Merrie Destefano has lived a number of lives—from magazine editor (Victorian Homes, Cottages & Bungalows, and Romantic Homes), to marketing professional (Focus on the Family, The Word for Today, and PJS Publications, now Primedia), to graphic artist. Born in the Midwest, she now resides in Southern California with her husband and Joshua, Caleb and Hezekiah—the family pets.

Her debut novel, an urban fantasy entitled Afterlife, was released a few months ago (Eos/HarperCollins, August 2010).

You are gifted as both a writer and graphic artist. Was there ever any doubt you would choose a “creative” career? Did you know as a child that you wanted to be a writer?

From the time I was a child, I wanted to be an artist when I grew up. I enjoyed writing too, but my first passion was art. In eighth grade, I had an English teacher who was very supportive and encouraged me in my writing. Oddly enough, I felt like I needed to choose between writing and art, so at a very young age I choose art. Later, when I was in my twenties, I started writing again, but never got anything published. So basically, the first half of my life was devoted to fine art and now, the second half of my life has been devoted to writing.

Have you always had an interest in fantasy and science fiction?

Yes! When I was very young, I read every fairytale I could find—although, the fairytales back then were quite a bit different from what children read today. For instance, the original story of Cinderella involves her sister cutting off part of her own foot as she tries to squeeze into the glass slipper. Then, later I read books written by Ray Bradbury and Robert Heinlein and J.R.R. Tolkien. And you have to realize that I grew up watching Star Trek and Lost in Space and Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits.

You have a background in both print and broadcast media. What was your first job in the industry and how did it come about?

My very first job was as a paste-up artist at a small newspaper in Washington, Illinois. I had majored in Fine Art in college and had taken a one-year course in Graphic Art at a local vocational school. From there I went to a larger newspaper and from there to a magazine publisher. I didn’t cross into the editorial side of publishing until I developed carpal tunnel about ten years ago.

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

Oh, my gosh, that’s happened to me so many times. The most recent time was about a year and a half ago, when I got laid off from my full-time job as the editor of Victorian Homes magazine. Surprisingly, God prepared me for it. He actually gave me a dream about two-three months beforehand; in the dream someone told me that I wasn’t going to be the editor at VH much longer and that what I was going to be doing would be much better. After that dream, my husband and I started saving about 30 percent of my salary. So when the actual event came, we were prepared both emotionally and financially. The day I got laid off, I quickly sent out e-mails to everyone I knew, telling them what had happened. Before I left work that day, a friend offered me a freelance job, editing an art book.

At that point, after more prayer, I decided that this was going to be the year that I really pursued getting my novel published. I already had Afterlife written, and I already had an agent. About four months later, my agent sold Afterlife to Eos/HarperCollins.

Weird funny detail: My main character is a jazz musician and I listened to Coldplay while writing the book. Coldplay was touring nearby when I found out that my book sold. So my husband and I celebrated by going to see the band. It was such a perfect night! Very surreal. Sitting and listening to the band that gave me inspiration while I wrote my book, knowing that one day someone else might read my book and be inspired by it—that’s how art is. One piece inspires another. I feel incredibly blessed to be here right now, to be published in a season when so many companies are being downsized. I feel like Joseph in Genesis, Chapter 50, where his brothers meant something for evil, but God meant it for good.

Let’s talk about your new book, your first novel, Afterlife (August 2010), a general market release for Eos/HarperCollins. Please tell us about it.

Afterlife is basically a cautionary tale that deals with our quest for immortal life. It takes place in a near future New Orleans, in a time when we have developed the technology to resurrect instead of die. The main character, Chaz Domingue, is a Babysitter who guides people through that rough first week after resurrection. His current Newbie—a person who has just resurrected—is a young woman who can’t remember her previous lives. Unbeknownst to either one of them, a dangerous secret lies hidden in her subconscious mind, and there’s a powerful organization who will stop at nothing to get that information.

What was the inspiration for the story? Besides providing entertainment, what do you hope readers will take away from it?

The inspiration for the story came from an article I read several years ago in a scientific journal. Apparently, many scientists believe that if we could find a way to lengthen the telomeres in our DNA, then we might have discovered the key to immortal life. I took that idea and built a world around it, based on the assumption that we had already developed that technology.

