Interview & Giveaway - Julie Lessman

Hey all! I'm still trying to get back into the swing of things here on the internet. I have several giveaway winners to announce, and then also a picture post to catch y'all up on why I've been so silent this past week. :-) I'm still working on both of those posts, but for now, I have a great interview to bring to you today. 

It's with Julie Lessman!!! Yeah, I am so honored to get to have her here on LoaW. Make sure you read the directions carefully to find out how you could win a copy of any of her books. It's the winners choice which one you want!! Awesome, no?!

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Julie, welcome to Legacy of a Writer! So glad you could visit today, as I know your writing life keeps you plenty busy, not including your personal one! For anyone who might be new to Julie and her books, here is her bio...

Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion With a Purpose” underscores her intense passion for both God and romance. Winner of the 2009 ACFW Debut Author of the Year and Holt Medallion Awards of Merit for Best First Book and Long Inspirational, Julie is also the recipient of 13 Romance Writers of America awards and was voted by readers as “Borders Best of 2009 So Far: Your Favorite Fiction”. Chosen as #1 Romance Fiction Author of the Year in the Family Fiction magazine 2011 Readers Choice Awards, Julie was also awarded #1 Series of the Year in that same poll and #3 Author of the Year, #5 Novel of the Year and #4 Historical Fiction Author of the year. She resides in Missouri with her husband, daughter, son and daughter-in-law and is the author of “The Daughters of Boston” series, which includes A Passion Most Pure, A Passion Redeemed, and A Passion Denied. Her “Winds of Change” series has recently released with A Hope Undaunted, which ranked #5 on Booklist’s Top 10 Inspirational Fiction for 2010. You can contact Julie through her website at www.julielessman.com.

So to start this all of, what sparked your interest in romance and how has this impacted your writing?

Four life-altering words: Gone With the Wind. You see, when I read that novel at the age of twelve, I was swept away into the world of romance for the very first time. It captured me like no other book had done, and I immediately set out to write (along with thousands of other love-struck young girls, I’m sure), what I hoped would be “the great American novel.” Obviously my dreams of grandeur didn’t go anywhere, but I did write 150 single-spaced pages of a story that became the basis (some forty years later!) for my debut novel, A Passion Most Pure. 

Today, I like to think that not only are Margaret Mitchell’s fingerprints are all over me in my religious devotion to passion, but God’s as well—merging my passion for romance with my passion for Him. 

Gone With the Wind seems to have inspired many. So neat how that first story you wrote sparked the idea for A Passion Most Pure. Amazing! So, you’ve joked about being the “Queen of Rejections.” Can you tell us a little about that? 

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 3-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. Imagine my shock and awe when a few years later I stood on the same stage on which I’d received that booby prize for the most rejections, to receive ACFW’s Debut Book of the Year. Go ahead— pinch me!

Wow. Now THAT is an amazing story! (And a big encouragement to those of us still trying to get published. Never give up! ;-) What would you like your readers to take away from your books? 

The MOST important thing I pray readers take away from my books is the reality of how natural and fulfilling an intimate relationship with God can and SHOULD be. Like breathing. These books may be fiction, but this is NOT a fairy tale here. It IS possible to have a living, breathing relationship with the God of the Universe. He’s crazy about us, and if most people really understood that, their lives would turn on a dime and blessings would overtake them. Believe me, I KNOW this firsthand—I used to be a hard, cynical, coarse human being before God pulled me up by the scruff of the neck and said, “Yo, Julie! Get a clue. You’re the apple of my eye!” :-) He’s been the love of my life ever since.

That is one thing I've noticed in your books, a natural and very personal relationship with God. I love it! I totally agree with you there! Can you tell us a little bit about your latest release, A Heart Revealed? 

A Heart Revealed is book 2 in “The Winds of Change” series, and it’s the forbidden love story of the oldest O’Connor brother, Sean O’Connor, a confirmed bachelor, and his sister’s best friend, Emma Malloy, a battered married woman. Here’s my blurb:

The ring on her hand belongs to one man …

But her heart belongs to another.

As a battered woman, Emma Malloy fled Dublin for Boston ten years ago, seeking shelter for a heart badly bruised by both her husband and guilt. But when she falls in love with Sean O’Connor, a confirmed bachelor who wrestles with demons of his own, fear and shame almost destroy her … until she is finally set free by a heart revealed. 

And, dear readers, I can tell you that it is one amazing story. If you don't believe me, read my review (where I rave on and on about it). So, getting back on track...What makes Emma and Sean’s romance unique? 

Emma and Sean’s romance in A Heart Revealed is not my typical romance where boy meets girl and sparks fly. Instead, it is a ten-year friendship that grows spiritually and emotionally, ripening into unconditional love where two people sacrifice themselves for the other. In many ways, A Heart Revealed is a departure for me—a heroine who is scarred, both inside and out, and a forbidden love with minimal romantic interaction. You see, Emma Malloy is married, a battered woman who fled Dublin to seek shelter for a heart badly bruised by an abusive husband. But when she falls in love with Sean O’Connor, a confirmed bachelor with demons of his own, fear and shame wreaks havoc in her life until God finally sets her free with “a heart revealed.” 

