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Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Interview & Giveaway! Sherri Wilson Johnson ~ Author of To Dance Once More!


 Welcome to Christian Bookshelf Reviews, Sherri! Will you tell us about yourself?

Hi, folks! I am Sherri Wilson Johnson, author of To Dance Once More. I am from Georgia—never lived anywhere else. I have been married since 1988. I am a former homeschooling mom of my two children (now 21 and 17) and I have a twelve year old Labrador and a two year old Chihuahua who doesn’t know she’s a dog.

What is your novel, To Dance Once More, about?

To Dance Once More is the story of Lydia Jane Barrington, a Victorian debutante. Lydia lives on a plantation in Florida under the watchful eye of her father. She’s quite an independent young lady who does not want to fall into the trap (as she sees it) that her mother and sisters have fallen into—marriage and motherhood. She wants to travel the world and experience life before giving her heart to a man. One day, her eyes are opened to love and no matter what, she cannot forget the blissful feeling it causes. She begins to believe that love isn’t such a bad thing after all. Then she discovers a secret that prohibits any of her dreams from ever coming true. She begins a quest to free herself and her family from a future of bondage. Hearts are broken and lives are torn apart because of Lydia’s own selfishness. Will she surrender to a call that God placed on her life and be able to experience love after all? You’ll have to read the book to find out.

What is something the average reader wouldn't know about you?

My daddy was a preacher of a Southern Baptist church and I met my husband at that church when I was fourteen years old. We didn’t actually start dating until I was eighteen, but it was truly a match made in Heaven and is the basis for all of my romances.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I realized I wanted to be a writer when I was a little girl. I read books all the time and concocted stories in my head non-stop. When I was in high school I learned how to put stories together and it got into my blood. After reading a good number of distasteful romances, I knew that I needed to write something that people could read that would uplift their souls and not cause them to lust. It is my mission to bring people closer to God through my books.

How many books have you written? Do you have a favorite?

I have written three books. To Dance Once More is my first and probably will always hold a special place in my heart. Song of the Meadowlark (due out in May) is my second novel. I probably worked the hardest on this story to get it just right so there’s a lot of blood, sweat, and tears in it. After the Raging Storm is my third novel. I just finished it and am in the submission process now. I am currently writing To Laugh Once More, the sequel to To Dance Once More. I’ve got a legal mystery/suspense circulating in my head and a sequel to Song of the Meadowlark, also.

What is your writing process? Do you follow a regular routine?

I usually make a loose outline of my ideas for a new story. I do a general chapter-by-chapter plan, character analyses, and lots of research on my setting and time period before I begin writing. I write pretty much every waking hour—and sometimes in my sleep. Seriously! I am either researching, writing or editing all the time. If I wake up in the middle of the night, I either grab a pen and paper beside the bed or I email my main computer from my phone.

What would you say is the best and/or worst part about being a writer?

Waiting is the worst part. No, maybe rejection. Or both. I’m not a very patient waiter. The more impatient I am, the more God makes me wait, it seems. I hate waiting so much, I’d rather go ahead and get a rejection than to have to wait. But rejection stinks too. The thing about rejection is: you kind of get numb to it after a while. Waiting is something you never get used to.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I love to spend time with my family watching movies and eating ice cream/drinking coffee. We have lots of fun around our house. Home is my favorite place to be. If I’m not doing something with my family, I’m usually networking with Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, etc. on my computer or new smartphone. I’m trying to stay hip, haha!

Is there a place you’d like to visit, but haven’t yet?

I have hardly been out of the South so anywhere would be fun to travel. My husband and I have lots of plans for the future. I dearly would love to go to Italy and also England.

Do you have a favorite song and/or movie?

I like so many types of music, I can’t even begin to name one favorite song. I love Pride and Prejudice and In Love and War (Sandra Bullock). I also love scary movies (suspense) but appropriate ones are hard to find. My family still laughs at me because I will rarely choose even a PG-13 to rent because I hate premarital sex scenes or even references to it.

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

I love to read a whole list of Christian authors in the romance, mystery, and suspense genres. I can’t even name a favorite. I love Gayle Roper, Gail Gaymer Martin, Catherine Palmer, Maggie Brendan, Frank Peretti, Ted Dekker…… I also enjoy reading Nicholas Sparks.

Do you have a favorite Bible verse?

John 14:1-3, hands down! “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” It gives me chills!

Are you currently working on any new novels? If so, could you tell us a little about it?