I hope that my readers will stop and think about life, and the fact that we only get one. I also hope that they will realize that there are some things that are worth dying for. To me, the greatest love is a self-sacrificial love, so I hope that my readers will see the beauty in Chaz’s sacrifice and realize that it was done out of the purest love.

What’s your next writing project?

My next book will come out in June, 2011, and it’s called Feast: Harvest of Dreams. I’m finishing up the copy edits right now. We have a cover, but I don’t have approval to show it yet. I’m not sure if I’m supposed to talk about the story yet either—although, it’s not a sequel to Afterlife. And I’m actually working on my third book right now. I took a short break after turning in my second novel this summer and started writing a YA book. I’ve got about 100 pages left to write and, so far, I’m really enjoying it. I also have a 16-year-old character in Feast, so that book could appeal to the YA audience as well. In fact, none of my books have anything in them—strong violence or sex or bad language—that would preclude them from being read by a teenager. All of my books fall into the fantasy/science fiction categories.

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?

I would rather celebrate with my favorite food and it is: Taro sugar-free frozen yogurt. Double yum! When words aren’t flowing, food doesn’t help.

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 and graphic, talent?

Unfortunately, no. In fact, once I got so depressed because I had no musical ability—at that point in my life I thought music was the highest, purest form of art—that I gave up all my artwork for an entire year. Then, while cleaning our spare bedroom one day, I pulled out some of my sketchpads. I leafed through them and then started crying because I realized that I did have a valuable talent.

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

I would dream of being a Coldplay song—something like White Shadows or Speed of Sound or Moses. But, alas, I would probably be a catchy, slightly upbeat song by some no-name boy band.

Are you a major or a minor chord?

Definitely minor chord.

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?

The strong, female lead (I mean, it is my story. Why would I cast someone else in the main character’s role?) But I also happen to live next door, occasionally wear dark glasses and imagine that I am a superhero. And I never wear high heels. Ever.

I’m a dog lover—and I know you are too. Please tell us about your pets. Did one of your dogs inspire Omega, the canine character in Afterlife?

Yes, my rescue dog, Joshua, was the inspiration for Omega. We got him when he was a year old and I’ve always wondered what his life was like before we found him. He’s such a sweet dog. Just like the dog in the book, he’s a German Shepherd. Although my dog is black and tan, Omega is pure black. We also have another GSD named Caleb and a Siamese cat (also a rescue) named Hezekiah. I love all animals. If I could, I’d have about five dogs and five cats. And a housekeeper!

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

Thank you for inviting me! It was an honor to be here.

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For more information about Merrie, visit her website at http://www.merriedestefano.com/ or her blog at http://merrie-destefano.blogspot.com/.

To purchase Afterlife, logon to:

A very special friend gave me two beautiful crosses for Christmas. Each is covered in “jewels.”

Seeing and holding them reminded me of how Christmas is about more than the manger. It’s the beginning of our redemption. Behind the “sparkle” is the sacrifice. Christ’s sacrifice for us. On the cross.

It is—and will always be—the best gift we can ever receive.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11 KJV

As a young child, Elizabeth Goddard fell in love with books and longed to write one day. Fast-forward quite a few years, to 2001, when her husband made a career change to Austin, Texas. That geographical detour put her at the right place at the right time.

Almost a decade later, she’s writing several books a year—with five released this year, two this month, including her first trade paperback, The Camera Never Lies.

You aspired to writing at an early age. When did you begin to study the craft and write for publication?

I joined ACFW (then ACRW) in 2001 when I met DiAnn Mills, Kathleen Y’Barbo Turner and Lynette Sowell at an American Christian Writer’s conference. Attending that one conference—my first conference—changed my life. I was placed in a critique group with ACFW and started submitting a chapter a week, and that was my first time to ever attempt to write a novel.

What was your big break? Did you have a mentor?

I didn’t have an official mentor but I had plenty of other writers around me to give guidance and encouragement. One of those was Lisa Harris. Lisa was in my first critique group and we’re still friends today. She and I discussed how we could break me into the publishing world and came up with our proposal for what is now titled Cranberry Hearts. We invited Lena Nelson Dooley, also a good friend and mentor, into the three book proposal.

How does your faith play into your writing?