The fact that Sean and Emma's romance spanned so many years and was born of their close friendship was probably my favorite part of it. Physical appeal didn't come until their friendship was strong and deep. Loved it! What do you hope readers take away from A Heart Revealed? 

One of the basic themes of A Heart Revealed is “honesty is the best policy.” Every character in this story is struggling with some form of honesty with people they love, whether it’s guilt, delusion, deception, secrecy, manipulation or outright stubbornness. It is my hope that Sean and Emma’s story will not only “reveal” the grace and mercy of a loving God, but the healing power of His truth … which truly does set us free. 

Honesty is a good policy, haha! It was funny watching all these couples learn that the hard way. So, can you tell us about Emma, the gentle and scarred heroine in A Heart Revealed? How did you come to write a story about her? 

Believe it or not, I never planned to write Sean and Emma’s story until three-quarters of the way through A Passion Redeemed, when Charity brought Emma home for dinner. The moment I wrote the following very innocent lines in that book, I felt a spark of something that I KNEW would grow into an amazing love story someday.

Marcy smiled and passed the rolls. “Sean, Charity brought her good friend home to stay. Emma, this is Sean, my oldest.”

Sean stood and extended his hand across the table, his smile as broad as his reach. “Welcome. Anyone who can put up with this sister of mine has to be the genuine article.”

Charity smacked him.

Emma blushed. “Nice to meet you, Sean.”

“Emma, Charity tells me you and she met at Shaw’s and that you’ve worked there forever.” Faith dolloped potatoes on her plate, then handed them off to Collin.

Emma gave her a crooked smile. “Yes, I was actually Mrs. Shaw’s top sales clerk before Charity came on the scene. Dublin’s gentry took one look at her and pushed me aside.”

“Oh, pshaw. Don’t believe her. It took me a solid six months to catch up.” Charity removed a roll from the basket, eyed the lighter one on Brady’s plate and switched it with hers. He stared her down, but she ignored him.

“What happened to your face?” Katie asked.

“Katie Rose!” Marcy, Faith and Charity’s voices rang in shock.

Emma smiled. “No, it’s a natural question and one I don’t mind answering. I got in the way of a pan of hot grease, I’m afraid.”

Katie’s eyes bugged. “How did you do that?”

“Katie, zip it,” Charity warned.

“Someone accidentally threw it in my face.”

Forks, knives and spoons stilled as all eyes focused on Emma.

Charity cleared her throat and elbowed Sean, who stared as if Emma had just announced she was from the moon. “So, Sean, Mother tells me you finally wrangled a promotion.”

He chewed slowly, his eyes still fixed on Emma. He swallowed and turned to his sister. “Yeah, I did. Don’t look now, sis, but you’re rubbing shoulders with the Assistant Manager of the largest hardware mercantile in south Boston. Not to mention future manager of a new store.”

One of her brows slanted up. “Well, well. Must be those dangerous good looks drawing all the ladies in to buy nuts and bolts.”

He grinned and chomped on a roll. “Must be.”

Oh, and by the way, Emma’s name was originally Myrna. I know, I know, not as appropriate as “Emma,” but keep in mind that originally, Emma was to be just a comical bit character in the beginning of A Passion Redeemed. However, just like Cluny McGee was only meant to be a bit character in A Passion Denied (but charmed me into making him a huge subordinate character), “Myrna” charmed me as well when she came to Charity’s defense over and over again. I fell in love with her gentle loyalty so much, that I made her a critical part of the story in A Passion Redeemed. 

Wow, that's just amazing that you never planned to write Emma and Sean's story before that scene. (Oh, and I'm glad you changed her name to Emma! ;-) Before we close this up, can you tell us how readers can find you on the Internet or get in touch with you? 

I LOVE to hear from reader friends, 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, Friday journal to my reader friends that would give your readers an idea as to my relaxed style of writing. Then finally, 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.

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GIVEAWAY:

Yay, giveaway time! Okay, so Julie -- being the sweet person she is -- is having a kinda pool giveaway going on right now. All the author interviews that go on during a certain time (and this post is during that time, so listen up!) will be counted toward a giveaway. From the comments section of the different posts, Julie will pick a winner to receive one of her books. Winner's choice!!!!

(And trust me when I say, this book is totally worth the read. Wowza! A wild emotional, romantic journey you don't want to miss!) So, make sure you leave a comment and follow the instructions for extra entries for your chance to win!!!

The rules are the same as they've always been -- you must be a follower to enter and you must leave your email address. If you don't, your entry can't be counted. 


Attention: This giveaway is open internationally! So spread the word to all your friends, especially if they are outside the USA, as Julie wants to make sure everyone has a chance to win a book, too! :-)

Mandatory Entry:
Answer this question: Name your favorite book by Julie Lessman. If you haven't read any, name the one you most look forward to reading the most. 

Extra Entries:

- Subscribe to this blog(+1)
- Follow me on Twitter(+1)

- Post about this giveaway on your blog(+2)
- Comment on a review on Book Reviews by Lady Katy(+2 per comment) 3 reviews max, total of 6 extra entries

This giveaway closes on October 23rd at midnight. :-)