12 Days of Christmas Joy: Hope for Christmas by Elizabeth Maddrey

Interview with Elizabeth Maddrey about her book,

Hope for Christmas:

Alexis: What inspired you to write this Christmas holiday story?

Elizabeth: Honestly? I got invited to a Christmas-themed box set and wanted to participate. I’d written about Azure Hewitt recently (in A Heart Realigned, the third book of my Peacock Hill series) and I knew she had more siblings, so I thought making it tie in would be a good plan.

Alexis: Describe the setting in New Mexico for this story. What makes Hope Ranch special to your main characters?

Elizabeth: Hope Ranch is in the mesas and mountains of Northern New Mexico. If you look up the Valles Caldera National Preserve online, you can get a little glimpse of what the ranch looks like. But I moved it to a slightly different place (closer to Taos) and shifted a few things around. The ranch is where the grandparents of the book’s hero live. He’s never met them, because of his father’s decision to cut all ties with them, and he’s curious.

Alexis: Tell me about your story’s heroine Maria. Why does she not believe in love at first sight?

Elizabeth: Mostly because she’s been burned. She’s a single mom as a result of believing assurances of love too soon in a relationship, so she’s skeptical that love at first sight is anything more than an attempt to get someone into bed.

Alexis: Tell me about your story’s heroine Cyan. Why has he always believed in love at first sight?

Elizabeth: He’s a romantic at the bottom of it all. And since he hasn’t really had a relationship that grew into love, he’s decided that maybe it’s going to take the lightning strike for him to recognize it.

Alexis: Why did Cyan choose a career as a cyber security consultant? What makes him good at his job?

Elizabeth: As much as he’s a romantic, he’s also fairly pragmatic. He recognized it as a career that blended something he was interested in with a high demand—so there’s job security. He’s good at his job because he enjoys puzzles and problem solving.

Alexis: How long has Maria been a housekeeper for Rancho de Esperanza? Is there anything that she does not like about her job? Explain.

Elizabeth: She’s been there about eight years now – having come just before her son was born. She actually considers it the perfect job. The Hewitts are very laid back and treat her like she’s part of the family – she can take time to care for her son whenever needed and so it’s provided stability and community all in one shot.

Alexis: How long has Maria been a single mom? What happened to her child’s father?

Elizabeth: She became a single mom basically as soon as she told the father that she was pregnant. He wanted nothing to do with a child and said if she wasn’t going to have an abortion she was on her own. She took him at his word and had him relinquish his rights to keep him from changing his mind. He’s probably still out there in the world, but Maria doesn’t care. She’s realized she’s better off without him.

Alexis: Has Maria always been a strong, independent woman? If not, what caused her to be?

Elizabeth: The roots were there, but having Calvin solidified them. Single moms have to have spine to make it.

Alexis: What are Maria and Cyan’s most challenging struggles that they face alone and together?

Elizabeth: Maria is suspicious of easy. And she doesn’t like accepting help, or even admitting that she needs it. Cyan is a problem solver and he tends to wade in with a solution when he sees one and is able to provide it—even if it’s not really something that’s desired.

Alexis: What does Cyan love about Maria?

Elizabeth: Her strength and determination as well as her generous heart.

Alexis: What does Maria like about Cyan?

Elizabeth: She noticed his looks right off, but she also loves that he sticks and doesn’t let her push him away. And she loves how much he loves her son Calvin.

Alexis: What role does faith in God play in this story?

Elizabeth: Cyan isn’t a believer when he first comes to Hope Ranch. His dad was very anti-Christianity, so none of his formative years had any exposure to Jesus Christ. But a couple of his siblings have found Christ and are making tentative forays into talking about Him with the family—and that’s what sends him to Hope Ranch. Betsy and Wayne Hewitt, his grandparents, are also strong believers—he wants to get to know them, and they are excited to show him Jesus. Maria is already a believer, and so she struggles with her attraction and interest in a non-believer. But she also sees an opportunity to witness to him in the midst of her struggles.

Alexis: Did you play Christmas music while writing this story? If so, which song was your favorite and how did it inspire your storytelling?

Elizabeth: I didn’t. I don’t actually like listening to Christmas music. I put up with it when my family wants it on during the holidays, but if no one’s around asking for it? I prefer silence.

Alexis: What is your favorite Christmas holiday treat? Did it help you while writing this story? If so, explain.