Faith has everything to do with the writing. If it wasn’t for God chasing me for years to write, I would never have said yes to the call, because it’s a tough one. That’s faith working outside of the story, but inside the story I just allow my Christian worldview to flow naturally through the characters responses. I’m sometimes amazed at what themes will come out.

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

Oh, He does that all the time. In fact, the whole writing thing is a positive result of a detour. We moved to Austin that year and I did NOT want to leave family, but my husband had a job opportunity that he simply couldn’t turn down. It was because of the move that I attended the writer’s conference in Austin and I’ve already shared where that led in another question.  : )

You have two books releasing in December. Please tell us about Praying for Rayne (Heartsong Presents).

Water speaks to Rayne like nothing else on the planet.

Which is why she cannot simply stay on the farm and marry Paul like everyone expects. Her job designing and choreographing magnificent fountains is a dream come true—so why does it seem that no one who says they love her can understand her need to create, to express the beauty she sees?

When Jack comes to FountainTech to manage its team of creative designers, he is amazed at the high level of talent he finds there. Expecting to challenge his team, he soon finds his own ideas being challenged, too—professionally and personally.

When charges of corporate espionage and theft arise, will the blossoming love between Rayne and Jack survive, or will it shrivel and die like a plant on the vine?

What was your inspiration for the story?

I had the title first because it was part of a three book proposal, but I saw a program about a company of designers who create magnificent water fountains and knew immediately that would work for my story.

Your book, The Camera Never Lies (Barbour), was released earlier this month. Please tell us about it.

The short blurb says:

Crash the wedding and meet photographer Polly Perkins who zooms in…on a murder victim!

As Polly studies an endless line of potential suspects from safely behind her camera, she finds love staring back at her.

Will her uncanny ability to read emotions through a camera lens help prevent another murder—while exploring her own potential for romance?

Camera—as I call it—was a fun and quirky mystery with a hint of romance and I greatly enjoyed writing it. I hope readers will enjoy the mystery and suspense, and laugh at the right places.

Besides providing entertainment, what do you hope readers will take away from it?

In both stories, there are spiritual truths and I hope the reader will come away with one of those nuggets to think about, and hopefully, they will be changed in some way because of it.

After five books this year, what’s next for you?

Funny thing, that. It wasn’t until December last year that I knew I’d have five books releasing. I heard from the publisher that Camera was moved to December of this year. The schedule hasn’t let up much. I’m currently working on double deadlines—a book for two different publishers and the deadlines are only six weeks apart. Under the Redwood Tree (Heartsong Presents) is book one in my Redwood Coast series for Barbour, and Freezing Point is my romantic suspense title for Love Inspired Suspense. Both release in October 2011.

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?

Do you even have to ask. I love chocolate of course. And I eat peanut M&M’s when the words don’t flow, and even when they do! My waistline is proof.

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?

Yes. I play the piano, was in the orchestra in high school—played the cello. I love to play the violin or “fiddle” as my grandpa used to say, and guitar.

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

Ah, now that depends on the mood. I might be a flowing, breezing contemplative song like something by Enya, or I could be a fun hip hop song by someone like Toby Mac.

Are you a major or a minor chord?

Again the mood, but most days I’d say 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?

What a great question! I am the mysterious little girl next door attempting to be a strong super hero—they call me MOM! In all honesty, I think my family would say I’m a bubbly blond that no one would suspect loves science and math, much less understands it. (I know I twisted up all your choices.)

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

I’m severely allergic to all animals but I love them. Because we have kiddoes including my husband—we have six pets. Dekker, our schnauzer, is the family dog. Lulu the dwarf hamster belongs to my son and we have another hamster belonging to my eighteen-year-old daughter. Fran the cockatiel belongs to my son, Pickles the Quaker parrot is my husband’s along with Hermione the blue and gold Macaw. I take a LOT of allergy drugs to manage asthma and hay fever.  : )

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

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For more information about Elizabeth Goddard, visit her website at www.elizabethgoddard.com.

To purchase Elizabeth’s books, logon to:

Allison Pittman’s Stealing Home recently won the ACFW Carol Book of the Year award in the Long Historical category. She is also the author of the Crossroads of Grace Series and made her nonfiction debut in 2008 with Saturdays with Stella, a lighthearted, faith “training” manual for humans that was inspired by her dog, Stella. Her latest book, For Time & Eternity, is the first in her Sister Wife Series.

