Interview & Giveaway! Siri Mitchell ~ Author of Unrivaled!

Welcome to Christian Bookshelf Reviews, Siri!! Will you tell us a little about yourself? 
Thanks for having me! As an author of historical fiction, I’m interested in the way women lived and thought and survived in the past. My characters usually find themselves at the crossroads of faith and culture and I seem to be drawn to time periods or historical anecdotes that haven’t received much attention in fiction. Since I’ve always love history, I have a personal goal of trying to make my stories true to the times. I always hope that readers will not only enjoy my stories, but also come away with new insights into the past.

What is your book, Unrivaled, about? 
In Unrivaled, the son and daughter of feuding candy makers develop an attraction for each other, despite not quite being able to ignore the rivalry between their fathers. I’ve been calling this book my Romeo and Juliet story…only it features candy along with a happy ending.

What is something the average reader wouldn't know about you? Starbucks is my hometown coffee shop. Seriously. I went to the University of Washington in Seattle when there were only two Starbucks in the entire world. It’s official: I’m old.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
Not until after I had graduated from college. I had always enjoyed writing assignments, but it wasn’t until a move to Paris that I had the time to start experimenting with writing a novel.

How many books have you written/published and do you have a favorite? 
Twelve of my books have been published. Numbers thirteen and fourteen have been written and are in the editing process. I would hate to have to pick a favorite; I love them all for different reasons.

What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?
I realized, several books ago, that in the first few drafts of my manuscripts, none of my characters is wearing any clothes! It’s in later drafts that I do the research to figure out what they should be wearing and actually dress them up.

Where do you like to write? 
I have an office at home. A room all to myself of which Virginia Woolf would be truly envious.

What is the best and/or worst part about being a writer?
The best part is breathing life into characters that have existed only in my head. The worst part is coming to terms with the fact that not every reader is going to like them.

What do you like to do when you're not writing? 
I love reading fiction for pleasure. I don’t do it often since I usually have a stack of research books waiting to be read.

What is your favorite genre to read and why?
I read widely across genres, but I have a deep and abiding fondness for those old Cold War spy-thrillers.

Is there a place you’d like to visit, but haven’t yet?
Argentina and Antarctica. Then I’ll be able to say that I’ve visited all seven continents.

Do you have a favorite Bible verse? 
Deuteronomy 33:26: "There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty.” (NIV)

Do you have a favorite song and/or movie? 
I’ve always loved While You Were Sleeping.

What is your favorite holiday? 
I like New Year’s Day and Boxing Day. They’re times when the stress of holidays are over, you don’t have to decorate, and there are no expectations.

A few this-or-that questions:

Snowstorms or Thunderstorms? Snowstorms, as long as I can stay warm and cozy inside.
Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla.
Tea or Coffee? Coffee. No cream, no sugar.
Call or Text? E-mail.
Cats or Dogs? Dogs.
Early-bird or Night-owl?  Not too, too early in the morning…
Facebook or Twitter? A nice face-to-face chat over a cup of coffee.
Sneakers or Sandals? A really cute pair of sneakers.

Are you currently working on any new novels? If so, could you give us a hint? 
Yes! I’m editing next spring’s release (Love Comes Calling), set in 1924 Boston. I loved writing this book. It has a very fun, very fresh, 1920s madcap feel to it. I’m also reading up for the book I’ll start writing this fall. It’s set in mid-nineteenth century England and so far, it’s shaping up to be a My Fair Lady sort of story.

Thank you so much for being here! Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers and where can we find you on the web? 
Thanks for having me! I have so enjoyed roaming the forgotten halls of history as I write and I try to make each new book a better reading experience than the ones which came before it. I hope you have as much fun reading Unrivaled as I had writing it! Please come visit me at:
My website: http://sirimitchell.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Siri-Mitchell/67961379554
Twitter @SiriMitchell
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sirimitchell/

Book Giveaway!

Enter to win a print copy of Unrivaled by Siri Mitchell! Giveaway is open INT and ends 9/5.

To enter, be sure to sign into the Rafflecopter form (below) and click “enter” on each entry you complete. Commenting alone will not get you entered – you must click enter on the form. Happy entering!

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