Elizabeth: I like pumpkin pie. A lot. But I’m pretty sure I wrote this book in June, so there was no pie to be had. I probably could have made one, but it didn’t even occur to me to do that.

Alexis: If you could give one of your characters a Christmas gift, what would it be? Why?

Elizabeth: I’d probably give Cyan a nativity set. Mostly because they are hands down my favorite Christmas decoration (actually I tend to leave mine out all year) and I think everyone should have one. Plus he came to know Jesus at Christmas, so it’s a nice reminder.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Elizabeth. Merry Christmas!

~*~
Author Bio: 

Elizabeth Maddrey is a semi-reformed computer geek and homeschooling mother of two who lives in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. 

When she isn’t writing, Elizabeth is a voracious consumer of books. 

She loves to write about Christians who struggle through their lives, dealing with sin and receiving God’s grace on their way to their own romantic happily ever after.

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Blurb for Elizabeth's book, Hope for Christmas:

An independent single mom who doesn’t believe in love at first sight collides with a man who does. 

Cyan Hewitt drifts onto his estranged grandparents’ New Mexico ranch in time for Thanksgiving … and stays. As a cyber security consultant, he can telecommute, so why not from here, where his restless soul is soothed and his heart is awakened by the attractive ranch housekeeper?

Maria Sanchez works at Rancho de Esperanza to provide a stable life for her son. She’s content—mostly—in her roles as housekeeper, part-time student, and mom, but when her precocious seven-year-old is diagnosed with diabetes, her world shatters. There’s no time for distractions from the long-term visitor who’s stirring a longing in her for more.

Cyan may think her faith and courage are inspiring, but Maria feels vulnerable. Relying on others has only ever resulted in broken dreams. Christmas might be a season of hope, but does she dare risk everything for love?

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Buy Elizabeth's book Hope for Christmas on Amazon

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Connect with Elizabeth:
Website: http://www.ElizabethMaddrey.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ElizabethMaddrey
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/ElizabethMaddrey
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/elizabeth-maddrey
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Maddrey/e/B00A11QGME/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/elizabethmaddre

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Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of this book by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below:

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Falling for Books: Elizabeth's book

Interview with Matt Patterson (character) from A Heart Realigned:

Alexis: Thanks for agreeing to this interview, Matt! You are quite the character. Do you think that your author Elizabeth Maddrey did a good job telling your story? Why or why not?

Matt: Thanks for having me. Is being a character good? I’m going to take it as a compliment. And sure she did—I didn’t always come across looking awesome, but that’s pretty true to real life, I guess. There are definitely things I’ve said or done that I regret later.

Alexis: What were your first impressions of your leading lady Azure Hewitt? Were they lasting impressions? Why or why not?

Matt: First impression was that she’s hot. That hasn’t changed. After that, I admired her taste in trucks—and that hasn’t changed either. But I will say she’s so much more than either of those things. There’s a lot to Azure and I’m looking forward to getting to know every aspect of her.

Alexis: What do you think of Azure’s work, repainting historic murals at Peacock Hill? 

Matt: Her art is amazing. I imagine she’d say she does the commissions, like what she did at Peacock Hill, to pay the bills. It’s her canvases that will knock your socks off. I admire her for being willing to do something like art and find a way to make a living at it. It can’t be easy.

Alexis: Azure lives a footloose type of life. Your experience is the polar opposite. Did you two clash at first? Why or why not?

Matt: We did but we didn’t .  .  . if that makes any sense? I was a little jealous, to be honest. I want to travel—there’s a deep desire to wander in my soul that I can’t shake, but at the same time, there are responsibilities, you know? Turns out, she was a little jealous of some of my life, too. Maybe you really don’t ever appreciate what you have.

Alexis: Why does your uncle want you to take over the family auto shop? How does that make you feel?

Matt: He wants to retire. I don’t blame him for that, he’s been running the place for a long time. My aunt’s desperate to travel—that wandering thirst is something I come by naturally, I guess. I can’t say getting tied down to the garage is really what I want, but I don’t want to let my aunt and uncle down, either. I’ll make it work one way or another.

Alexis: What makes you want to spread your wings and fly away from your hometown? What or who makes you want to stay? Explain.

Matt: Don’t you ever just think about how much is out there? I mean, a really small town in southern Virginia versus the big, wide world? No contest at all. Don’t get me wrong, my hometown is a nice place, but when it’s all you’ve ever known? I don’t know many people who grow up here who aren’t looking for a way out at some point. Of course, there are responsibilities, right? And sometimes those end up making you stick. Even if you’re not sure you want to.