A former high school English teacher, Allison is now a full-time author and speaker. She also directs the theater arts group at her church and is co-president of a Christian writers group in the San Antonio, Texas, area, where she resides with her husband and three sons.

When did you first pursue writing?

I began to pursue writing seriously about five years ago—that’s when I resigned from a teaching career of nearly 20 years to devote myself to this new direction God had given me. I’d toyed with the craft for years before that, but it wasn’t until I’d landed my first contract that I considered it a career.

Who/what has influenced your writing career the most?

Wow…In the Christian market, my absolute hero is Lynn Austin. I love how she’s been able to write historical and contemporary, not being bound to a “type” of book, rather crafting one amazing story after another. I’d never read a Christian novel (other than Christy which I think is practically required reading for Christian high school girls…). But I won a copy of Austin’s Eve’s Daughters, and I knew that I wanted to pursue this. I’ve often thought, what if I would have won a book not nearly so wonderful as that one?

What was your big break?

I sold my first series—The Crossroads of Grace—at the Glorieta Christian Writers Conference, after pitching the first book to an editor from Multnomah. I’d been attending the conference for years, just studying the craft of writing. My break came the same way any other writer’s break comes about: a matter of God’s perfect timing in light of obedient preparation.

How does your faith play into your writing?

I pray for a miracle with every deadline! Seriously, I am so humbled by God’s mercy. Like, every now and then I feel so completely unworthy of His grace. I think that helps me in my portrayal of my less-than-lovable characters. Like Gloria, the protagonist in my first novel. She is an unrepentant prostitute, and I love her. And readers love her. I can grant grace to my “sinners,” because God has granted grace to me.

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

Well, our youngest son was a total surprise! But, really, I have a hard time pin-pointing “detours” because I’m really not much of a planner. More than anything, my life is a series of pleasant surprises and miraculous revelation.

Let’s talk about your new book! For Time & Eternity (Tyndale House, September 2010) is the first book in The Sister Wife Series. Please tell us a little about it.

For Time and Eternity tells the story of a young woman, Camilla, raised in a Christian home, who finds herself seduced away from her family and her faith when she falls in love and runs off to Utah with a charming Mormon named Nathan Fox. Years later, as a wife and mother, Camilla’s heart is turned back to Christ, but she is trapped in a home ruled by a faith that would allow her husband to bring in a second wife.

Where did you get the idea for this book and the series?

I knew that I couldn’t rest the entire book on just the fascination we all seem to have with polygamy. I wanted it to be the story of a marriage—one between two people who have a genuine love for each other. On the question of a second wife, it seemed to me that those early Mormons who truly, dearly loved their wives were just as torn with the decision to take a second one as we imagine their wives were. Both Nathan and Camilla fight the same battle; they simply fight it next to each other.

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

For one thing, I would like them to cultivate a love for the Mormon church, just as much as we have a love for any other lost person, because they are so, so lost. I’m hoping that, as they see Camilla grapple with some of the false teachings, they will gain an understanding of the LDS allure, and find new appreciation for the freedom we have in Jesus Christ.

You are a former English teacher and a speaker who encourages other writers. If you had only one minute to spend with an aspiring author, what would you want to tell them?

Be prepared for disappointment—it’ll come from places you’ve never imagined. But don’t mistake disappointment for discouragement. Discouragement will stop you in your tracks; disappointment will re-direct your path.

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?

Breakfast tacos! They’re just the perfect easy-to-eat combination of yummy.

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?

The word “no” doesn’t contain enough letters to answer that question. None, really, and I am surrounded by a family who wishes I would remember that whenever I burst into song.

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

I think I might be the only writer in the world who doesn’t. When I’m writing, I need either (1) silence, or (2) non-specific crowd noise. I love to write in restaurants, airports, anyplace where I have to force myself to focus.

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

I would be a spontaneous, multi-faceted, splashy musical number—you know, where a crowd of strangers suddenly bursts into choreography and back-up singing. My dream life is Glee.

Are you a major or a minor chord?

I never have anything that together. I’m a scale.

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?

Hmmm…I think I’m the little girl who thinks she’s a super heroine—kind of charging around, oblivious to the idea that she can’t do everything she thinks she can!

