Born to French-Canadian parents, siblings Lee and Elaine Roy hail from Fitchburg, Massachusetts. That may not be the average start for a bluegrass band, but the Roys path soon led them straight to Nashville.

Their new bluegrass album, LONESOME WHISTLE, will be released soon.

Lee, I understand you learned to play drums on barrels and buckets. What other instruments do you play? Did you study music or are you self-taught?

Yes I did. I also play bass, mandolin, and guitar. I am self-taught. Elaine taught me three chords on the guitar and I took it from there.

Elaine, when did you know you wanted to pursue music as a career?

I have always wanted to pursue music. I started to sing at five years old and always thought I would do that forever.

Has God ever provided an unexpected “detour” in your life that turned out to be positive?

Elaine: Yes, there have been many detours!! Some of our songs crossed over into the Inspirational Country Music genre and have done really well. We just recently won Vocal Duo of the Year for the second consecutive year. That was a detour we did not expect, but what an incredible blessing!!!

Lee: He provides detours everyday…LOL. Six months ago I thought I was gonna be releasing a country album, and here I am now, about to release what is my true musical love, a full on Bluegrass/Americana CD. Every time I think I know where I’m going and how I’m gonna get there, He proves to me that He’s the one in control!!

You recently traveled to Bogota, Columbia, South America, for Compassion International. What was that like? How did it affect you?

Elaine: That was such a blessing. A real eye-opener. The first day we were there we visited a family of six. Four boys and their mom and dad. That family really touched my heart. The living conditions were awful. Dirt floors, an area with no roof, no running water and no heat; that’s just the beginning. That night I really questioned if $38.00 a month really could make a difference in someone’s life. The next day we met our sponsored children. Mine is an eight-year-old girl called Nayelis. I met her grandma that day too, and she was saying what a blessing I was going to be to Nayelis and the whole family. That I was an angel sent from God!! After many tears I realized how, yes, $38.00 a month really changes their lives in many ways. I also realized that most important to them was not just the sponsorship but the letters that Nayelis would receive from me, and to know that someone across the world was praying for her and cared about her. That is very powerful!!! Life-changing.

Lee: It was the most life-changing experience I have ever had. I’m just like every other typical person who thinks I’ve got it bad sometimes. Once you’ve been to a place like that your life is forever changed. I find myself not complaining as much about the needless things in life and being more thankful for the things that really matter—God, family, friends, and health. I’ll never forget meeting my little sponsor child, Miguel. To have an eight-year-old boy who lives in poverty tell me he’s praying for me is pretty amazing. Bogota, Columbia, South America holds a VERY special place in my heart and always will. I love the people there and consider them my newfound friends in God!

Please tell us about your latest recording project.

We have just finished recording our first bluegrass album. We are so excited about this album and all the possibilities. We used Ricky Skaggs’ band, Kentucky Thunder, along with Randy Kohrs on Dobro and Steve Brewster on certain songs on drums. We were even blessed to have Ricky Skaggs and The Whites sing on a song called That’s What Makes It Love. We still can’t believe that happened!!! We feel this is our best album to date!!

Did you write or co-write any of the songs?

We wrote or co-wrote ten of the 11 songs on the album.

That’s What Makes It Love was co-written by Lee and his friend Morry Trent. This is the song that Ricky Skaggs and The Whites fell in love with and sang on. It has four different scenarios of stories all with the same ending, “that’s what makes it love.”

Trailblazer was co-written by Elaine, Steve Dean, and his daughter Bethany Dean. Elaine came up with the idea for the title after sitting in traffic behind an SUV Trailblazer. They wrote it about a girl who never gave up on her dreams and just kept going—blazing her own trail!

Nothin’ I Can Do About It Now was co-written by Lee, Arlis Albritton, and Josh Thompson. Though not in the title, this train-based love story is about a woman who leaves the man behind by taking a train to the next town.

Right Back At You was written by Elaine about going through a heartbreak. The song was like therapy after taking back her power and giving it right back at the person breaking her heart.

Lonesome Whistle. We wrote this while on the road in Maine one night in about two hours. We wanted to write something that was up-tempo for Elaine. We came up with the story of a couple whose life is touched by a train. It carries him off to war, she sits and waits every day for the train to bring him back home and, in the end, the train does bring him back home for his last ride.

Coal Minin’ Man is an anthem for coal miners co-written by Lee and his friend Matt Rogers. This song really talks about what they do and the sacrifice they make. It speaks of the struggles and hard times this career entails.

Everything I Ever Wanted was co-written by Elaine and Lee, along with Steve Dean. Elaine brought this idea to the table after seeing an artist on TV that she really admired and thought she really wanted to be like. But, after glancing over to a picture of Mom, she realized she was admiring the wrong woman. This song is for all moms.

My Oh My How Time Flies was co-written by Lee and Deryl Dodd. It’s about a guy who falls head over heels and realizes how fast time flies when you’re in love.

I Wonder What God’s Thinking was written by Lee after watching the news and seeing a story about a 15-year old girl whose family was almost homeless; it took the system almost a year to realize that fact. The story goes that, instead of trying to help that family to stay together through their hardship, they wanted to split them up. He was so moved he wrote the song about that story.

Give A Ride To The Devil was co-written by Lee and Robert Ellis Orrall. This song is about giving into any temptation—it’s like giving the devil the keys to your life. It’s the story of a young man who makes a few wrong choices and then gets wisdom about going down the wrong road.

The closing song, High Road, was co-written by Pete Sallis and Tia Sellers. Pete is our friend and has been singing this song at writers rounds for as long as we’ve known him, and we have always loved this song. When we started to do the album we knew right away we had to do that song.

A few fun questions:

What kind of music do you listen to when you’re relaxing?

Elaine: Country music or bluegrass

Lee: Bluegrass

If you were a song, what kind of song would you be?

Elaine: An inspirational song

Lee: I have to agree with Elaine, I’d be a song that would inspire people to change the world.

Are you a major or a minor chord?

Elaine: Major chord

Lee: Major

This website is about both writing and music. What kind of books do you like to read?

Elaine: I love reading biographies and anything inspirational. Self-help books, too, are great.

Lee: Autobiographical books… I love to read about the where, when’s and how’s.

Lee, in the story that is your life, are you the tall, dark stranger; the romantic lead; the mythical warrior; the mad scientist; or the child in an adult’s body?

LOL. Well, Elaine would tell you I’m a kid in a grown-up’s body…

Elaine, in the story that is your life, are you the strong, female lead; the girl next door; the mysterious woman behind dark glasses; the super heroine; or the little girl trying to walk in high heels?

In the story that is my life I would be the girl next door. Just someone who is always trying to improve herself and get better every day at what I do.

Thank you both for taking the time to visit DivineDetour!

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For more information about The Roys, logon to their website at http://www.theroysonline.com.

For more information about Compassion International, logon to http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm?referer=113132.

Chris Calleja always had the music inside him—something he didn’t realize until later in life. Now that he has found his passion, there’s no stopping him. A songwriter, singer, and musician, Chris moved to Nashville several years ago to pursue his musical dream. His single, “Running Around On Me,” released to AAA radio earlier this month.

You didn’t pursue music until college. What prompted your redirection in life?

The feel of the guitar in my hands just felt right. Even long before I could play and make sense, I would sit with it in my lap while I was reading or watching TV. Eventually I started writing songs.

The music industry can be a tough place to get a break. What has been your most difficult challenge since moving to Nashville? What has kept you going?

The most difficult thing for me has been maintaining a full-time day job that is very demanding. When your passion is relegated to a hobby, it can be tough to keep a balance of personal responsibility, and the dream that most people never reach for. Anyone with a dream has to remember not to let what you do to survive kill the thing you love.

Has God ever provided an unexpected “detour” in your life that turned out to be positive?

