3-Year Blogoversary Party ~ Interview with Kathleen Y'Barbo and Giveaway!!

Welcome to Christian Bookshelf Reviews, Kathleen! Thanks for celebrating my blog's 3-Year Blogoversary with us! Will you tell us a little about yourself? 

I’m a wife, mother, lover of Christ, and a writer. I’ve won awards for my writing, and I’ve written a lot of books. My bio tells more about me than that, of course, so you might want to go take a peek at www.kathleenybarbo.com to get the details. That pretty much sums it up!

What is your current series, The Secret Lives of Will Tucker, about and what inspired it?

The Secret Lives of Will Tucker is about taking chances and learning to wait on God. Three different women think they’ve found the solution to problems only to discover that the Lord had His own plans and did not need their help. I didn’t have to look any further than my own life to find inspiration for that. Waiting on God? Great in theory but very difficult in reality.

To add a little more detail on this series, the central character is Will Tucker, a charming and intelligent con man who is more than happy to court but never quite makes good on his claims. I will say that readers who have met him in FLORA’S WISH (Feb 2013) and MILLIE’S TREASURE (Aug 2013) will be surprised to see what Will does in SADIE’S SECRETS (Feb 2014). Actually, it’s an action that I never saw coming—and I’m the writer!

What is something the average reader wouldn't know about you?
I was once proficient at the Indonesian language of Bahasa Indonesia thanks to 5 years living in Jakarta. However, my skills are quite rusty now.

What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?
Oh my…truly I have a difficult time deciding that anything about me is interesting. However, I think those who live with me would say that my inability to work in a messy environment is probably the most pronounced issue I have in my writing life. Always I straighten up before I write, sometimes because it’s truly bothering me to write in a mess and other times because I’m either procrastinating or plotting. Either way, the result is the same, I suppose.

Where do you like to write?

Until a year or so ago, I wrote just about anywhere I could sit with my MacBook, although I did use my office for writing as well. I now am chained to my desk—willingly—and am quite enjoying the large screen on my iMac desktop computer. I did have to make an adjustment recently to put my desk under an eastern-facing window with a nice view of the trees. While I realize a blank wall is better for keeping me on task, I do love the sunshine in those hours that I’m working during daylight.

When you are writing a book, do you just write as you go or do you have a set outline for the novel?
I suppose I am a hybrid of both. Much of my seat-of-the-pants writing happens during the synopsis stage where I am still learning about my characters. Once I begin writing, I have a framework from which to hang my story, but I find—especially toward the end—that this framework often bends in directions that are unexpected. To be fair, my editors are expecting a story that is at least similar to the one I have promised, so any wild and crazy turns in the plot are definitely discussed before I turn in a final product.

What is the best and/or worst part about being a writer? 
The best part is having written. The worst? That’s probably the time given up to writing during deadlines that I would rather be spending with friends or family. However, any writer who wants to remain published must learn that this is first and foremost a business. My husband goes to work, and so do I. That’s the reminder I need to keep on track most days.

What do you like to do when you're not writing? 
Reading comes to mind, although I am hard pressed to find a time when I’m not writing or thinking about writing. In good weather, my husband and I love to put the top down on my red Mini Cooper and take long drives.

What is your favorite genre to read and why?
I’m so eclectic in my reading that I’m hard-pressed to declare one genre as my favorite. I just love a good story. Take me somewhere besides where I’m sitting and keep me reading until the end. Bonus points if you can make me sorry to turn the final page. However, I find I am recently reading more dual time line stories—contemporary and historical story lines in one book—and itching to write one of my own.

Is there a place you’d like to visit, but haven’t yet? 
Oh goodness yes! My husband has traveled to the most fascinating places for work, and there are so many that I would love to revisit with him. I spent much of my 30s living in Asia, but my travels in Europe and beyond are woeful in comparison. I love London and Paris, and there are places in those cities I’ve not yet seen—does that count? Then there are all the sites I haven’t seen in the US. Suffice it to say, I have a long bucket list.

Do you have a favorite Bible verse?
Ephesians 3:20 is one that God has proven over and over in my life. Paraphrasing, the Lord has repeatedly proven that He can accomplish far more than my pitiful human imaginings can conjure up.

Do you have a favorite song and/or movie? 
Again, so many favorites! No way could I just pick one.

What's your favorite season and why is it your fav?
Christmas used to be my favorite for all the obvious reasons—and it is still a very close second. However, since I’ve moved away from Texas, Thanksgiving has become the time when I get to spend the most unhurried days with my grown kids. We just eat and hang out, and it’s wonderful. By contrast, Christmas is incredible but busy.

What's your favorite party food?
Chips and queso!

Some this-or-that questions:

Snowstorms or Thunderstorms?  This transplanted Texan hasn’t learned to hate snow yet, so snowstorms!
Chocolate or Vanilla? Both!
Tea or Coffee? Diet Dr Pepper!
Call or Text? Text generally, or Skype.
Cats or Dogs? Both!
Early-bird or Night-owl? Definitely night owl!
Introvert or Extrovert? Depends on the occasion.
Facebook or Twitter? Both—and neither—depending!

Are you currently working on any new novels? If so, will you give us a hint?

I’ve got two stories working in my head right now—one contemporary and one historical. The one I work on next will be the one that an editor falls in love with. In the meantime, I am editing a historical set in New Orleans.

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?

Thank you!! My website is www.kathleenybarbo.com. From there you can find links to follow me on Twitter and Facebook or to email me. I love hearing from my readers, so please let me hear from you!

Enter for a chance to a copy of Sadie's Secret (eBook or Print - winner's choice) by Kathleen Y'Barbo! Giveaway is only open to US residents. Ends 2/15

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