I’m a dog lover, so I have to ask about the non-fiction book you wrote about your dog Stella (Saturdays with Stella, Multnomah, 2008). Please tell us about Stella and the book she inspired. Do you have other pets?

Ah, my Stella-bella. Stella is the world’s most neurotic, insecure dog in the world. After about a year, when we just weren’t getting along at all, I took her to an obedience class. Our instructor’s first words were this: “A dog who doesn’t trust you won’t obey you. With trust comes obedience. Remember that: Trust and Obey.” Well, as a good ol’ Southern Baptist girl, those words hit home, and I knew the Holy Spirit had brought me to that class for a reason. The parallels between teaching a dog to obey its master fit so perfectly with how we are to obey our Master, I just couldn’t ignore them.

And, yes, we have two cats—Mandie and Clancie—who have the personalities of a pampered cheerleader and a cranky gym coach, respectively. Stella pretty much refuses to acknowledge their existence.

Thank you, Allison! It’s a pleasure to have you at DivineDetour.

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For more information about Allison, visit her website at http://www.allisonpittman.com/.

Click below to purchase For Time & Eternity:

Cecil Murphey has sold millions of books and won numerous awards, but it’s his compassion for others that best defines him.

While maintaining a rigorous writing schedule—six books published in 2010, and five scheduled for 2011—Dr. Murphey travels extensively to speak on topics such as spiritual growth, recovery, caregiving, significant living, and male sexual abuse. He is widely respected for his selfless mentoring of other writers.

Cecil Murphey has co-authored a number of autobiographies and books for well-known personalities, including Dr. Ben Carson, renowned pediatric neurosurgeon (Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story—which has been made into a movie starring Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr.—and Think Big); singer B.J. Thomas (In Tune); Franklin Graham (Rebel with a Cause, for which he won the 1995 Gold Medallion Award); and Norman Vaughn, the last survivor of Admiral Byrd’s Antarctica Expedition (With Byrd at the Bottom of the World). He also co-wrote with Don Piper 90 Minutes in Heaven, a book that has sold more than five million copies and appeared on the New York Times’ bestseller list since October 2006.

You’ve written or co-written more than 100 books, yet writing isn’t your first career. How did you get started writing?

Like many others, I can’t remember when I didn’t want to write. I didn’t get serious about writing until the year after I finished seminary. The late Charlie Shedd flew into Atlanta every Monday night for ten weeks to offer a course at the seminary on how to write for publication.

Charlie encouraged me, told me I had talent, and suggested I start an editing group. I started and ran the Scribe Tribe for nine years. I sold the first article I wrote (after 18 revisions) and that gave me the courage to keep writing.

How does your faith play into your work?

My faith is such a part of me, I don’t think much about connecting it with my writing. I believe that my attitude and behavior show my faith. I talk about Jesus Christ but do it when it flows naturally.

For instance, I recently spoke to a dozen therapists (most weren’t believers) about my book, When a Man You Love Was Abused. One of them asked me about forgiving others.

“I call myself a serious Christian,” I said. “So I have to express forgiveness from that perspective.” I talked about grace and being forgiven and thus being able to forgive those who had hurt me. They seemed to respect my answer.

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

The biggest detour occurred after I finished seminary. I had an MA in education, had taught in the public schools two years, and finished at the top of my seminary class. I received a scholarship to work on a PhD. My intention was to earn my doctorate and teach Greek and New Testament in a seminary or a Christian college.

Two things happened. First, I became a part-time pastor of a small, dying church. I had never thought of myself as a pastor. I realized I absolutely enjoyed interacting with the congregation. The membership doubled, and I soon went full time.

The second thing is that Charlie Shedd encouraged me to write and that detoured me from my doctoral program. After a year of study on my doctoral program I dropped out so I could focus on being a pastor and on writing for publication.

I spent 14 years as a pastor, and I wrote during 13 of them. I sold more than 300 articles and produced 12 books. My writing grew largely because of my interacting with hurting people.

Eventually God led me to write full time and I’ve been doing that for 25 years.

Let’s talk about your new book, Knowing God, Knowing Myself: An Invitation to Daily Discovery (Regal, December 2010). Please tell us about it.

The book is a series of aphorisms—short, pithy sayings—and a brief explanation of each one.

The sayings grew out of my intense search for intimacy with God. When I pray, I try to formulate my praise and my petitions concisely.