Yeah, music! : )  I was doing quite well in Michigan as a carpenter for a great remodeling company. In short time, I would have made the leap to owning my own company. But the joy that music brings when I listen back to something I’ve just finished…it’s hard to describe the satisfaction. Music is special because when a song is written that’s it. No one else will ever do that same thing again. In carpentry, as well as many other professions, you are doing the same job as everyone else. You just hope to be the best at it. Music is about taste, it’s relative.

Let’s talk about your new single, Running Around On Me, from your album Life Itself (Hawker Records). The single was just released to AAA radio. Please tell us about the song and where people can hear it?

The song was written especially with radio in mind. I wanted something that would lead-off the record well and catch people’s ear when they heard it. It’s fictional, but relatable to a lot of people, I suppose. It can be heard at www.chriscalleja.net.

AAA (Adult Album Alternative) is somewhat eclectic. How would you describe your music?

I would describe my music as a cross between Americana and alternative rock, along the lines of Tom Petty or Ryan Adams….

Are you touring and/or planning to tour in 2011?

Yes. We are gauging the success of the national radio release and, from there, we will tour where the music is having the most success.

A few fun questions:

This website is about both writing and music. What kind of books do you like to read?

I read everything except fiction. I have read a lot from Jon Krakauer. I recently finished a book that is written in question and answer form between a biographer and Bono…very interesting. Bono is very candid about the industry, the pitfalls and the joy of creating in the music biz.

If you were a song, what kind of song would you be?

I would be When We Dance by Sting. : )

Are you a major or a minor chord?

I’m a minor chord, with a major smile. There is a daily battle going on….

In the story that is your life, are you the tall, dark stranger; the romantic lead; the mythical warrior; the mad scientist; or the child in an adult’s body?

I would say I’m the mad scientist. Everything has to sound just right and, if not, I keep thinking about it until I come up with something that might work. But, I would also say, I’m a kid too, because I don’t think the words “songwriter” and “adult” really coexist…there has to be a level of mature that is never achieved if you’re any good at your craft…. ; )

I’m a dog lover, so I have to ask…any pets?

No pets right now…but I’m a huge animal lover.

Thanks, Chris! Best of luck with the new single.

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For more information about Chris Calleja and to hear his music, visit his website at http://www.chriscalleja.net/ (turn up your volume to hear the single).

To download Chris’ album, Life Itself, from Amazon, logon to http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003S86M2Q/ref=dm_sp_alb/186-2006332-4957202.

Born and raised in North Carolina, Davis Bunn now divides his time between the United States and England, where he serves as Writer In Residence at Regent’s Park College, Oxford University. Bunn has sold more than six million books in sixteen languages worldwide and has been honored with three Christy Awards—yet he has a special affection for helping new writers.

His new release, The Black Madonna (Howard, September 2010), is the second book in the Storm Syrrell Adventure Series.

Writing was not your first career. Was it always something you thought you would do some day? How does your faith play into your writing? Has God ever provided an unexpected “detour” in your life that turned out to be positive?

I thought it might be nice to group these first three questions together, because they are all closely interlinked, at least in my life.

I came to faith at age twenty-eight. At the time, I was living in Germany and working as a consultant. I loved to read, but writing anything longer than a business report had never entered my mind.

Life for me was good, at least in earthly terms. We often hear stories of adults coming to faith as a result of failure. In my case, the issue was success. I had everything, and I had nothing. Arriving at a point where my earthly dreams were coming true acted like a wrecking ball. I had two choices. I could turn away from this newfound awareness and go through life blind to what I had glimpsed, or I could look for a new direction. I looked. And Jesus found me.

Two weeks later, I started writing. I can still remember the moment, the place, the setting, even how the room smelled. I remember that feeling of being flooded with something so immense and incredibly powerful I knew that it came from beyond myself. God called. For the second time in my life, I knew that for a fact.

I wrote for nine years and completed seven novels before my first was accepted for publication. Throughout that time, I continued to work as a consultant. It was very hard. I travelled to two and sometimes three countries every week. But this struggle taught me discipline, and something else. Something vital.

I learned what it meant to focus intently upon our Lord and His calling. I came to understand the meaning of sacrifice. And now, when I talk with other new authors and hear their difficulties in finding time and energy and space, I am able to share with them the stress and pain and struggle. And speak to them from this core of experience. Because the truth is, every artist I have ever met goes through this same struggle. The difference is, we have God’s strength and wisdom to help us achieve the goal.

Let’s talk about The Black Madonna—A Storm Syrrell Adventure, your new book from Howard Books.

The Black Madonna is a sequel to Gold of Kings, carrying forward some key characters and pursuing further mysteries tied to religious relics. It is a thought-provoking adventure story, with the external quest for treasures mirroring the internal quest for spiritual truths.

The story opens as a venerable Catholic priest, charged with preparing the icon of the Black Madonna for public display in a Polish church, draws closer to the painting for inspection. Whatever he witnesses leaves him stumbling from the altar, clutching his chest. He lies motionless on the ancient marble floor, as an old woman cries out for help for a dying man.

Storm Syrell’s flush of notoriety over discovering the treasures of the Second Temple has done little to pay the mounting debts of her arts and antiques business. Her situation is exacerbated by the global economic crisis and investment scandals, which have left her lofty Palm Beach clientele with little appetite—or indeed cash—to spend on their next trophy. So she is delighted to hear from a out-of-town buyer, anxious to secure a Russian oil painting. The portrait itself appears to be of secondary quality, so Storm surmises its cachet must be due to some unsubstantiated stories. The painting is linked to superstitious tales of sudden healings and answered prayers. After intense bidding at auction, she manages to secure the work for the secretive new client. Then another assignment is phoned in–another relic, this time in Spain. And then still more relics, taking her to England and Switzerland and Italy.

Storm is forced to contend with a number of bizarre encounters. Is someone out to get her—to keep her from succeeding in collecting these artefacts? Or is she just imagining such threats because of the dramatic turn of events with the temple treasures? When her friend Emma Webb turns up, an agent now on detail with Homeland Security, Storm’s doubts coalesce into fear. National security, Emma explains quietly. A master-forger is at work. Together they must track the clandestine commerce in certain religious artefacts and determine the motives of their buyers and sellers. Other whispers reach Storm—strange voices of Russian oligarchs, and Vatican emissaries, and Rasputin-like figures promising miracles. This is no small game of mis-attributed canvases. Storm is taken to Poland, to a monastery which houses one of the most powerful icons in all Christianity—the Black Madonna. As she gazes upon the scarred image with the open-handed invitation to trust in something beyond herself, Storm resolves to see the mystery through to the end. But when she feels a strong grip upon her shoulder, she turns to face a future she could not have imagined.

What gave you the idea for the book?

For many writers, the seed of an idea germinates for some time before being brought to fruition. The Black Madonna captured my imagination some fifteen years ago, on a visit to the ancient walled monastery at Czestochowa. My wife, Isabella, is of Polish heritage. As I came to know her family and the traditions of the Catholic Church, I learned about the importance of images and rituals in sustaining faith. While we were in Krakow one summer, her ailing uncle Marian expressed a desire to go on one final pilgrimage to Our Lady of Czestochowa.  This turned out to be an extraordinary journey, awhirl with equally astonishing legends.

It is said that the Black Madonna was painted by Luke the evangelist on the wooden board that served as a table for the holy family. From Jerusalem the painting made its way to Constantinople and eventually to the church in Poland. Since the early 1400s, the painting has sustained the Polish people though occupations and division and Nazism and Communism, and was linked to the Solidarity movement which eventually brought about Poland’s independence.

The Black Madonna depicts Mary holding the baby Jesus, who extends His hand in a blessing to the viewer. The surface is darkened by centuries of smoke and incense. Seven hundred years ago, the mother’s face was scarred by a Tartar’s sword thrust. Today, the Black Madonna remains Poland’s holiest relic and one of the country’s national symbols. The church that houses it is an elaborate Baroque-styled structure with worn marble floors.

