s mother-in-law. She’s dumpy and common; wise and giving. I’d love to have her on my buddy list. She’d keep me supplied in cookies and bring me chicken soup if I was sick.

What made you decide to write a book? I’ve always written…but it was something I did for pure enjoyment. I wrote three books before I considered querying. It was my husband who prodded me to take them public. He has faith in me. And he still thinks I’m as hot as when I was twenty. Blind, crazy man. I just adore him.

Who are the writers that inspire you the most? Dixie Browning. My sister (again Ms. Cathy) “found” her books first. She was so in love, I bought her one of Ms. Browning’s books for Christmas and requested an autograph for my sister. Ms. Browning sent the nicest dedication and when I thanked her, I mentioned I’d always dreamed of writing. She said go for it! I sent her a few pages to review and sent me a note back. It said, “You have talent, now learn the craft, and I have no doubt you will see your work in print”. I kept that card and every time I got a rejection, I said to myself, “Oh, well, Dixie says I will.”

Where do you get your inspiration? Mowing the lawn, driving, or waiting to go to sleep at night. When my real world is quiet, my imaginary world is running amuck with activity.

Time for some fun!

What’s your fave color? Pink. I’m a girly girl.

If you were an animal what would you be and why? A pampered house cat. Nobody bosses the queen.

What is your fave food? My pudginess is a testament to the fact that I love everything! Oh, and chocolate can’t be listed as a fave…it’s an essential nutrient. A dose of chocolate is like taking a vitamin.

What is the one writing tip you want to pass on to others? Read your final draft out loud. Wherever you get tripped up and tongue tied…you probably have some awkward sentences going on.

You have the floor, what is the one thing you want to pass on? Forget luck. Rely on hard work.

Links where you can be found?

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Elizabeth-Seckman-Author/361427683923220

Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_12?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=elizabeth+seckman&sprefix=elizabeth+se%2Cdigital-text%2C150

Website http://www.eseckman.blogspot.com/

It has been much to long, so much longer than I ever anticipated for me to actually create another post here.  I am so sorry for the absence, but sometimes the brain just needs a break.  I hate when that happens, because this past year has been so prolific for me.  I am so proud of all that I accomplished.  Raising a healthy toddler, finish 4 novels, having the courage to submit to my publisher(World Castle Publishing), getting accepted, and now regaining the strength and energy to keep plugging away on the keyboard.

So what’s next for this author, you ask?  More of the same, I suppose.  Raising my family, finding moments in between the silence and the chaos to create moments to write, traveling the path to published success.  I would like to finish at least another book in The Destined Series this summer, as well as revise In Rapture when my wonderfully talented beta, Kevenn Smith finishes it.  Those are tentative accomplishments to cross of my list.

My next book, In Chains had a minor set back.  I had close to 3,000 words completed on the first draft, when the laptop I was using died.  I feel it is actually divine intervention, because I was struggling to work on it.  There was just something that was not working, and I was too close to it to actually be able to figure out what it was.  Time and distance away from it, as well as the fact that I no longer have what I started with, all of these things made it easier to “reboot” the story so to speak.  I planned out 5 chapters this morning, chapters that I am excited to complete.

As for, In Flames, well there is a lot to look forward to with that one.  I just received contact from my editor and am super excited to work with her.  I will start revisions maybe as early as next week.  So excited!  I know the hard work starts here and there is still a lot for me to learn.  I am up for the challenge!  I want this book to be the absolute best it can be.  It will always be special to me.  It was a journey of letting go and letting the story go where it needed to go, without holding myself back to my own earthly bonds.

In the next couple of weeks, my blog will be more innovative and active.  I am taking part in a blog tour to help my fellow authors, introduce my followers to new things, and keep my fingers moving on the keyboard. I can only hope to grow from here.