Welcome to my first Saturday Sit Down post. For a while I’ve wanted to do more to support my fellow writers in their publishing quests. Charissa Stastny has graciously volunteered to be my first victim guinea pig guest in this occasional series. Charissa’s second book, Secret Keepers, is now available in both paper and electronic formats. Please make yourselves comfortable and join me in welcoming Charissa to the blog.
Hi, Charissa, thanks so much for agreeing to this interview.
Thanks for having me, JM. I’ve been working out so I can do a good job spinning the guinea pig/author wheel for you without passing out.
That might be a new interview twist—working out while we chat. I wonder if Oprah or Ellen ever tried that. I’m not sure I’m that coordinated, though! For starters, what would you like readers to know about you?
I was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada…but have never gambled and can’t shuffle cards to save my life. I love writing, reading, hiking, and can make a mean monkey imitation (although when I tried it out at the zoo, one of the monkeys spit at me). I currently live in Idaho, where I don’t have to be embarrassed by my poor card shuffling skills.
Hmm, maybe that monkey was upset that a human is on to them! Secret Keepers is the sequel to your first book, Eyes of Light. Some folks in the audience may not be familiar with the story line. Could you tell us a bit about it and the inspiration behind it?
This series is clean romance with lots of suspense, action, and emotional turmoil. From Hispanic drug capos in Guatemala to Mormon missionaries, this story takes opposites to extremes. Suvi Goldstein tries to escape her past, but falls for a man with secrets as deadly as her own. Torn between violent men in one world and a forgiving man in another, Suvi must fight her way out of darkness to find redemption.
Each book switches between 3 characters’ point of views. Suvi is a troubled girl who has endured lots of abusive relationships. She meets James Hinton, a clean-cut, returned missionary, and begins her emotional healing. Austan is an ex-NCS operative who Suvi believes died when she was in high school. He has gone under deep cover, but still secretly watches over and protects her from forces bent on her destruction.
My inspiration for this story started with a door-to-door salesperson. An Israeli girl named Suvi knocked, charmed me into buying one of her oil paintings, and then talked to me and my daughters for an hour. She was vivacious, and a story started to form around her after she left. As I wrote my imagined story for Suvi, I wanted to help my own daughters be aware of hidden secrets people carry and be more merciful in their judgment of others. We never know what awful circumstances and experiences have led someone to act in certain ways.
Inspiration can strike in the least expected places, can’t it? And what a great message for a story to convey. Did your characters surprise you in any way when you began writing Secret Keepers?
Yes, my character James ended up being a little wishy-washy and wimpy in the first draft of this book. He really bugged me, so I used my writing skills in the revising mode to throw a few trials his way to torture him and make him get tougher. I was pleased with him in the end.
Ooh, there’s a good tip for the writers in the audience—if your characters are giving you a hard time with the story, make their lives even more difficult! But this is Saturday, and we’ll take it easy on ourselves and our readers. So let’s toss out a few fun questions. If you could revisit one day in your life, which would it be? My characters don’t allow anyone to change the past, so I’m afraid you can only be an observer. 
In 2009, I spent a week with my grandma taking care of her. I would revisit any of those days and just drink in her smile and laughter.
That sounds like a wonderful day to experience again. Despite my characters, I’d love the chance to sit down with my grandmothers and get them telling their stories. If you could have lunch with any character from any book (other than your own), who would it be, where would you eat, and what would you discuss?
I would dine with Dumbledore from Harry Potter. We’d eat sushi at Sakana’s (my favorite eating joint) and talk about anything he liked. Seriously, I can’t even think of a good enough question to ask the most powerful wizard ever. If he wanted to discuss Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans…then so be it.
Should I admit that I’ve never read any of the Harry Potter books? Oops, I think I just did…. Um, moving on…. On that same eating theme, if you could have dinner with one author from any time, who would you choose, where would you dine, and what would you ask him?
You know me well. I love eating. C.S. Lewis would be my pick of authors. I think I’d pick the Cheesecake Factory and ask to be seated in a fancy booth. I don’t think I’d ask him anything (except what his favorite cheesecake was)…I’d just listen to whatever he said and be in heaven.