And what of Uncle Marian—did he receive the miracle he was praying for? Surely he still felt frail upon settling back into the car for the journey home. But he whispered to Isabella, “Now I can die in peace.” So I, too, can appreciate the power of the Black Madonna—not so much as a source of victory—but as a symbolic reminder of divine protection.

I understand you are working on another book with Janet Oke. When will your new book together be released?

Janette and I have written eleven books together. This newest story, entitled The Damascus Way, is slated for release in January of next year. This story completes a Biblical trilogy that includes The Centurion’s Wife and The Hidden Flame.

The greatest lesson I personally have gained from this series is how our world is reshaped through the vision of Jesus. This is a truth revealed time and again through the Book of Acts. We hope this same truth will shine within our pages. Our hope is that each of these stories will ignite in the reader a new hunger to enrich themselves through the treasures found in the Book of Acts.

Our first book, The Centurion’s Wife, dealt with the forty days between the resurrection of Jesus and the arrival of Pentecost. The key component of our second book in the series, The Hidden Flame, was what I called the passing of the torch. Jesus left, and His disciples took over. They moved from the position of followers to leaders. What an enormous challenge that must have been, and yet how similar it is to the challenge any leader faces today.

In the third book of our trilogy, we create a story based upon outreach. We look at what it means to engage in evangelism, and seek a clearer understanding of the challenges and mysteries faced by those earliest believers. And we seek to enrich the glorious moment when Saul, the early church’s greatest enemy, was called to faith by our Lord.

A few fun questions:

This website is about both writing and music. Do you also have musical talent?

I have always loved music. For my fourth birthday my grandmother gave me a little 45 rpm record player and a stack of classical records for children. I wore those suckers out. For my sixth birthday she gave me an accordion, something her son—my father—has yet to forgive her for. I shifted to the trumpet at age eleven, because the school band didn’t have a spot for an accordion, which was great as far as I was concerned, because the band gave me the trumpet. All I had to do was play it. Like that was going to be tough. And my father thought the accordion was loud.

But I didn’t have the talent to go pro. It was a tough thing to accept, I shifted to what local bands in high school were called—combos—that’s a word I bet a lot of your readers have never heard of. We played beach music—what was hot in the late sixties and seventies in North Carolina. Four Tops, Temptations, all that. I loved it. But I also realized there was a world of difference between playing someone else’s creation, and creating it myself. When I went off to college, I just stopped. It’s amazing to think it left so quickly. But I was sort of burned out by then. And sports were a big part of my life, and I didn’t have time for both at the collegiate level. But I have always continued to love music. Nowadays I listen to a range of music that can only be called bizarre. Everything from Christian rock to fusion jazz to opera. And bluegrass. And flamenco. Like I said. Bizarre.

Are you a major or a minor chord?

What a beautiful question. A song done mostly in a major chord, with a minor refrain.

In the story that is your life, are you the tall, dark stranger; the romantic lead; the mythical warrior; the mad scientist; or the child in an adult’s body?

That’s an easy one. I’m the perpetual eleven year old mad scientist who invents the incredible potion that turns him into the tall dark stranger who hides a warrior’s gift beneath his Valentino duds.

And a requisite question here at DivineDetour, are there any pets at the Bunn household? Dogs? Cats?

My wife and I love pets. Love them. Right now, though, we are both involved in teaching and working six months each year in the US, and six months in England. As a result, we can’t have pets. But when this phase is over, we have already decided what we are going to get. We intend to buy a baby Himalayan kitty and a baby Dutch Dwarf bunny and raise them as a family. I want a dog too. A West Highland terrier. My wife has drawn a line in the sand. I’m trying to erase it. More on that later.

As a writing instructor, what’s the most important thing you teach your students?

It remains a great pleasure to work with new would-be authors. Truly. I wrote in the lonely wilderness for nine years and finished seven books before my first was accepted for publication. Anything I can do to assist other authors to avoid some of the pitfalls I struggled through is a genuine pleasure.

The most important advice I can possibly offer a Christian author is this:  Attend one of the major five-day Christian writers’ conferences. Seven are listed here. I have selected these because they are large enough, and so well-established, that every major publisher and agent will attend at least one of these each year, and perhaps more. This is a crucial component of a successful conference. Do not be swayed by one that is quicker, closer, or cheaper. You need to have the connection to the commercial world, and see your work through the eyes of those people who have the power to offer you a contract.

There are a number of significant differences between one of these Christian conferences and the mainstream counterparts. Most of these began as church-based ministries, and ALL of them see their work as a service to our Lord. The same is true for the teachers. We come in order to serve God and further the Kingdom’s work.

The days are basically split in two. In the mornings are ‘major tracks’, ongoing classes designed to cover the basic nuts and bolts of your chosen direction—fiction, non-fiction, song and poetry, magazine articles and greeting cards, and screenwriting. The afternoons are focused upon the commercial side of the writing world—meetings with agents and publishers, classes on pitching and presentations and marketing, and so forth.

Two other advantages come from attending such a conference. The first is, you have the opportunity to discuss your work with other authors, and know what it means to translate a private dream into a commercial reality. The second is, you are granted a set of realistic expectations and tools for change. Both of these are vital components to growth and success.

The main Christian writers conferences are as follows:

The American Christian Fiction Writers Conference, each September, location varies

http://www.acfw.com/

The Write to Publish Conference, Wheaton College, Illinois, each June

www.writetopublish.com/

The Christian Writers’ Guild conference, Colorado, each February

www.christianwritersguild.com/

The Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, Santa Cruz, every April

http://mounthermon.org/adult/professionals/writers-conference

The Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference, each May

www.lifeway.com/lwc/files/lwcF_2008_BRMCWC_Brochure.pdf

The (formerly) Glorietta Christian Writers Conference, New Mexico, each October

http://www.classeminars.org/Events/Writers-Conference/

The Florida Christian Writers Conference, each February

www.flwriters.org/

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For more information about Davis Bunn, visit his website at http://www.davisbunn.com/ and/or his blog at http://www.davisbunn.com/blog/.

To purchase The Black Madonna or other books by Davis Bunn at Amazon, logon to http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_10?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=davis+bunn&sprefix=davis+bunn.

To purchase The Black Madonna at Barnes & Noble, logon to http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Black-Madonna/Davis-Bunn/e/9781416556336/?itm=10&USRI=davis+bunn.

To purchase The Black Madonna or other books by Davis Bunn at Christianbook, logon to http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find/1129271389?Ntt=davis+bunn&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCN&nav_search=1&cms=1&search=.

Carrie Underwood immediately came to mind when Vernell Hackett was asked to write a biography for a celebrity who has been a positive influence on America’s youth. The resulting book, Carrie Underwood: A Biography (Greenwood, September 2010), focuses on the dynamic career of “the-girl-next-door,” as well as her dedication to worthy causes like the Humane Society and the USO.

A freelance journalist, Hackett has contributed to a number of iconic country music publications during the past two decades.

How old were you when you first knew you wanted to be a writer? Which came first for you—creative writing or journalism?

I was around ten years old and in the fourth grade in Riesel, Texas, when I started writing short stories. From the moment I started to read I was in love with books, and I’m sure that is what stirred my interest. At first I wrote really bad mystery stories, which my brother patiently took to a writer friend of his in Houston who oh so gallantly made suggestions to me. Then in junior high, I was asked to write on the school newspaper, The Indian, which was published each week in the weekly newspaper, the Riesel Rustler. It was then I discovered the art of the interview, and that if you were a reporter vs. a creative writer, you could ask anyone anything and they usually would answer you. A whole new world opened up for me as a writer once I made that discovery!

How did you break into entertainment journalism?

I was studying journalism at Sam Houston State University, with a minor in history and a near-minor in criminology. At that time my goal was to be a police reporter for the Houston Chronicle because I loved hearing all the stories about criminals that my brother, a Houston police detective, told me. But I also loved country music and I subscribed to Country Song Roundup while a junior at Sam Houston. As I read those stories in that magazine, I thought to myself, ‘You could write about country music too. Why don’t you go to Nashville when you graduate?’ That was my turning point in journalism, from a career in crime to a career in music!