Alexis: What do you love about Azure? Why?

Matt: Everything. She’s a perfect complement to me in just about every way. We’re not identical—there are any number of things we disagree on —but honestly? That’s part of the fun! We have real conversations. She makes me think.

Alexis: In what ways has your relationship with Azure challenged and changed you?

Matt: Like I just said, she makes me think. I consider myself a reasonably laid back guy. Azure has helped me see maybe that’s not always the best choice. Beyond that, she’s challenged me to really evaluate why I went ahead and took over the garage for my uncle.

Alexis: What did it take for you to figure out where God called you to be?

Matt: A couple of hard knocks to the head. Honestly, I was fighting it every way I could but the counsel of Godly friends and a lot of prayer finally got through.

Alexis: Do you believe that your heart should be aligned with God’s desire for your life? Why or why not?

Matt: Oh, absolutely. It’s not always easy to get there—sometimes you have to set aside your own wants and desires and really listen to what God’s saying He has—but His is always going to be better.

Alexis: Looking back on your life thus far, if you could do anything differently, what would it be? Why?

Matt: That’s a hard question, honestly. I mean, if I went back and changed even one thing, I might not end up where I am now, and I really like this place. So I don’t guess I would, not even the hard pieces, because everything in my life up to now has shaped who I am today.

Alexis: Now for a few fun questions . . . What’s your favorite color? Blue. What are your hobbies? I love to rebuild old cars. What is your deepest desire and highest hope? To build a solid life with the woman I love. How do you take your coffee when ordering from Starbucks? I like regular drip coffee with cream and sugar

.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Matt! Would you like to share closing thoughts?

Matt: This was fun, thanks for having me.

~*~
Author Bio:

Elizabeth Maddrey is a semi-reformed computer geek and homeschooling mother of two who lives in the suburbs of Washington D.C. 

When she isn’t writing, Elizabeth is a voracious consumer of books. 

She loves to write about Christians who struggle through their lives, dealing with sin and receiving God’s grace on their way to their own romantic happily ever after.

~*~
Book Blurb for A Heart Realigned:

She has no roots. He has no wings.

Repainting historic murals at Peacock Hill will pad Azure Hewitt’s bank account and allow her to drift where the wind takes her. If only the group of friends working at the old mansion weren’t so welcoming. Their immediate acceptance and inclusion reinforces one of the downsides of her footloose life. Add in the local car buff and mechanic? Putting down roots could almost be attractive.

The more Matt Patterson’s uncle pushes him to take over the family auto shop, the less Matt’s sure he wants to stay where he’s planted…but even as he contemplates spreading his wings, he can’t imagine a life like Azure’s with no fixed address. Even so, he’s positive a settled life isn’t something she sees in her future.

With Azure’s project nearing completion and Matt’s uncle anxious for a decision, neither is sure where God is calling them to be. But if their hearts are aligned to His desire, surely their love will have a chance.

~*~
Connect with Elizabeth:
Website: http://www.ElizabethMaddrey.com
Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/ElizabethMaddrey
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/ElizabethMaddrey
Twitter: https://twitter.com/elizabethmaddre
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6585434.Elizabeth_Maddrey
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/emaddrey/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+ElizabethMaddrey/posts
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/elizabeth-maddrey
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Maddrey/e/B00A11QGME/ 

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Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of this book by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below: 

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Author interview: Elizabeth Maddrey

Today I am delighted to introduce you to Elizabeth Maddrey, an author whose stories not only reflect real-life but can inspire you to change your world for the better.

Elizabeth started writing as a child and loves to read! She resides in the nation's capital (Washington, D.C.) with her husband and two children. I want to thank Liz publicly for taking the time to answer my questions for this author interview featured on my blog today.

Now here's the exciting news: Elizabeth would like to give away two FREE copies of her book to two lucky winners. She has offered to sign the paperback copy of her book Hope Deferred and mail it to winner #1 and she has agreed to allow winner #2 to choose one of her e-books (Wisdom to Know, Courage to Change, Serenity to Accept, Joint Venture, Faith Departed, or Hope Deferred). The e-book will also be free of charge and sent via a Kindle copy. The winners will be selected in a drawing by me. 

Enter the book giveaway (to win your free book) by going to the comment section and answering Liz's question at the end of her interview. You have from today (Sept. 14) until Sept. 28 to leave a comment. Please include your e-mail address so if you're one of the winners, I can contact you in order for you to receive your free book from Elizabeth!

