Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Interview With Golden Parsons Keyes PLUS Giveaway!!

Today for my author interview I have Golden Keyes Parsons with us. Her new book, Where Hearts Are Free just came out. This looks to be an excellent book. I have read the first two in this series and loved them! She is giving away one copy to a reader so please make sure you finish reading this interview. 

Thank you for being with us today, Golden!!!
    It's my pleasure to be here, Charity. Thank you so much for having me. 
 
How long have you known you wanted to be an author?
    That's not exactly easy for me to answer. I grew up in a family of newspaper editors and publishers, so writing and manuscripts were all over our house. I grew up writing. I wrote articles for our hometown newspaper when I was only nine years old. I won some essay contests in school. I was always glad when we had essay type questions on tests. But, interestingly enough, I never thought about being a professional writer until I started speaking professionally in 1996. I was told at that time that I needed to be published. So I started down that road at that time. 
 
Can you tell me a little bit about your newest book?
    "Where Hearts Are Free" is the concluding book in my Darkness To Light Series based on my family genealogy. The Clavells were French Huguenots (Protestants) who were persecuted by Louis XIV's Catholic government in 17th century France. The first two books are set in France. The concluding book finds them coming to this country and settling in Pennsylvania. 
 
What is the funniest moment you have had while writing?
    I honestly cannot think of a funny moment. I've cried while writing a scene, but I don't recall laughing more than a chuckle at something a character might do.
 
 When a reader gets done with your book, what do you want them to come away with?
    In writing Christian fiction, my goal is to demonstrate to the reader that God's redemption is for every person, no matter their circumstances, what they've done or where they've come from. Some have said that my novels are a bit "gritty" for Christian fiction. I just want to portray life as it really is, with real people in real situations who find God faithful to meet them at their point of need. 
 
Is there a place you have always wanted to visit? A vacation spot, historical monument, overseas, etc?
    Absolutely. I so wanted to go to France while I was writing the first two books, but it wasn't possible, due to a family illness. I wanted to see where my ancestors lived. I wanted to see Versailles. Maybe someday I'll be able to go. 
 
If you could have dinner with 2 people, who would they be?
    I would love to have dinner with my actual ancestors who fled France in the light of that horrible time in history for them. What courage they must have had.
 
    The book I am currently writing is set during the Civil War in Texas. I have been so impressed by the person of Abraham Lincoln. It's so evident to me that God guided his decisions as president. He just seemed to know supernaturally what the best decisions were for the country. I would love to have dinner with him. 
 
What one event would you love to be at? Historical or future?
    Good question. I can think of so many, and most of them have to do with Biblical events ... the parting of the Red Sea. That must have been something! With the shepherds in the fields when the angels announced the birth of Jesus. The Resurrection. With John on the Isle of Patmos seeing what he saw of future events.
    

Do you have a favorite hobby?
 
    I love going to the theatre.


Is there something about you most people wouldn't know?
    
    I'm legally blind in my left eye. But I was born that way, so I don't know any difference. Aside from a slight deficit in depth perception, it has never hindered me.

Do you have any suggestions for the aspiring writer?
    
    Write. When I speak at various events, without fail people will approach me and say that they are aspiring writers or have a book they would like to publish, and do I have any tips or advice for them. And I tell them to sit down and write.
 
    Critique Groups. Then I tell them to find a good critique group and submit everything to that group before they even think about submitting it to a publisher.
 
    Writers Conferences. Go to writers conferences and fine tune your craft through the workshops. Network with the editors, agents and publishers. That's how you get publishers to agree to look at your manuscript ... either through an agent or through meeting an editor at a writers conference. If you send a manuscript in cold turkey, it won't get read.
 
    Never give up. I have a quote over my computer that says, "A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit." (Richard Bach) Keep working. Keep developing as a writer. Keep submitting.


Any last thoughts for your readers?
 
    I am so grateful for the opportunity to write, to be a published author. It is incredibly gratifying and humbling to get a fan letter saying that a person was drawn closer to God because of one of my books. A friend of mine who was living in France the past couple of years gave a copy of my first book, In The Shadow of the Sun King, to an atheist friend of hers. After reading it, the friend commented, "Maybe there is something to this God-thing after all." That makes it all worth it :)

And how can they connect with you?
 
My web site is www.goldenkeyesparsons.com. I would love to hear from them!
 