I got married to Ken Hackett right out of college, and after a short tenure in Buffalo, New York, we moved to Nashville. I worked for the Country Music Association the first year I was here, which was a great training ground for me because everyone in music came through their door at one time or another. In one week I met Johnny Cash and John Wayne. I knew I was going to love living in Nashville!! I wrote for the CMA magazine, Close-Up, and loved my time there, but after a year I wanted to strike out on my own as a journalist. Not too long after I left the CMA, I started writing for Country Song Roundup, the magazine that gave me the idea to get into country music to start with.

When I was studying journalism at Sam Houston, one of my teachers, Leon Hale, was a freelance writer in Houston. As I heard him talk about the freedom he had as a writer, I aspired to one day be a freelance writer too. By the way, the last time I checked, Mr. Hale was still ‘freelancing’ for the Houston Chronicle!

I worked various other jobs throughout the years, including editing two great magazines, Country Hotline News and American Songwriter. In 1986 I did become a full-time freelance writer, working for various publications and online sites, taking a few side trails along the way to work for Westwood One/Metro Radio Network, John McEuen, Pinecastle Records, and Rural Rhythm Records.

Who/what influenced your writing career the most?

I believe my love of books, and reading about all those exciting places and people in them, made me want to write. I had a lot of encouragement from people who saw my desire to be a writer, including my brother and my parents.

In high school I had an English teacher, Vickie Johnson, who saw my love for writing. Despite the fact that we had no journalism class, she found a textbook on journalism and gave it to me to study on my own. Then she took me to numerous writing competitions all over the state of Texas, on her own time, to encourage me to develop my writing skills. Somewhere I still have ribbons from contests that I won or placed in. I didn’t realize at the time what a sacrifice she was making to take me to all those events. I was just having a good time!

Another teacher, Mr. Westbrook, helped me get a scholarship to Sam Houston State University so I could get a foot in the door at the school. After that initial year, I worked my way through school. If he had not encouraged me to apply for that scholarship I’m not sure what I would have done as I had not saved money to go to college when I was in high school.

In college, the aforementioned Leon Hale was a big influence, as was another professor there, Ferol Robinson. They were very encouraging and offered words of advice along the way.

Has God ever provided an unexpected “detour” in your life that turned out to be positive?

When I was editor of Country Hotline News and American Songwriter, I was totally content. I loved what I did with those publications and I was not thinking about being a freelance writer. But suddenly and unexpectedly the company that owned them went bankrupt, and I was faced with a decision as to what my next job might be. At that point I said to myself, “Well you’ve always wanted to freelance. Let’s see if you can do it.”

Jim Sharp ended up owning American Songwriter so he offered for me to stay onboard as editor of that magazine on a freelance basis, with no set salary. From that base I started to pitch to other magazines including Country Song Roundup, Countrystyle, and Amusement Business, and soon I was doing pretty well as a freelance journalist. Imagine that! If the company had not declared bankruptcy, I doubt that I would ever have pursued the freelance route, as I so loved working for those magazines as editor.

Let’s talk about your new book, Carrie Underwood: A Biography (Greenwood, September 2010). Please tell us about it.

The book on Carrie basically takes the reader through her life, focusing on the years from the time she won “American Idol” through her wedding and recent tour. I touch on her hometown and family, and some of her early gigs before she auditioned for “Idol.” I think, for those who are fans of Carrie, and those who enjoy reading celebrity bios, the book would include all the information on the singer in one place, for the reader to get a good idea of who she is and where she is going. It also includes background on her hometown in Oklahoma, Nashville, and the music industry, and gives readers a little insight into how the music business works.

Greenwood does a series in which books about celebrities who are positive influences for young people are placed in junior and high school libraries, as well as public libraries. Carrie’s book is in that series. When I was first approached to write a book for this series, Carrie was the first person I thought of who might appeal to young people because of her popularity on “American Idol” and continued popularity in country  music—and because she truly seemed to be “the girl next door.”

How long did it take you to research the book?

It took me about six months to research the book, but I continued to do research throughout the 12 months that I was given to research and write it. I went through magazines at the Country Music Hall of Fame, read everything I could on the Internet about her, and went through the “Tulsa World’s” newspapers online to read about her. I also had done four or five interviews with Carrie since she had won “Idol,” so I had a lot of quotes to pull from. Some of my friends, including Deborah Evans Price, were kind enough to let me read through some of their interviews with Carrie as well, which was extremely helpful to me to get more insight into her personality and background.

Besides providing entertainment, what is the one thing you hope readers will take away from this book?

I would hope that some young person who loves music and is thinking about it for their career, will find my book one day when they have to write a book review, and they will read it and go, “Wow, Carrie did all this and she didn’t get into drugs or go to jail for a DUI or any of that stuff I hear that some celebrities do. I think I’m going to try to model my career after all the good things that she has done.” That would be a total compliment to Carrie, and it would be cool to think that something I wrote might inspire that.

You are also a freelance journalist and work with several national and international magazines and online outlets. Where do your bylines regularly appear?

I write on a regular basis for www.theboot.com, which is AOL’s country music website. I also contribute articles to a variety of other publications and websites including Venues Today, Country Weekly, Gospel Music Channel (GMC), and to Reuters News Service. I have also written for The Quilter, American Cowboy, Rope Burns, The Bullrider, and Billboard.

A few fun questions…

What do you like to read when kicking back with a good book?

Any good spy or detective novel, like Robert Ludlum or Susan Wittig Albert. I also like stories about animals, as well as uplifting and spiritual books.

What kind of music do you listen to when you’re relaxing with the radio or an mp3 player?

I listen to a wide range of music including country, rock, gospel, Americana and bluegrass. My iPod has everyone from Dierks Bentley to Kid Rock, the Gaither Vocal Band, the Black Crowes, Dickey Lee, Earl Thomas Conley, Miranda Lambert, Brenda Lee, Alvin Crow, Toto, Joe Ely, Michael Martin Murphey, Larry Stephenson, the Oak Ridge Boys, Jamey Johnson, and Hank Williams, Sr. on it at any given moment!

When the words aren’t flowing—or when you want to celebrate if they are—what is your favorite comfort food and why?

Mexican food probably, though I love a good meat loaf or a Texas sized chicken fried steak, both served with mashed potatoes and green beans. And ice cream of course!

If you were a song, what kind of song would you be?

Okay that’s a hard one because I think the song would depend upon the day. But overall I think I would be a story song about real people in real life situations that could portray tragedy but overall would offer a positive solution in the end.

Are you a major or a minor chord?

I think I would be a minor chord though I can’t explain why I think that!

In the story that is your life, are you the strong, female lead; the girl next door; the mysterious woman behind dark glasses; the super heroine; or the little girl trying to walk in high heels?

Absolutely the mysterious woman behind dark glasses! That goes back to my love of mystery and intrigue.

I’m a dog lover—and I noticed in the advance copy for Carrie’s biography that she works with the Humane Society. Does she have personal pets? Please tell us about your personal pet or pets.

One of the things I loved about Carrie when I got to know a little about her is that she is vegetarian and she loves animals. She has a dog, Ace, who travels with her, and I believe she still has a couple dogs who live with her parents in Oklahoma that were her dogs when she was living at home before “American Idol” fame. She has said many times she could live without singing again but never without her four-footed friends.

I have a dog, Shadow, who is a King Charles spaniel mix. I also have five cats—Dakota, Jerry (real name Geroni-meow), Montana, Bandit, and Sage. And I share an outdoor cat, Rocky, with my neighbor. Plus I have several goldfish and a beta fish named Rio. I love animals and have had pets since I was a kid in Texas. I am not real active in pet rescue work, but I do what I can if I find a stray, to get it into a good home (obviously some have ended up in mine as all of my animals found me except for the fish). I also occasionally drive pet transports, helping move an animal from a kill shelter to a no-kill shelter or to their new home. That is a very cool thing to do when I have time and resources. Just recently I ended up with nine puppies at my house because a transport got mixed up for about 12 hours. That was a pretty interesting experience! I’ll just say Shadow and the cats were not really happy about sharing their home with nine strangers!