From day to day, I mentally revised them. For years I wrote the words on 3×5 file cards. I’m a runner and, even today, I pray those words when I run.

Even though they began as petitions, most of them ended up in statements. They express my spiritual battles I’ve gone through. I began to collect them and I now have more than 400.

Here are two examples:

•  I’m passionately involved in the process; I’m emotionally detached from the result.

•  I would rather be disliked for who I am than to be admired for who I’m not.

Where did you get the idea for the book? What did you learn during the course of writing it?

Steve Lawson, at Regal Books, asked me to write my autobiography, which I declined. He heard me give keynotes at two writers conferences and I quoted a few appropriate aphorisms. After we talked about what I often call my affirmations, he asked me to write a book explaining some of them. That’s what I did.

The idea for the book started before I spoke with Steve. For several months I had been thinking about the connection of knowing God and knowing myself. As I grew in awareness of God, I changed; as I matured, I realized it affected the way I perceived God.

My learning came before the writing, of course, but in explaining the sayings, I gained deeper insights into some of the words I had already written. (I returned to re-praying a few of them that I had moved away from.)

I understand that you have five books scheduled for release in 2011. What’s next?

Getting to Heaven: Departing Instructions for Your Life Now is next. This is my fourth book with Don Piper for whom I wrote 90 Minutes in Heaven. (That book is now on its fifth year on the New York Times’ best-seller list and will be a theatrical film by the end of 2011.)

We thought about John’s Gospel, chapters 13-17, when Jesus is alone with his disciples. He knows his end is near and this is the last time he’ll be with them before his death. What he says to them are the words that must strengthen and guide them in the years ahead. This is like having a dying person call the family to the bedside for a farewell.

I also write gift books and two of them scheduled for 2011 are When Someone You Love No Longer Remembers—a book to help friends and families of those who suffer from dementia. The other gift book is about long-term caregiving. I’m writing it with my assistant, Twila Belk, and it’s titled, Because You Care.

Besides writing, you’ve been called to encourage others—as an international speaker, a radio show host, a teacher, and a mentor. How do you find the time?

I don’t find time. Working with people is an important part of my life. God made me quick—and Africans used to call me Haraka, which means fast or speedy. God also gave me an extra dose of energy, and I’m highly self-disciplined, so I produce a lot during my working days. It’s simply being who I am and using the gifts God gave me.

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?

I’m not much of a food person, but peanut butter rests at the top. I put it in my cereal and on anything else where I can eat it.

A friend gave me a gift pack of peanut butter to take on the road with me when I travel.

Why peanut butter? I have no idea except it’s a taste I’ve never outgrown.

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?

I took piano lessons, but they didn’t take to me. My wife plays piano, organ, and is best at the accordion. Our three children play instruments. Our son was a professional singer and played lead guitar for a few years.

I  know how to clap in time to the music—most of the time.

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

I’d be a song about stretching out my arms and hugging people, especially those who hurt or who feel unloved and alone.

Are you a major or a minor chord?

I’m absolutely a major chord. Except for a few minor classics such as Dvorak’s New World Symphony, I listen to and sing almost nothing in the minor chords.

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?

None of the above. I’m the hero’s best friend, the second lead, and the one who pushes his buddy forward.

I’m a dog lover. Can you tell us about your pets—if any? Or do you have a favorite pet from the past?

We used to have dogs, but after our children left home, Shirley and I traveled a great deal and haven’t owned pets since.

Our second daughter lives with us and she has a dog to whom I sneak dog biscuits.

Thank you, Dr. Murphey. It’s a special honor to have you at DivineDetour.

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For more information about Cecil Murphey, visit his website at www.cecilmurphey.com.

To purchase Knowing God, Knowing Myself and other books by Cecil Murphey, logon to:

Additional links of interest:

- A website dedicated to helping men who have been sexually abused, www.menshatteringthesilence.blogspot.com.

- A blog for writers, www.cecmurpheyswritertowriter.blogspot.com.

- A radio show, Cec and Me, featuring Cecil Murphey and Twila Belk, http://toginet.com/shows/cecandme.

Shannon McCombs—or simply Shannon, as she is known to many radio listeners and television viewers—has been a well-known name and face to music fans for more than two decades. As the long-time “voice” of CMT (Country Music Television), the host of several nationally-syndicated radio and television shows, and the “red carpet” reporter and/or producer for the Country Music Association, Academy of Country Music, and Grammy awards shows, she conducts hundreds of interviews each year.