I am writing To Laugh Once More, the sequel to To Dance Once More, which continues the journey of Lydia and her quest for adventure.  

Thank you so much for being here! Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

A theme running through all of my books is and will always be purity. I hope to show my readers that true love does exist and that waiting for marriage is worth it!

Where can we find you on the web?

Giveaway!


Enter to win To Dance Once More! 

Here is how this giveaway works. If you live in the US and win, you have the choice between a print or eBook copy of To Dance Once More, but if you live outside of the US and win, you will receive an eBook copy.

Open Internationally!

Enter by filling out the Rafflecopter below (here is a tutorial, if you aren't familiar with Rafflecopter). The mandatory entry is to leave a blog post comment on this blog post - after you do that, the other entries will become available.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

37 comments:

  1. For once I can enter for a draw... lol, I hope I win.

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  2. *Not an entry* I cannot wait to read this one. (In the TBR pile!) This is a delightful post and interview (your blog is just so pretty!)

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  3. I am so anxious to read this book! Perhaps more so, since Sherri is a GA author (I live in NE GA). Please enter me. Thanks!!!
    jackie.smith (at) dishmail (dot) net

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  4. This sounds great! Can't wait to read it!

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  5. Thanks for the opportunity to win this novel. Your interview was delightful, your questions great.

    Marianne

    marianne.wanham@gmail.com

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  6. Great interview Melanie. This book sounds so interesting, especially since I live in FL now. Can't wait to read it. Congrats on the release Sherri. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  7. I would love to visit England also ;)
    I am glad she is writinga sequel, I love revisiting fave characters, and hope I find one with this novel (hope I win!)

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  8. The cover alone makes me want to read it. :-) But after reading the blurb I'm quite curious as to what the secret is!

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  9. Great interview! This looks like a good book!

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  10. What a cool sounding book :) Thanks so much for the lovely interview!

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  11. This was a really fun interview to read! I like your writing process! It doesn't sound too rigid, but it's still outlining. :)

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  12. Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  13. This sounds like a really great book! Thanks for the chance to win a copy!

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  14. Lovely cover! I enjoy historical romances and the time period and place in To Dance Once More draws me in. Please add me. Thanks!

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  15. Thanks everyone for all the great responses! I hope you are able to read To Dance Once More even if you don't win it here! Much love!

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  16. Oh, love this cover. I love Victorian era books thanks for the chance to win.

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  17. Oh I hope I win it in print!

    blessings,
    Brenda
    pattersonmom24@aol.com

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  18. Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy of To Dance Once More.
    I will add it to my trb/wishlist.

    Patricia

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  19. After reading Sherri's comments and your review, I really would like to read To Dance Again. Perhaps I'll win it :)

    godleyv at yahoo (dot)(com)

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  20. I enjoyed this interview, and the book sounds really good! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  21. Fun interview and I'd love to win your book! It looks wonderful.

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  22. Thanks for the giveway.
    Angela Hartness
    awhartness@yahoo.com

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  23. That's so cool about how you met your husband! :) I can't wait to read this book!

    Salena
    srstormo at yahoo dot com

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  24. Would love to win this book!!! I sounds so exciting!!! Thank you for the chance!! frederickmolly@yahoo.com

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  25. Sherri, those are some of my favorite verses too!! I also love John 14:27 ~> helped me through many a troubled time. And, I'm like you in that I don't rent PG-13 movies for the same reasons + swearing. Thank you for the opportunity to win your book. It sounds like a very interesting, fascinating read.

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  26. I have this on my wishlist, thank you for hosting the giveaway.

    Wendy Newcomb
    wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
    wrensthoughts.blogspot.com

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  27. This is already on my to-read list as it sounds great. Thanks for the giveaways.

    Loraine Ertelt
    lpertelt@aol.com

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  28. I would love to enter for this book!
    Thanks :)
    Kim Reid
    kimberlybreid at hotmail dot com

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  29. Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the chance.

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

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  30. I would love to read it!

    Doris
    mamansmart@yahoo.com

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  31. Sounds like a great book! Would love to win and read it.
    Wonderful story of you and your husbands meeting so young already! :)


    kewinkler at gmail dot com

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  32. The cover is so beautiful! I would choose it for that alone :)

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  33. John 14:1-3 is one of my favorite Bible verses, too! Thanks so much for the interview and giveaway! I love getting to know the authors I read a little bit better:)

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  34. Thank you everyone for all the comments and support! This was fun!

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