Thanks for inviting me to be a part of this great website, Kathy. You do an awesome job with the people you interview and the very interesting content on it.

Thanks so much, Vernell! It’s great to have you here!

~ ~ ~

For more information about Vernell’s books, visit http://www.amazon.com/Vernell-Hackett/e/B003R7QXLS/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0/188-8547537-6745953.

To order Carrie Underwood: A Biography, logon to Greenwood Publishing Group, http://www.greenwood.com/catalog/GR7851.aspx.

Or to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Carrie-Underwood-Biography-Greenwood-Biographies/dp/0313378517/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279919771&sr=8-1.

Or to Barnes & Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Carrie-Underwood/Vernell-Hackett/e/9780313378515/?itm=1&USRI=vernell+hackett.

Winning the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year award is special, but winning the ACFW Carol Award in its first year is historic. Alice Arenz, writing under A.K. Arenz, became part of that history last month when her book, The Case of the Mystified M.D., won the first Carol in the Mystery category.

Alice’s new book, Mirrored Image, released in October, debuted at the ACFW conference.

When did you begin your writing journey? Has it been a straight or a crooked path?

I first started writing when I was twelve—though I enjoyed making up stories and sharing them long before that.

I’m not sure how to answer the second part of the question. I mean, in some ways it might seem as though the journey was crooked, but then again, maybe not. Everything I’ve been through has been a learning process—even when I didn’t think it was, or couldn’t see why things kept turning out the way they did. But while I was wondering all of this, God knew exactly where He was taking me.

What would you want to do if you didn’t write?

Yikes, this is a hard one! Because of my strange health issues, hypersensitive fingers/hands and other things, writing isn’t always the easiest thing for me to do, but it is the most rewarding now that my kids are grown.

When I was a kid, I’d thought being an archeologist would’ve been cool. Then I learned that sometimes that meant being in tiny, enclosed spaces, so that wouldn’t have worked well for me. Um . . . to be honest, having my daughters and writing have been my life, and I wouldn’t trade those for anything!

Who/what influenced your writing career the most?

I’ve wanted to write since reading my first books and seeing my first movies. The creative process has always fascinated me. But putting words on paper/typewriter/computer, notice the progression of the years : ), hasn’t always been an easy process. When I TRY to do it, I’m not usually very successful. I eventually discovered that without praying first—even a “Dear God, help!”—it didn’t work very well. It was one of those fervent cries that led to The Case of the Bouncing Grandma, my first published book. So I’d have to say God has influenced my career the most.

Your book, The Case of the Mystified M.D. (Sheaf House, October 2009), recently won the ACFW Carol Award. And your first book, The Case of the Bouncing Grandma (Sheaf House, October 2008) was nominated the previous year for Book of the Year. Congratulations! What advice would you give young writers who are looking for their first break?

Thank you for the congrats! My advice for young or older writers is that if you feel that this is where God is leading you, then never, ever, give up. That might sound trite coming from a published author, but you need to remember that from the early 1970s until 2008 I was one of you.

How does your faith play into your writing?

All through the 80s and 90s my rejections were full of comments, like my manuscripts were too “nice.” I never quite understood that comment—though the agent I had in the 90s said that I needed to juice things up a bit. It wasn’t until I discovered Christian fiction that I understood it wasn’t my writing, it was the market I’d been trying to break into. So, even when I didn’t know it, I was writing Christian fiction.

Has God ever provided an unexpected “detour” in your life that turned out to be positive?

Yes, He did. I had an agent for five years in the mid-90s. At the end of those five years, and no bites on my work (and little submission on the agent’s part), we went our separate ways. This, plus a divorce, breakdown, and remarriage, changed my life dramatically. I swore off writing, convinced that it had been a foolish dream, and I needed to live in reality. Then I read Brandilyn Collins’ book Eyes of Elisha.

Within days of emailing Brandilyn and learning about ACFW, I became a member and started the learning process all over again. After nearly seven years of not writing, I found myself writing again. Less than two years later, Sheaf House bought that book—The Case of the Bouncing Grandma.

Let’s talk about your new book! Please tell us about Mirrored Image (Sheaf House, October 2010). Where did you get the idea for the story?

Like all of my manuscripts, little bits and pieces of the story were gradually revealed to me—I’m not just a seat-of-the-pants writer, I’m also someone who waits until the people running around my brain are yammering to be let out before I start to write. The one thing I can tell you for certain about Mirrored Image is that the journey began in 1986 when it was first written. It has been re-written almost every year since then. This version’s the best!

What are you writing now? What’s next, a mystery or a romantic suspense?

I’m currently working on An American Gothic—another story that has been years in the making. : ) Gothic is a mystery/romantic suspense—more mystery and suspense, but with enough of a romantic angle to make things interesting. Think of the older classic authors like Phyllis A. Whitney and Mary Stewart, but up-to-date.

A few fun questions…

When the words aren’t flowing—or when you want to celebrate if they are—what is your favorite comfort food and why?

Food and I don’t get along very well—or maybe that’s too well? Give me a bottle of water and I’m happy.

Do you have musical, as well as literary, talent?

I love music, but don’t play any instruments.

What kind of music do you listen to when you’re relaxing with the radio or an mp3 player?

It all depends on my mood at the time. Radio would be oldies rock ‘n’ roll—60s to 90s. My CDs range from Christian rock to The Monkees, and everything in between. I even have a few soundtracks from movies (Somewhere in Time, Titanic, Robin Hood – w/Kevin Costner, not the new one!)

If you were a song, what kind of song would you be?

Um . . . something light and a little goofy. Like The Monkees’ I’m Gonna Buy Me a Dog or Ray Stevens’ The Streak. I’d like to say something more melodic would fit me, but . . .

Are you a major or a minor chord?

I don’t know enough about music to really answer that. But, to guess, minor?

In the story that is your life, are you the strong, female lead; the girl next door; the mysterious woman behind dark glasses; the super heroine; or the little girl trying to walk in high heels?

I’d have to say that at one time or another I’ve been each of those. Right now, I’m just trying to fit in the best way I can.

Please tell us a little bit about your family and your pets.

I have two beautiful grown daughters—Kelly and Randi—and four incredible grandchildren, Madison, Connor, Chloe, and Camden. I’m married to Chris and we have two persnickety Himalayan cats.

Thanks, Alice!

Thank you, Kathy!

~ ~ ~

For more information about Alice, visit her website at http://www.akawriter.com/.

To order Mirrored Image from Amazon, logon to http://www.amazon.com/Mirrored-Image-Alice-K-Arenz/dp/0982483279/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273243019&sr=1-1. Or visit Alice’s author page at http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_at_ep_srch?ie=UTF8&search-alias=books&field-author=A.+K.+Arenz&sort=relevancerank.

To order Mirrored Image from Barnes & Noble, logon to http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Mirrored-Image/Alice-K-Arenz/e/9780982483275/?itm=1&USRI=Mirrored+Image+by+Alice+K.+Arenz.

To order Mirrored Image from Christianbook.com, logon to http://www.christianbook.com/mirrored-image-alice-arenz/9780982483275/pd/483275?item_code=WW&netp_id=795228&event=ESRCN&view=details.

Scriptwriting wasn’t exactly what Emily Sutherland had in mind for her life, but God had other plans.

A number of years, and many blessings, down the road of her personal journey—she has written scripts for more than two dozen volumes in the award-winning Gaither Homecoming series.

Many writers know they want to write from a young age, how about you? How did you prepare for your writing journey?