How old were you when you knew you wanted to work in the entertainment field, and how did you go about achieving your goal?

I don’t remember my exact age, but definitely pre-teen. My brother Dwight had a cassette recorder and when my cousin Donnie would visit we would “play DJ.” Our make believe radio station was W-I-L-D. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked for those old cassettes!

Just out of high school I started making my rounds to radio stations, and my first radio job was “selling” commercials with the promise of recording my own spots—that is, IF I sold anything. Good thing I was still living at home and didn’t have to pay rent! Eventually I got an on-air job when a slot came open and I was the only one that knew how to run the board. Yes, Divine intervention!

Your first on-air job in Nashville was in “rock and roll.” Why and/or how did you transition into country music? Was that the same time you transitioned from radio to television?

I actually tried getting a job in country music (WSM am) before I landed at KDF, I just didn’t have the experience for the time slot. Country music was always my ultimate goal. Luckily the KDF gig was overnight, and Bill Pugh the Program Director was willing to take a chance on me—that was in 1985. My transition into country came about with a show called “The Country Music Video Album Hour” on TNN in 1993. For a while I did both. I remember interviewing Motley Crue on the radio one day and heading out to the TV show to interview Randy Travis that afternoon. It was a crazy time!

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

More times than I can count, and honestly more times than I know. My move to Nashville was one of them. I was so set on working in the country music industry that I almost didn’t take the job at KDF. A friend of mine had to talk me into applying for it. So many wonderful things, experiences, and friendships came from that…and still do. I can’t imagine that piece of the puzzle not being there.

You were tapped to establish XM Radio’s country music presence in Nashville, as on-air personality, producer, writer, etc. What was your biggest challenge with that?

Explaining what satellite radio “was going to be.” Seems almost comical now, but I hit so many walls of negativity, it was like going into a storm everyday.

During your career you have conducted thousands of interviews—from Steven Tyler of Aerosmith to Porter Wagoner at the Grand Ole Opry. You have an innate gift for making people feel comfortable, but no doubt you have learned a lot along the way. If you were teaching Interview 101, what is the most important thing you would want to share with your students?

Thank you! I love my job, love music, and have a great respect for those who make it. I occasionally teach media and I always tell artists that there’s a lot to be said for body language, and not only the words spoken, but the tone and level of your voice.

If you could do it all over again, what’s the one question you wished you had asked and to whom?

John Denver—any question would have worked. He’s the one interview I’ll always regret not having. Never had the opportunity to meet him either, but was working on it. He was in Nashville a lot and recorded here, and I kept just missing him all over town. That will be my “Heavenly Interview.”

A few fun questions…

What is your favorite comfort food and why?

I eat pretty healthy, but when I go off the deep end I love ice cream—Reeses peanut butter.

This website features literary as well as music guests, so I like to mix it up a bit. You’ve covered the entertainment industry for many years; is there an autobiography in your future? If so, what would you title it?

No autobiography in my future. I know a lot of great stories, but most of them I can never tell…I’d be out of work.

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

Anything that Rod Stewart would sing on stage every night.

Are you a major or a minor chord?

Not knowing how to read music, I don’t have a clue, LOL. Major sounds much better, I’ll be 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?

Everyone wants to be the mysterious one, but I’m probably more the girl next door that’s still trying to learn how to walk in heels.

I’m a dog lover, so I have to ask…do you have pets? If so, please tell us about them.

I love animals! Have three cats, all came to me as strays. Audrey Hepburn, she’s around 15 years old, long-haired calico, and queen of the house. Elizabeth “Milk” Taylor, she’s 10 or 11, very shy, black and white tuxedo, with a splash of white on her lip, looks like the “got milk” commercials. And the newest addition Kitty Kitty Wells, she’s two. Kitty moved into my dad’s barn last winter up in Kentucky and when he passed away a few months ago, she moved in with me. She’s trying her best to take over Audrey’s throne.

Thank you, Shannon. It’s a pleasure to have you at DivineDetour!

You’re welcome—thanks for including me!

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To learn more about Shannon, logon to her official website at http://www.shannoncountry.com/.