Here’s another confession—the food questions were written while I had a case of the mid-afternoon munchies. Eating was definitely on my mind! And C.S. Lewis sounds like a great dinner companion. If you were to be stranded on a deserted tropical island with one of your characters, who would you choose and why?
Since I can’t build a fire or catch fish, and am wimpy, I’d need someone who could be responsible and take care of me. In my mind, that would be James Hinton. He’s very handy, self-reliant, kind, creative, and a woman’s dream.
Survival skills and attractive? He sounds like the perfect choice!
And there’s more, folks! You have two chances to win a copy of either Eyes of Light or Secret Keepers. Char’s running a rafflecopter giveaway, and the deadline for entering is tonight. However, she’ll also give away an e-version of your choice to a randomly selected person who leaves a comment on this post by the end of day on Wednesday (February 27th), Eastern US Standard Time.
There you have it—my first blog interview. I had a great time with it, and I’d like to thank Charissa for making it a success. If you haven’t yet visited her blog, Joy in the Moments, you can find it here. She also has a website here. And you can find Secret Keepers at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.
Have a great weekend, everyone, and remember to leave a comment below for your chance to win!
annewoodman
/ February 23, 2013Nice interview, JM! Charissa, I’d like to speak with C.S. Lewis. And tea with Dumbledore sounds amazing… can I come, too?
JM, I know the Harry Potter books have gotten a bit of overexposure, but I would highly recommend them. It’s funny, too, when you read all seven, to see how JK Rowling’s writing improves as the books go along.
jmmcdowell
/ February 23, 2013Thanks, Anne! I hope to try more of these as fellow bloggers release new works, and maybe expand beyond writers—such as artists or those with other types of creative works that are available. We’ll see….
Someday I should read the HP books.
They sound like a good example of how an engaging story can be strong enough to overcome a new writer’s “inexperience” with the “dos and donts” and expectations of the publishing world.
char
/ February 23, 2013You are definitely invited along, Anne. I’m a better listener than interviewer…so would love others to be there to keep the conversation going on subjects besides cheesecake and Bertie’s beans.
Carrie Rubin
/ February 23, 2013Great interview! I love the question about which character you’d like to be stranded with on a desert island. Now I’m trying to come up with an answer for myself from my own characters.
No need to enter me in the contest. I already have Char’s book, but good luck to the winner!
jmmcdowell
/ February 23, 2013Thanks, Carrie.
I wanted to have at least one question I hadn’t seen before. That’s not so say someone hasn’t already asked it, just that I haven’t come across it. 
I think I know who’d I’d want from my WIPs. 
Carrie Rubin
/ February 23, 2013I know I definitely don’t want my virus on my island…
jmmcdowell
/ February 23, 2013That would definitely decrease your survival odds.
sophiebowns
/ February 23, 2013I love the part about you wanting to dine with Dumbledore! Great interview!
jmmcdowell
/ February 23, 2013Glad you enjoyed it, Sophie! And hopefully this is the last time your comment ends up in my spam queue—I’ve been checking more carefully before I hit delete after I saw your last ones disappear!
sophiebowns
/ February 23, 2013I hope so too! (Fingers crossed) x
Mayumi-H
/ February 23, 2013I liked hearing Charissa’s story about her Suvi inspiration. I wonder if this book ever got back to that young lady….
Fun interview, JM! A great way to spend a Saturday, with takes of authors and good food!
jmmcdowell
/ February 23, 2013Thanks, Mayumi.
I’ve always liked interviews that go beyond the usual “tell us about your new book/movie/tv show/fashion line/etc.” So I wanted to inject some fun and different questions into this. I can’t thank Charissa enough for agreeing to be my first guinea pig. 
char
/ February 23, 2013This was fun, JM. I loved your questions. They really made me think. Thank you for asking me to do this. I love the idea of Saturday Sit Downs with authors, and look forward to reading from others you interview in the future.
jmmcdowell
/ February 23, 2013I’ve enjoyed it, too. As more blog buddies have new offerings, I hope they’ll agree to an interview over here.
char
/ February 23, 2013Reblogged this on Joy in the Moments and commented:
JM McDowell is interviewing me today at her site. Drop by to check out which character from a book I’d like to dine with….
Naomi Baltuck
/ February 23, 2013Fun interview, Char. Love your book cover.
jmmcdowell
/ February 23, 2013Thank you for stopping by, Naomi!