As far back as I can remember, I loved writing; I cherished the idea of writing for a living. But I was studying people like Emily Dickenson who were stricken with illness and poverty because their writing didn’t yield enough income. In my youthful ignorance, I thought if I pursued a writing career, I was resigning myself to poverty and loneliness! And I was cool with that!

I eventually decided on a business degree, but still, I gravitated to writing and I wrote all the time in my free time. (And by “all the time” I really mean ALL the time.) I surrounded myself with writers who mentored me and challenged me, and I read some wonderful resources about the craft of writing. I literally devoured any book that would help me hone my craft or would encourage creativity.

During and after earning my bachelor’s degree in business, I realized for the first time that becoming a professional writer was a very real possibility for me. By that time, I was working at a company that was founded by writers and where writing and creativity were highly valued. So becoming a full-time writer was a natural progression. As I got better, I was given more writing assignments…and the more writing I did, the better I became. (I still have a ton to learn, don’t get me wrong.)

What led to your position at Gaither?

Honestly, sometimes I still can’t believe I’m here after 13 years! My sister was working for Gloria when an opening came up in the company that fit my skills. Someone in leadership who liked my sister’s work ethic happened to ask her if she had a sister just like her. Well…she did! After the interview process (and I must interject here that I interviewed terribly, which was very unlike me) I was hired as an executive assistant. I stated during my interview that my passion was in writing, but it was my other management and organizational skills that got me in the door. Within a couple weeks, I was writing commercials and marketing copy, but those weren’t my main tasks for several years.

In 2000, I was moved to a new position, where I was in charge of writing all the web content for the company’s website, Gaither.com. That job eventually morphed into all kinds of other additional writing, including magazine articles, product packaging, souvenir books…and eventually, video scripting for the Homecoming series. I still can’t believe they let me do this stuff for my job. What a great gig!

What are your day-to-day responsibilities as a scriptwriter? What process do you go through from research to final script?

It probably seems strange to talk about “scripting” because Bill is such a natural communicator. He doesn’t need THAT much help. But to introduce a program and tie segments together smoothly, it takes a concentrated effort to word those transitions and intros very intentionally for the sake of time. Mr. Gaither knows exactly what needs to happen to make a program unfold, so we’ve developed a really great system so I can help him come up with the most concise and simple way to word what he wants to say in language that’s natural for him.

As many Homecoming DVDs as we release every year, you might be shocked at how little time is devoted to scriptwriting in comparison to all the other writing I do. A Homecoming video will air on television and on the web, and will be viewed by countless people all over the world… but my actual writing time for the copy Bill Gaither uses to narrate a 90-minute show might be anywhere from two hours to five or six hours per release, depending on how much research needs to be done.

Most of the time, research time is minimal because I’ve been here long enough to know a good deal of the history behind our artists and songs…and of course, Mr. Gaither is a walking music encyclopedia. So when we have a new taping coming up, he and I will usually have a conversation and I’ll find out if there are any specific points or directions he wants the narration to take. Sometimes he has very specific ideas and sometimes it’s pretty open-ended. Sometimes he gets ideas during editing, and in those cases our director, Doug Stuckey, will take notes during editing to get me started.

Also, just to dispel any myths. I don’t usually work under idealistic conditions with candles lit and inspiring music in the background. I’m writing between phone calls, re-writing when I get it wrong, writing with background noise and in-between phone calls, and sometimes at the drop of a hat last minute changes come up. More perspiration than inspiration on a normal day.

Please tell us about your most recent project, and/or what project you’ll be working on next.

The next project we will be working on was filmed in Alaska! That was a beautiful taping. Looking forward to it! The DVDs release in early 2011.

Is there one show in the Homecoming series—or another memorable moment during your career—that stands out for you?

The Alaskan taping that we’re getting ready to work on is one of the many incredible highlights (though there have been many). During that taping, I was accompanied by my mom, whose life dream was to go to Alaska just once. We had a wonderful week together, she helped out with the taping (she helped iron things for the artists as they were getting ready) and we saw lots of whales! I think she enjoyed seeing what I do, but mostly we enjoyed the time together. That was a trip we’ll both always cherish.

Has God ever provided an unexpected “detour” in your life that turned out to be positive?

All the time! One of the first really obvious “detours” was when I was a young woman about to leave home for college. The bottom fell out of my plans. It was suddenly abundantly clear that the college I had chosen was not the right option for me. So at the last minute, I decided to attend a local community college until I could work up another plan. During that fall, I became friends with Scott Sutherland, to whom I’ve now been married for more than 20 years. It was—and still is—abundantly clear that we were meant to find each other at that time. I finished college eventually—I believe that is very important—but my husband and I still firmly believe everything happened just as it was supposed to.

How does your faith play into your writing?

It is paramount. My faith and the life philosophy that flows out of what I believe about God plays into everything I write. And it continues to grow over time. As I delve deeper into understanding the heart of Christ, my writing grows more meaningful. Skills alone are helpful. But using those skills for a deeper purpose is what drives me to keep enriching my spiritual life. The writing can’t help but get better when I feed my spirit.

You’re a wife and mother. How do you juggle family and career?

I have the privilege of working at home much of the time. That’s huge! So I can start laundry while thinking through how to word something. Or I can check emails on my Blackberry while waiting for my kids to finish their music lessons. My kids and husband also accompany me on many events and concerts. Having their support and involvement truly makes it easy to balance my work and personal life.

I’d like to also add that my husband joyfully and enthusiastically picks up whatever responsibility necessary if I am on a deadline, or need to travel for work, or get a sudden “drop everything and do this” assignment. Those things don’t happen every day, but they happen often enough that I know I couldn’t do this job without a husband who is completely supportive and never resentful.

I tend to be a perfectionist, so there are times when it’s hard to let a project go. I keep thinking, “I can do that better,” or… “I still want to make more changes….” But the pace of the job and our home life is actually good for me because I really can’t spend too much time obsessing. We’re moving on! I’m learning to get it right the first time and keep projects moving. That is helping me in every area of life.

What advice would you give young writers who are looking for their first break in scriptwriting?

Surround yourself with people and resources that nurture your interests and passions. Sign up for classes, volunteer at conferences, join writing groups with people who do the kind of writing you want to do. Twitter is also a great way to learn from people who are established in the world of scriptwriting, or any other kind of writing. Nurture your interests with intention.

HOWEVER, that said, be open to all kinds of opportunities. If I had been looking for a scriptwriting job, I wouldn’t have accepted the position I was originally hired to do. Scriptwriting wasn’t even on my radar then! I just knew that this company was established by creative people, and I wanted to work in a creative environment…and the rest has grown out of that shared interest in great writing and faith-based artistry.

I’ve done everything here from driving artists around tapings in golf carts, to fixing buttons and ironing their clothes, to running for their inhalers moments before they went on-stage. Seeing your name in the credits in no way means that getting there looked glamorous or felt big-time. It’s about dedicating yourself to a cause and doing whatever you have to do to support the people and ideas you believe in. At least that’s how it works here.

Is there a “dream” project—a television show, a movie, a book—you hope to write someday?

Oh goodness, yes! I have ideas for all those things. But the way my life has played out, I don’t spend a lot of time dreaming about future projects. I focus on what’s before me today first. That’s always plenty to take in!

I live and work in this moment, knowing that every experience will help prepare me for the next thing. I’m not nearly as good at planning out my future as God has been at figuring things out for me. I would’ve done things differently. And would’ve totally messed everything up!

That said, I do think there is a lot of value in reading and writing things that lend themselves to our interests and hopes for the future. It’s a good idea to spend a few minutes every day thinking, writing, reading and praying about the next idea or project on the horizon. But the best thing I’ve been able to do for my career is devote myself fully to what’s on my plate today. The rest has shaken out well, so far.

A few fun questions…

When the words aren’t flowing—or when you want to celebrate if they are—what is your favorite comfort food and why?

Sweet tea. Definitely.

When kicking back with a good book, what genre do you usually read?

I try to read classics, because I want to feed my mind with work that has stood the test of time. I also read books about writing! Love those.

