Shelby Rebecca!!
Hi Mia!I appreciate the opportunity
to be interviewed by you!
Sadie’s mountain is your debut
novel. What inspired this significantly emotional story?
I was inspired to write Sadie’s Mountain because I found an entry in my baby book from my
mom on my fifth birthday. It said that my neighbor, and best friend, who
happened to be a boy with blonde hair and blue eyes, told my parents he was
going to marry me someday, but only when I was ready—that he would be patient
and wait. I didn’t know he’d said that. He was the sweetest boy, and it really
warmed my heart. It occurred to me that I could use that in a novel. And what
if the pair grew up and fell in love? What if he had a brother? What if the brother
was bad…
So I knew I had a story there, but I was going
to have the book set in my hometown in Alaska. That is until I saw a news story
about Ashley Judd’s fight to stop Mountaintop Coal Mining in Appalachia. I knew
that had to be included. So I did a ton of research, and ultimately chose
Ansted, West Virginia as the real town that the book would be set in. In fact,
almost all of the locales, and places in the book are real. Even the mountain,
Gauley Mountain, is real. I’m dying to go there and drive over the New River
Gorge Bridge while listening to Adele!
How would you describe your
book with a few words?
True love trumps malicious intentions.
How
would you describe your writing experience? Your
book is really moving, so I assume that Sadie’s story must have affected you
deeply.
Writing this book was so fulfilling. I often
felt as though I was the medium through which Sadie and Dillon told their
story. I didn’t plot the book out, so I was surprised at many of the twists in
the book. At first, I had a different ending in mind. I don’t want to spoil it,
but I ended it differently because I wanted healing to take place. The ending
the way it is helped me in so many ways, as I hope it will help my readers. As
you know, there is severe violence in this novel. It was so hard to write it,
but it’s a story that needs to be told and understood.
Did you always want to be a
writer?
I think I always knew I’d be a writer. I used to
write stories, and make up shows I’d like to watch on TV. I wrote a really cool
short story when I was about ten years old. When I was in college, I had a poem
published and began studying creative writing and poetry. That’s my background.
It’s what I love. I’ve written a screenplay, a middle grade novel, and now,
have published Sadie’s Mountain.
So
far, Sadie’s mountain has received quite good ratings. Are you planning on
writing another book? If yes, would you like to share any information about it?
Genre, General story, Publication date, anything..
Yes! The follow up novel to Sadie’s Mountain is Sadie
Survived, which is due out in the summer of 2014. It’s a dual perspectives
book told from both Dillon to Sadie’s perspectives. There are some big changes
ahead for them, and readers want to know how their story really ends. Also,
Renae, Donnie’s wife will have a book. It will be the third in the series. I
also have a whole other series in the works and am publishing my middle grade
novel in a few months. Busy, busy J
I
read on your Goodreads profile that your house is quite full! By the way, your dogs sound very cute..Do
you have any time free? And how do you usually spend it?
I work full time as a high school teacher. I am
a mother, and a wife. Writing is what I do in my free time, to be honest. That
or reading. I read a book a week, usually. I also like to decorate my house,
hang out with friends and family, and watch the occasional movie or two. Time
alone is also important to me. As an introvert, I need alone time to recharge
or else I start to get grumpy.
It’s
time to dream and swoon, ladies! I saw that you’re a fellow Ryan Gosling Fan!!
What is your favorite movie with him? I
know that’s a very difficult question to answer..If you cannot decide,
here’s another question about him. Do you prefer him in a comedy or drama? Personally, I can’t answer either
question..I just love him. Unconditionally!
I feel a squeee coming on!! I am such a big Ryan
Gosling fan. He’s dreamy and exactly how I envision Dillon to look, act, and
dress. My favorite movies that he’s been in are The Notebook, of course, and then Drive. Drive is a really
crazy movie, and somehow it’s also a (little bit of a) romance. The elevator
scene is one I’ve watched over, and over. I highly recommend it. He’s a
hottie—and he sings, too. Swooon!!!
Would
you like to tell me some of your favorite authors? See, I’m not asking you to name only one! I’m being nice!
Cool! Thanks! I’m a die-hard Jane Austen fan. I
love E.L James, Toni Morrison, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and Lucille Clifton. For
Romance, I know I can always fall back on a Sylvia Day, or a Jasinda Wilder
book—Marie Hall, Tammara Webber, and Colleen Hoover, too.
Thank you so much for coming over here to my place!!
Thank you!!!
Quotes from My Review:
"Sadie’s Mountain is impeccably written and I consider it as one of the best works I’ve read. It certainly is one of the best debut novels I have ever had the pleasure of reading. "
"Dark yet compelling.Powerful and Alluring. "
" It’s really a great book to draw strength from. A great book to learn from. And a great book to read and look up to. "
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