 READERS-Golden has graciously offered a book for giveaway. This is her newest book that just came out. I have a copy of this book that I am reading right now. If it is as good as the first two, it will be well worth it:) 

MANDATORY ENTRY-Leave me a comment telling me if you have read any of Golden's other books. 
 
EXTRA ENTRIES-These can only be done after the mandatory entry is done. Please leave a separate comment for each entry. 
1.Follow my blog through GFC.
2.Become a subscriber through my RSS Feed.
3.Follow me on Twitter
4.Tweet about this giveaway. Can be done 3 times a day. 
5.Blog or post about this giveaway on FB. 
6.Check out my Holiday Shopping Event and do this entry. You will get 5 entries in this giveaway so leave 5 comments.  
 

This giveaway will end 10/13. Winner will be chosen through Random.org. They have 48 hours to respond. 

37 comments:

PoCoKat said...

I have not read any of Golden's other books.

littleone AT shaw DOT ca

Unknown said...

Thanks again, Charity, for having me. I hope maybe some of your readers who have not read my previous books will pick them up now. I pray they will be blessed!

Joseph's Grainery Recipes said...

I'm your newest follower. Thanks for stopping by JosephsGrainery.com

info at josephsgrainery.com

BrendaC said...

Don't enter me in the giveaway because I have the book. I must say that it was the first time that I read anything by Ms. Parsons and I am now totally hooked. I liked the fact that even though I hadn't read the other books I could quickly become immersed in this book!

Anne Payne said...

I have not had the pleasure of reading any of Golden's books, but would certainly love to! Thank you for the opportunity to win one.

homesteading[at]charter[dot]net

Pink Panther said...

I've never any of Golden's books. But they sure sound great! :)
You can reach me at luvpinkpanther@gmail.com

Pink Panther said...

By the way, I am a GFC follower too (waves)!
You can reach me at luvpinkpanther@gmail.com

Atta Girl said...

I haven't read any of Golden's books. Yet. So, count me in for sure for this fab contest! Thanks!
atta.girl@rocketmail.com

Atta Girl said...

Follower here! Thanks again!
atta.girl@rocketmail.com

hendy said...

I have not had the opportunity to read any of her other books but I think this one would be a great introduction to her writing and I look forward to the chance
hmhenderson At yahoo DOT com

hendy said...

I follow on Twitter @HendyMartin
hmhenderson AT yahoo DOT com

karenk said...

i do have a book or two authored by golden...thanks for the chance to read her latest novel :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

rubynreba said...

I have not read any of her books yet but would love to have a chance to be entered.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

I am a follower.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Emily said...

Awesome giveaway! The book looks really good. Haven't read any of her books yet, but I will hopefully get a chance.

Emreilly303@gmail.com

Emily said...

I'm a follower!

emreilly303@gmail.com

Amber@Nater Tot said...

I've never read any of Golden's books...yet. Thanks for stopping by - I'm following you back :)

Julia M. Reffner said...

Would love to read this.

julesreffner(at)gmail(dot)com

Julia M. Reffner said...

GFC follower

Have not read any of Golden's other books.

julesreffner(at)gmail(dot)com

Julia M. Reffner said...

Twitter follower

julesreffner(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

i haven't read any of her book, but looking forward to it now
galyettina(at)yahoo(dot)com

Jo said...

please enter me.

Blessings,
Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

K said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

To be honest this is the first time I've ever heard of this author. But I truly look forward to reading her books.


giveawaymommy at yahoo.com

Ashly said...

I have not read any of her books
Ashlower8701 at gmail.com

MaureenT said...

I would love to read this book!

alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

MaureenT said...

I follow this blog!

alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

MaureenT said...

I follow on twitter!

alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

Gale said...

No, I haven't. I haven't read very many fiction books since becoming a mom, and I'm looking to change that.

ecarian at yahoo dot com

Gale said...

I blogged! :-)

http://suchfuntogive.blogspot.com/2010/10/easy-wins-low-comment-giveaways_13.html

Nancye said...

I have not read any of Golden's books yet.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

GFC Follower

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I subscribe via RSS

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I follow you on Twitter
@NancyDavis

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Tweet! Tweet!
@NancyeDavis

http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/27290741041

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I posted about this giveaway on my Facebook Page

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1590164998

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I checked out the Holiday Shoppimg Event and I entered the giveaway. I posted on Facebook.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

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