Naomi Baltuck
/ February 24, 2013My pleasure!
char
/ February 23, 2013Thanks, Naomi. I really liked how this cover turned out this time.
4amWriter
/ February 23, 2013You make a great guinea pig, Char. And JM, congrats on your first interview. I think you did just fine. I love the creative questions.
One of my favorite fun facts about your books, Char, is that you were inspired by that girl who came knocking at your door. Wouldn’t it be something if she happened to find out how she changed your life?
jmmcdowell
/ February 23, 2013Thanks, Kate—Char made it easy.
And I’m looking forward to asking more authors which of their characters would join them on the island!
char
/ February 23, 2013She was the cutest girl I’ve ever talked to; even though she was a stranger, she was super easy to talk to and my girls loved her. It would be fun to meet her again, but I’m sure her life is nothing like my Suvi’s in the book.
Sheila
/ February 23, 2013I love the thought of sitting down with different characters or authors and of course, eating! Now I’m hoping to hear your monkey impression someday. That’s great that you were able to get so much inspiration from a salesperson. Great interview!
jmmcdowell
/ February 23, 2013I’m glad you enjoyed it, Sheila.
I think I’ll keep these questions as part of my future interviews, so you and other writers might want to keep them in mind. 
char
/ February 23, 2013Well, I’ll admit that after having that monkey spit at me, my confidence plummeted. I still make it occasionally for my kids when they ask, but I haven’t dared try it out with the monkeys here in Boise yet.
kindredspirit23
/ February 23, 2013I like her choices for the meals. I might choose someone different, but she will definitely have a meal or two to remember. Two books?! I can dream and hope, can’t I?
Scott
jmmcdowell
/ February 23, 2013Says the man who has how many short stories being published this year?
That’s a great accomplishment in itself! How’s this sound?—when you finish that novel, there’s a Saturday reserved for you, and we can learn who would be sharing the tables and island with you. 
kindredspirit23
/ February 23, 2013Ohh, gonna have to work on it now.
Vanessa-Jane Chapman
/ February 23, 2013It’s fun doing blog interviews isn’t it! You got a good mix of info about the book and info about the woman behind the book! And I haven’t read any Harry Potter books either
jmmcdowell
/ February 23, 2013It is fun.
I’m looking forward to doing more of these posts—if my fellow writers will do me the honor of sitting down for a Saturday. Shh, don’t tell anyone, but I think we’re in the minority when it comes to those Harry Potter books…. 
char
/ February 23, 2013I can’t believe you haven’t read those books yet. You’re even a Brit and would get all that Brit lingo.
jmmcdowell
/ February 23, 2013I’m reading the latest Ruth Galloway mystery on my Kindle. Thank heaven for the online “British English” dictionary! There are some colloquialisms I’ve never heard before.
Vanessa-Jane Chapman
/ February 24, 2013Well if I can ever help clarify any Britishisms J, you know where I am!
Vanessa-Jane Chapman
/ February 24, 2013Char – I know, I’ve got several blogger friend books to read, I haven’t read Carrie’s one yet either. I did just finish Greaveburn which is by another blogging buddy, so I’m getting through them. I’ll definitely do yours too. I could really do with one whole day a week where I don’t have to do anything else but read, what a lovely luxury that would be!
char
/ February 24, 2013I know what you mean. My To Read list is a mile long. I’ve started reading while I bike in the garage instead of watching TV. That’s helped a bunch to get more reading time in…but I need to bike more to get through the list I add to each day.
Kourtney Heintz
/ February 23, 2013Great interview! I love how conversational and flowy it was. Felt like I was having a chat with you two over coffee.
CS Lewis at the Cheesecake Factory–I love the idea of that. 
jmmcdowell
/ February 23, 2013Thanks, Kourtney! I have to admit, I thought of the gang from “The Big Bang Theory” when Char chose the Cheesecake Factory.
And sitting over coffee is exactly the feeling I’d like people to have with these posts. I’m so glad Char agreed to be my first guest!
char
/ February 23, 2013Me too! It was a lot of fun. I even went to the Cheesecake factory last night for real (the sad thing is, I forgot my leftovers and have mourned them all day today).
jmmcdowell
/ February 23, 2013Oh, no, you mean you lost a second round of cheesecake? I would be mourning that, too!