So without further ado, read my interview with Elizabeth below where you'll find questions asked by me (in bold font) and answers written by Elizabeth (not in bold). Enjoy!

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Alexis: You’ve written a lot of books! How many have you published in total?

Elizabeth: All told, right now I have 5 full-length novels released and one novella. My 6th full-length novel is scheduled to release in December of this year.

Alexis: Did you self-publish or go the traditional route? If you went traditional, please share the story of how you got your agent and book deal. If you went indie, please explain how you moved from writing the book to publishing it and give my readers an idea of how much it cost to publish it.

Elizabeth: I kind of split the difference, honestly. I’m traditionally published, but with a small press. The major difference there is that my publisher will work with un-agented authors and so I’ve put the hunt for an agent on hold for the time being. I ended up choosing this route after about a year of agent hunting with rejection after rejection because they had concerns about the sale-ability of my stories.

Alexis: You write “Grace-Driven Fiction” as it says on your blog. Explain what that means for you as a writer and how you thought of that concept.

Elizabeth: This really ties into my desire to write about the struggles that plague the Christian life. I think sometimes we let ourselves fall into the trap of thinking that becoming a Christian means that we’re going to have smooth sailing from there on out – that we’ll be able to pray our way through any struggles and not really suffer. But real life isn’t like that. For me personally, I like to see that in the books I read – Christians who still mess up (sometimes even on purpose!) and need God’s grace day after day. So the idea of Grace-Driven Fiction came from that – my characters, especially my Christian characters, will always be people who still struggle with sin and all the ugliness that follows us around as we try to make our way and live for Christ in a fallen world.

Alexis: Tell my readers about your Remnants book series. What is the focus and message?

Elizabeth: The Remnants series (Faith Departed, Hope Deferred, and my December release Love Defined) is the story of twin sisters June and July (pronounced Julie) and their respective husbands as they try to start a family and instead of the easy process that we tend to expect, run face-first into infertility. The thirteen years my husband and I tried to start a family opened my eyes to how awful it is to be a Christian who’s infertile. More often than not, you get a pat on the back and a reminder that you need to surrender to God’s will. And while, sure, that’s a true sentiment, it’s not helpful when you’re at the bottom of the dark, angry pit infertility helps you dig. It’s my prayer that reading about June and July will help people who haven’t been through infertility understand just how deeply it can shake your faith and all your relationships, and for those who have experienced infertility, I hope it helps them understand that they’re not alone and it’s okay to struggle and wrestle with God when you’re hurting.

Alexis: Tell my readers about your Grant Us Grace novels. When and why did you start writing that line and how much time did you spend on it?

Elizabeth: The Grant Us Grace novels are all contemporary romances. Wisdom to Know is the story of Lydia and Kevin. Lydia is a pastor’s daughter who makes some bad choices (including an abortion) and has to fight her way back through the consequences of those choices to renewed faith in God. Kevin has been in love with Lydia since high school – but when he discovers her choices, he struggles to reconcile what he feels is God’s call for them to marry and his perceived betrayal.

Courage to Change is the story of Allison (a secondary character in Wisdom to Know) and Phil – two attorneys who are helping an unwed pregnant teen. Phil is still grappling with having been divorced by his wife after he found Jesus and Allison struggles with loving someone who isn’t the ideal she’d expected God to bring her.

Serenity to Accept is the story of Karin (a secondary character in Courage to Change) and Jason. Jason, an ER doctor, is struggling with guilt over his inability to save his father’s life while Karin wants nothing to do with God after the sexual abuse she suffered as a young girl. Though Jason knows better than to become romantically involved with a non-believer, he’s drawn to Karin.

My novella, Joint Venture, is sort of a prequel to the main series. It’s the story of Matt and Laura, who are a married couple already in Wisdom to Know. But I fell in love with them when I was writing about Lydia and Kevin and knew they needed a chance in the spotlight.

I wrote Wisdom to Know as a NaNoWriMo project in 2009. I worked on it for two years before finally getting it to a point where I hoped it was publishable. After contracting for it, I wrote Courage to Change, and Serenity to Accept in about six weeks each (for the first draft – then lots of editing.) I wanted the series to touch on issues that are often swept under the rug, like the fact that Christians do still choose to abort babies and that there is healing from abortion available through Christ, teen pregnancy and its prevalence even in the church, divorce, and dating non-believers – but I still wanted a good, clean romance to tie it all together.