This website features writers as well as musicians, so I like to mix it up a bit. Do you have musical, as well as literary, talent?

My sister and I were quite the singing duo as kids. Long story. But I still sing on my church’s worship team and have written quite a few songs—mostly lyrics with musical help from friends.

I love music deeply, and making music is a fun outlet for me, but it’s not my “Ace card.” Being surrounded by so much musical talent, I realize that I am a little spec of sand in a huge beach of much more talented singers, songwriters and musicians. I’m honored to be surrounded by such talent and grateful that I’m able to support the music of other singers without having to be the face and voice that is out there on the big stage or on the TV screen.

What kind of music do you listen to when you’re relaxing with the radio or an mp3 player? Does music help you write?

Music can help me write. It gets the creative thoughts flowing for sure. I love all sorts of genres! Some of my favorite artists right now are Sarah Groves, Brandi Carlile, Jon McLaughlin, Allison Krauss, Sting, Journey. I enjoy great worship music, too…and classical music! Instrumental music is nice when I’m hitting “word overload” and need something to settle my over-stimulated mind.

If you were a song, what kind of song would you be?

I’d be Jesus Loves Me! Nothing fancy. Simple and true.

Are you a major or a minor chord?

Minor. Dissonance is mandatory in the art of living. It’s what sets us apart from a boring, predictable existence.

In the story that is your life, are you the strong, female lead; the girl next door; the mysterious woman behind dark glasses; the super heroine; or the little girl trying to walk in high heels?

Yes! All of those things! Except maybe the mysterious woman behind dark glasses. I’m not that dramatic. But I think I am a mosaic with pieces of a strong woman, a child’s heart, a completely human “girl next door” kind of neighbor with weeds in my flower garden, a growing soul trying to fit into my big-girl-shoes, and someone who wants to make a difference in a super heroine kind-of way. That probably sounds schizophrenic! But the woman I was yesterday, the person I am today, and the person I am growing to become in the future are constantly reminding me that as soon as I think I fit into one box…the box stops fitting. And that’s a good thing, I hope.

Please tell us about your pets, if any.

I’ve got a 70 pound black lab named Maggie, and a 5 pound blond Chihuahua named Paco (who is sitting on my lap right this second). They are complete opposites. And they bring more laughs, more affection and more warmth than I could ever have imagined from two dogs. If you’re a dog lover, you KNOW…they are like babies! (And they think we’re great! That feels good when you’re having a bad day, doesn’t it?!)

Thanks, Emily! It’s a pleasure to have you at DivineDetour!

Thank you, Kathy! What an honor. Thanks for all the great questions. You really made me think about how blessed I am. Blessings on this great website…what a fun idea.

~ ~ ~

You can follow Emily’s blog at http://emilysutherland.wordpress.com/.

For information about current Gaither video projects, logon to www.gaither.com.

Julie Lessman may be one of the most determined people you will ever meet. Not to mention one of the most positive. Read about her journey as a writer—and as a Christian—and she will inspire you too.

Visit Julie’s Web sites this week for a chance to win her books, a critique, a Kindle and much more. Links below.

You aspired to writing for a number of years, studying creative writing at Washington University. But you also endured stacks of rejection slips. How many times did you “quit” writing fiction—and what kept you going?

Uh, yeah…anyone who attended the 2005 ACFW conference will remember me as the poor slob who waved her hands wildly in the back of the room when Brandilyn Collins asked who had the most rejections in a year. I won hands-down with 19 (at that time) and went on to garner in excess of 45 (both agent and publisher rejections, including three received AFTER I signed a three-book contract with Revell Publishing!).

Even my agent, Natasha Kern, blanched a bit when she first signed me, realizing after the ink was dry just how many times I’d been rejected. I believe the word she used was “daunting.” But apparently not too daunting for her amazing skills as an agent because she landed a contract for me within six months. And as a side note to encourage other aspiring authors out there—after being rejected 45 times, A Passion Most Pure went on to win the American Christian Fiction Writers Debut Book of the Year last year on the same stage (figuratively speaking) that I received the booby prize for the most rejections four years prior. Now… how’s that for encouragement???  : )

But I’m happy to say that through it all, I never quit writing, and the reason is that when God infuses you with a passion for something, you just cannot NOT do it! Like my passion for Him when I was a new Christian? At times I was so frustrated with God in the early days that I just wanted to chuck the whole thing and go back into the world, but I couldn’t. My passion for God and His goodness wouldn’t let me, compelling me to seek Him and only Him. That’s how it is with writing for Him too—I felt compelled to continue despite endless rejections and obstacles, praising God each and every time I’d find those #10 self-addressed stamped envelopes in my mailbox. I wasn’t always successful, but I tried to keep my eyes fixed on Him, not the rejections, because He is the “author and finisher of our faith”… and our writing! : )

How does your faith play into your writing?

Well, let’s put it this way, without God, there would be no books—period. God is not only my reason to write, He is my inspiration, my motivation, my confidence and my talent. Like Michael W. Smith sings in his incredible song, Breathe, God is “the air I breathe.” I love romance, make no mistake, but without God in the middle, it is flat, empty, pointless. So I guess you could say that although I write books heavily laced with romantic passion, they are also intensely spiritually passionate as well, with God always firmly anchored in the middle.

Has God ever provided an unexpected “detour” in your life that turned out to be positive?

Yes, as a matter of fact. I was forced to quit college after the first year due to an increasingly difficult home life from which I sought to escape, a detour that cost me the college degree I needed to find a job as writer. So I became a secretary instead…AT the company that I not only met my husband and love of my life, but at which I eventually became a travel writer despite not having a degree. A pretty good example of “all things working together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose,” wouldn’t you say??  : )

Let’s talk about your new book! A Hope Undaunted is the first in your Winds of Change Series for Revell (September 2010). Please tell us about it.

Although the “Winds of Change” is a brand-new series, it does continue the saga of the close-knit O’Connor family, picking up with the youngest daughter’s story at the tail end of the Roaring 20s into The Great Depression. Anyone who has read The Daughters of Boston Series knows that Katie O’Connor is a spunky, sassy little girl with a sharp wit and dry humor, but never more so than when she butts heads with her childhood nemesis, Cluny McGee. Here’s the jacket blurb:

What happens when the boy she loved to hate …

becomes the man she hates to love?

The 1920s are drawing to a close, and feisty Katie O’Connor is the epitome of the new woman—smart and sassy with goals for her future that include the perfect husband and a challenging career in law. Her boyfriend Jack fits all of her criteria for a husband—smart, good-looking, well-connected, wealthy…and eating out of her hand. But when she is forced to spend the summer of 1929 with Cluny McGee, the bane of her childhood existence, Katie comes face to face with a choice. Will she follow her well-laid plans to marry Jack? Or will she fall for the man she swore to despise forever?

Besides providing entertainment, what is the one thing you hope readers will take away from this book?

That God IS “a hope undaunted” incarnate, and what I mean by that is that He IS the “God of Hope” according to Romans 15:13: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Now I ask you, if God Himself is the “God of Hope,” then don’t you think that means He wants to fill us—his children, the “apples of His eye”—to overflowing with hope as well? Hope in Him and the fact that He loves us and has a plan to bless us in our lives? Well, that’s what my heroine Katie O’Connor discovers in A Hope Undaunted, as does her family at the onset of the Great Depression, and it’s my deepest hope and prayer that in the telling, it’s also a message my readers will discover too.

A few fun questions…

When the words aren’t flowing—or when you want to celebrate if they are—what is your favorite comfort food and why?

Well, my favorite “comfort food” is turkey and dressing and I’m not really sure why, but since that’s not easy to come by, I do crave an occasional piece of chocolate, my favorite being Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Rollo’s chocolate-covered caramels, Hershey Bars, Mr. Goodbar or Junior Mints. Any one of those things will take me down every time, diet or no!  : )

This website features writers as well as musicians, so I like to mix it up a bit. Do you have musical, as well as literary, talent?