Kourtney Heintz
/ February 27, 2013I love that show! And it was really fun to read. A Saturday treat.
Char it was great to hear about your book. Very cool cover too!
diannegray
/ February 23, 2013What a great interview, JM! I loved reading about Charissa (and I follow her blog as well)
Her answers to your questions were good/funny/interesting/entertaining! I love the way she tortured James! Now that’s a good way to get a character to show his true colours!
jmmcdowell
/ February 23, 2013Thanks, Dianne.
I have a hard time torturing my characters, but I think Charissa used a good technique to keep hers in line. 
Make them work for everything they gain, right?!
char
/ February 23, 2013I’m glad you like his torture. He wasn’t too fond of me for doing that to him. And then I go and make him my companion on my desert island. I think he’ll get me back.
justinwriter
/ February 23, 2013Fun interview and well done for your first, jmmcdowell. I loved Char’s torture of James answer the best. Stretching and challenging characters is a sure way to bring them to life.
‘It’s alive, it’s alive!’
jmmcdowell
/ February 23, 2013Thanks for joining the conversation, Justin.
Torturing characters is the hardest thing for me to do. If I’m ever going to publish, I need to get better at it. I like Char’s “no holds barred” approach to getting those characters in line!
Laura Stanfill
/ February 24, 2013Love the new series, jm, and learning more about Charissa! Thanks to both of you.
jmmcdowell
/ February 24, 2013Thanks, Laura.
Some folks can do wonderful in-depth interviews with great, detailed questions. I’m not one of them. 
So I’ll be keeping these light and fun, which is more my voice.
Arlene
/ February 24, 2013Great questions JM, made me think which author I would want to take to dinner. So many choices!
Good luck with the book Char! I’ve already put both of your books on my To Read list. I love the character name Suvi – unique, but real (obviously). It’s great to hear how this story came to you! Thanks to you both!! 
jmmcdowell
/ February 24, 2013I think it was much easier for me to ask the “fun” questions than for Charissa to have to choose just one answer for each!
And I hope we’ll see more writers sharing their new publications with us on a not-too-distant Saturday!
philosophermouseofthehedge
/ February 25, 2013Interviews are hard – well done – flowed and sounded like an afternoon conversation.
Thanks for the introduction ( CS Lewis – Cheesecake factory? terrific). Will have to check out her place. This is so true: “We never know what awful circumstances and experiences have led someone to act in certain ways.” Wise words for life and writing.
jmmcdowell
/ February 25, 2013Thanks, Mouse.
Some bloggers are so good at interviews, I think they could make a career of them, especially the ones who get authors to speak in detail about the themes in the books and the intricacies of their writing inspirations and habits. I am not one of those bloggers! But that’s okay because I also enjoy fun talks with people and learning more about them as well as their latest creative endeavor. Charissa’s idea about forming judgements would fit one of those in-depth interviews beautifully, though.
SmallHouseBigGarden
/ February 25, 2013Really excellent interviewing skills, JM. You made it fun but not at the expense of the subject matter.
I particularly loved reading how an entire book grew from a chance meeting between the author and a door to door saleslady. Inspiration truly is everywhere!!
jmmcdowell
/ February 25, 2013I love hearing where the inspiration for stories comes from. A chance meeting like this, a stray fragment of description that pops into mind, an overheard snippet of a conversation…. And before you know it, a story takes shape. I love it when that happens!
Rilla Z
/ February 25, 2013I agree: the flow of the interview kept me reading. Now I’m really interested in this series! Thanks!
jmmcdowell
/ February 25, 2013Thanks, Rilla! Charissa made it an easy interview to do, and I’m looking forward to doing more of these as more folks get their works published.
Clowie
/ February 26, 2013I enjoyed reading this interview – I’m off to visit her blog now!
jmmcdowell
/ February 26, 2013Thanks, Clowie! I hope more writers and other creative types will want to join us on some Saturdays!
Smaktakula
/ March 1, 2013So THIS is the new feature. Awesome! A great first guinea pig!
jmmcdowell
/ March 2, 2013Thanks, Smak! I hope more writers and other creative types will join me now and again. I think these will be fun post to do.