Alexis: You say your books are about Christians who “aren’t perfect” and need God’s grace which I’d say pretty much sums up real-life for us all. Why did you decide these were concepts you needed to create in fictional stories?

Elizabeth: It mostly came out of the kind of book I like to read. I read a lot, and the books I love most are ones where I can identify with the characters and feel like, yep, that could be me. But I also like books that challenge me and leave me thinking. This isn’t to say I can’t enjoy a “simple and fun read” – but it’s not what I crave. Consequently, though, I read a lot of secular fiction because I just don’t see a ton of Christian fiction that speaks to the hurting in our pews. I wanted readers to know that they weren’t alone, and they weren’t failing because they didn’t have the perfect lives we see so often in fiction where a quick prayer suddenly makes everything clear and better. Living for Christ is hard and it’s messy and we don’t do it perfectly the first time, and I think the characters in our books should reflect that reality.

Alexis: Do you have a Bible verse that you would say is the theme of your life or most dear to your heart? If yes, please share and explain why.

Elizabeth: I’ve always loved Romans 8:38-39 “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

It’s such a wonderful promise – God loves us, no matter what. Even when it doesn’t feel like He’s walking with you, He is. Even when you’re making bad choices and reaping the whirlwind they cause, He’s with you and He loves you.

Alexis: How does your faith in God as a Christian play into your characters and storylines?

Elizabeth: It oozes into almost every word. I want my characters and storylines to always represent what it means to live as a Christian in today’s world. It’s not always pretty or easy, but it’s always full of God’s love and grace. Without that in my own life, I would be nothing – so there’s no way to leave that out of my books.

Alexis: Do you write for a living or do you have another job with a salary and benefits? If yes, where do you work and how do you find time to write stories? What advice do you have for people who want to write full-time and make a living by their pen?

Elizabeth: Neither. I’m at home with my two amazing kids full-time. So in addition to homeschooling and writing, I spend my days driving Hot Wheels, setting up tea parties with Army men (it’s my compromise – both boys love their Army men, but I get tired of everything being a battle, so when I play, they have tea parties before they go shoot things), trying to dig out from under the incessant pile of laundry upstairs, and wondering why I bother mopping the kitchen floor. That said, regardless of how your days get occupied – my advice is really the same: If you want to write, write. You have to make time for the words to hit the screen. Maybe you give up your lunch break or your favorite TV show – if it’s important to you, you’ll find a way to make it happen.

Alexis: Give my readers a glimpse into your personal life. Where do you and your family reside? What’s your favorite part of being at home with your husband and children? Do you want your children to grow up to be a writer like you? Why or why not?

Elizabeth: We live in the Washington D.C. suburbs in one of the many sprawling bedroom communities that cluster around the Nation’s Capital, feeding a mass of cars into and out of the city each day. My favorite part of being home with the family is hanging out together either reading or playing Xbox or a board game together….Mostly I want my kids to grow up and do what God calls them to do. If it’s writing, then they should write. If it’s fixing cars, they should fix cars. If it’s program computers, then program computers. Whatever they end up doing, I hope that we will have raised them to work hard at it, give their all, and do it all to the glory of God. I can’t ask for more than that.

Alexis: Complete this sentence: As a writer, I always _______________ because _____________________.

Elizabeth: As a writer, I always cringe when I send off a book to my editor because I’m never convinced it’s as good as it should be.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview Liz! If there’s a question you’d like my readers to answer for you, please type it here.

Elizabeth asks the readers of God is Love blog, "Who’s your favorite hero from a classic novel?"

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Author bio: 

Elizabeth Maddrey began writing stories as soon as she could form the letters properly and has never looked back. Though her practical nature and love of math and organization steered her into computer science for college and graduate school, she has always had one or more stories in progress to occupy her free time. When she isn’t writing, Elizabeth is a voracious consumer of books and has mastered the art of reading while undertaking just about any other activity. She loves to write about Christians who struggle through their lives, dealing with sin and receiving God’s grace.

Elizabeth lives in the suburbs of Washington D.C. with her husband and their two incredibly active little boys. She invites you to interact with her at her website www.ElizabethMaddrey.com or on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ElizabethMaddrey

Connect with Elizabeth via Social Media:

Website: http://www.ElizabethMaddrey.com

Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/ElizabethMaddrey

Twitter: @elizabethmaddre

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/emaddrey/

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+ElizabethMaddrey/posts