Oh, man, my family would be rolling on the floor about now if they read this. Uh, no—no apparent musical talent whatsoever, I am sorry to say, and I’m pretty sure my neighbors share that opinion since I tend to sing off-key when I listen to worship music on my iPod out on the deck. My daughter likens my singing to the wails of an injured cat. So you can imagine how THRILLED I was when my son married into an incredibly musically talented family since musical ability is so closely linked to intelligence. All I could think of at the time was—YES!!! The gene pool has been saved!!

If you were a song, what kind of song would you be?

Smile. A love song.

In the story that is your life, are you the strong, female lead; the girl next door; the mysterious woman behind dark glasses; the super heroine; or the little girl trying to walk in high heels?

Oh my, what an interesting question and one I have never been asked before, which is saying something since I have done over 90 interviews with over 750 questions!!

Mmm…I would have to go with a merge of the “strong female lead” and the “little girl trying to walk in high heels” because I have a pretty strong personality (“intense” might be a better word!), but I also used to dress up a lot when I was a little girl, pretending to be Scarlett O’Hara or Miss America or the girl at the party every guy wanted to meet.

I’m a dog lover. Please tell us about your pets.

Well, as readers may notice, all the dogs in my books (with the exception of a scruffy terrier mutt in A Hope Undaunted), are golden retrievers, and that’s because we had goldens all of our lives. Unfortunately, our golden named Bunker died last Easter weekend at the age of 15, a ripe age that is almost unheard of for large dogs, but I believe in praying for longevity for our pets, so I did, and it sure worked. They are wonderful animals!

Thanks, Julie! It’s a pleasure to have you at DivineDetour!

Thank you, Kathy, for hosting me on your blog. It’s been fun! And I LOVE to hear from readers, so they can contact me through my Web site at www.julielessman.com, either by sending an e-mail via my site or by signing up for my newsletter at http://www.julielessman.com/sign-up-for-newsletter/.

My newsletter is chock-full of fun info on my books and there’s always a contest featuring signed book giveaways including one right now to have a character named after you or a loved one in my next book. Also, I have a cool feature on my website called “Journal Jots” (http://www.julielessman.com/journal-jots/), which is a very laid-back, almost-daily journal to my reader friends that would give your readers an idea as to my relaxed style of writing.

Then I can be found daily at The Seekers blog http://seekerville.blogspot.com/, a group blog devoted to encouraging and helping aspiring writers on the road to publication (and I’m doing a book/critique giveaway there tomorrow, Wed., 10/6, as a matter of fact).

Finally, I have a KINDLE giveaway going on right now that will take place at my Facebook party this Thursday, Oct. 7 at 7:00 PM CST where I will be chatting with readers and giving away signed books and gift cards every ten minutes for an hour. Details can be found at http://www.julielessman.com/contest/.

Thanks again, Kathy, and God bless!

Welcome to DivineDetour, Kristin! The Grascals were nominated with Hank Williams Jr. for IBMA Recorded Event of the Year for I’m Blue, I’m Lonesome, a song from your latest album. You also toured with Hank Jr. this year. What was that like?

Touring with Hank Jr. was a ton of fun. We’re actually about to do another group of shows this fall, as part of the same Rowdy Friends tour. As bluegrass musicians, it’s a special treat to play for different audiences, and we appreciate the opportunity to spread the music to new crowds.

I understand you toured overseas this year, as well. Where did you perform? Any special memories from that trip? Were the audiences different than American audiences?

In the past year, we’ve performed in Greece, France, Switzerland, and Belgium. I’m always impressed with European audiences. Because the music isn’t as easily accessible there, they have to work to hear and find it. Therefore, the typical fan is much more informed. They’re also more excited about live music because they may only get one or two chances a year to see authentic, American-based bluegrass bands.

How long have you been playing banjo and how did you get your start professionally?

I started playing banjo when I was 13. My maternal grandfather was a professional mandolin player and my father played casually, so I had those early influences. I played in various bands in high school, but joining the Larry Stephenson Band in September of 1995 was really my first opportunity to be in a busy band that toured nationally. I was 19 years old and a sophomore at Belmont University, so I was very blessed to have that chance at a young age.

Has God ever provided an unexpected “detour” in your life that turned out to be positive?

I can’t necessarily think of a detour, but thankfully, He’s clearly spoken in some important decisions. I had a wonderful career opportunity once that God warned against through specific scripture. I named one of my solo CDs, Straight Paths, after Prov 3:5-6 because of that experience. Interestingly, almost ten years later, He used some of the same passages to confirm joining the Grascals. He’s such a loving Father. I think about how much I love my son and how I’d do anything to steer him in the right direction. As earthly parents, we don’t always have the answers, but God is the perfect Father—He always knows what is right and He loves us even more than we love our kids. What an invaluable asset! The tricky part is growing our relationship with Him enough to faithfully take His advice.

The Grascals’ new album, The Famous Lefty Flynn’s, released in March by Rounder Records, made headlines with its first single—a cover of the Monkee’s Last Train to Clarksville. What prompted the group to record that song?

That song works well because it’s already familiar to most people. If we’re playing to audiences that aren’t necessarily bluegrass fans, they probably know the song. For the die-hard bluegrass’ers that may not have heard the original version, it’s arranged in a way that doesn’t alienate them; it blends in with the rest of the show. So, it suits both groups of people and that’s something The Grascals always consider.

What’s next for the Grascals? Can you give us a sneak preview into the next few months and 2011?

Well, IBMA in late Sept/early Oct is always a busy and productive week. As I mentioned, we have another run of Hank Jr. shows this fall. We’re actively promoting The Famous Lefty Flynn’s, while also recording our next album. We just got done singing the National Anthem at a Tennessee Titans game and that was really a lot fun! The video on Last Train to Clarksville keeps getting airtime, so we’re happy about that.

What have you personally not yet accomplished that you hope to turn into reality soon—personally and/or professionally?

Professionally, I am so happy being a Grascal. I feel like I’ve found a home with these guys. I’m excited and honored to be a part of whatever lies ahead for the band. Outside of the group, I’m always trying to write instrumentals and improve my playing, even if what I’m learning doesn’t necessarily find its way into the band’s music.

A few fun questions:

What kind of music do you listen to when you’re relaxing?

It changes. Right now, Darrell Scott – A Crooked Road and Maroon 5 – Songs About Jane. Always into Andrew Peterson.

If you were a song, what kind of song would you be?

I’d probably be a brainy, overly-analytical Christian song….something like Andrew Peterson might write!

Are you a major or a minor chord?

Major.

This website is about both writing and music. What kind of books do you like to read?

Lately, The Spy That Came in from the Cold by John le Carré, God in the Dark by Os Guiness, and Believing God by Beth Moore.

In the story that is your life, are you the strong, female lead; the girl next door; the mysterious woman behind dark glasses; the super heroine; or the little girl trying to walk in high heels?

That’s a fun question! Definitely the ‘girl next door.’ Very boring, I’m afraid.

Finally, please tell us about your family, pets, hobbies, etc.

My husband is Wayne Benson, mandolin player with the bluegrass band, IIIrd Tyme Out. We have been married for ten years and have a three-year-old little boy, Hogan. When he was a year old, we left Nashville and moved back to the Carolinas to be near family.

As for hobbies….we’re too busy! Time management is our biggest challenge, but it’s because God has blessed every area of our lives and each has become so full that life is a big balancing act. We’re incredibly thankful, however, and happily forego hobbies to spend every possible second with our son.

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For more information the Grascals visit their official website, www.grascals.com.

To purchase the Grascals’ music on Amazon.com, logon to http://www.amazon.com/The-Grascals/e/B001LHSGOS/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1284653055&sr=1-2-ent.

To view the Grascals’ touring schedule, logon to http://www.grascals.com/index.php?option=com_eventlist&view=eventlist&Itemid=2.