On February 19th, I will send in the name of one person who leaves a comment on this blog post. They will be entered into the grand prize drawing. Scroll down for more information. Lisa Wingate’s books are always an enjoyable read and the characters in Daily, Texas are worth getting to know and visiting again and again. This talented author has created a place I would love to live with loveable, quirky, and fun people I would love to befriend. They are learning some of the same Christian lessons as each of us. Don’t miss out!
About the Book:
Kai Miller floats through life like driftwood tossed by waves. She’s never put down roots in any one place–and she doesn’t plan to. But when a chaotic hurricane evacuation lands her in Daily, Texas, she begins to think twice about her wayfaring existence. And when she meets hometown-boy Kemp Eldridge, she can almost picture settling down in Daily–until she discovers he may be promised to someone else. Daily has always been a place of refuge for those the wind blows in, but for Kai, it looks like it will be just another place to leave behind. Then again, Daily always has a few surprises in store–especially when Aunt Donetta has cooked up a scheme.
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Interview Questions:
1. How did you develop the initial story idea/plot line for this book?
Some book ideas you search for, and some just blow in on the wind. For the past several years, dating back to Hurricane Katrina, we in Central Texas have been the recipients of massive hurricane evacuations. These massive exoduses of people, pets, and belongings are frightening, frustrating, challenging, and at times oddly wonderful. When so many are on the road seeking shelter, the worst, but also the best qualities of humanity come to the surface. Hurricane evacuations truly provide times when we ask the question, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” In answering that question, we’ve enjoyed amazing moments of friendship and fellowship, family reunions, and chances to share a food and space with strangers from other parts of the country. We’ve traded stories and recipies, laughter and tears.
One thing we’ve learned about hurricanes, living here, is that the paths are never predictable. Storms waver, hesitate, speed up, slow down, and sometimes change course unexpectedly. Evacuations needs can change and develop quickly. What better way for the beauty shop girls to find their inner strength and to show Daily hospitality, than for their cruise plans to land them smack in the middle of a sudden and chaotic hurricane evacuation?
2. Almost every author puts a little of themselves into their stories—what did you put of yourself into this one? (personality traits, life events/jobs, settings, characters based on people you know, likes/dislikes, etc.)
There’s a bit of me in the setting, of course. I love Texas, in all its variety of cultures and landscapes, but, living in a small town, I have a particular affection for little bergs like Daily, where the coffee’s always hot, and a good slide of pecan pie can cure most ills. Having watched our little town mobilize to take in hurricane evacuees several times now, I’ve been reminded that sometimes the worst things that can happen bring out the best in people. Given the opportunity and faced with the need, regular people can rise to the occasion in amazing ways, as do the citizens of Daily in the book.
Some members of the Wingate family might also claim to recognize themselves among the citizens of Daily, Texas. I would offer the disclaimer that any resemblances are completely unintentional, but that would be a bald-faced lie. When you come from a family of great storytellers and colorful characters, there’s nothing to do but make use of what you’ve got.
3. Did you encounter any interesting challenges while writing/researching for this book? Please explain if so.
The most difficult part of working on Never Say Never was researching and reliving the devastation left behind on the Texas gulf coast last year after Hurricane Ike. While interviewing family members about their experiences during the evacuation and return, we shared laughter and quite a few tears. For those who have lived in southeast Texas all their lives, talking about familiar landmarks, heirlooms, and old family places that were washed away forever, knowing some things will never be the same, is both difficult and devastating. For those of us who have so many memories of family gatherings and vacations there, it’s hard to believe we’ll never visit the old places again.
4. Why is this book/story relevant today?
Despite our best-laid plans, we all experience storms in life—whether those storms be of a weather-related nature, or due to an illness, death, or in recent months, job loss and financial misfortune. When the parameters of life and our ability to control fate suddenly change, we’re confronted with our own helplessness and need to rely on other people and God. In a culture that values independence and self-sufficiency, it’s important to remember that we all have a common need and a common responsibility for each other and that without faith we really are alone in the storm.
About the Author:
Lisa Wingate is a popular inspirational speaker, magazine columnist, and national bestselling author of several books, including Tending Roses, Talk of the Town, Drenched in Light, A Thousand Voices, and A Month of Summer. Her work was recently honored by the Americans for More Civility for promoting greater kindness and civility in American life. Lisa and her family live in central Texas.
Grandprize Drawing
Donetta and Imagene’s Texas Road Trip Basket (approximate total value over $150)
Take a Texas road trip, without ever leaving home!
Featuring:
The Daily Texas Series by Lisa Wingate:
Talk Of the Town
Word Gets Around
Never Say Never
The Blue Sky Hills Series by Lisa Wingate:
The Blue Sky Hills Series by Lisa Wingate:
A Month of Summer
The Summer
Kitchen
Beyond Summer (a special advance copy not available in stores until July 2010)
Road Trip Snacks (Straight from Texas, of course!)
Wrap it all up with a fuzzy, fleecy Texas throw blanket for those cold nights on the road (or curled up with your books!)
Lisa Wingate’s
How to Talk Texan
Road Trip Tutorial
A couple dozen phrases that’ll keep you from lookin’ like you don’t know gee from haw. You can hang your hat on it!
Hey, y’all!
If you’re planning a road trip across Texas, well, my friend, you’d better get your trottin’ harness on, I’ll tell you that right now.
This state’s wider than a woodcutter’s pile. You’ll be so busy here, you’ll think you’re twins. You might even meet yourself comin’ and goin’ or travel so fast you’ll catch up to yesterday.
One thing’s for sure–there won’t be any grass growin’ under your feet, especially if it’s summer, because it’ll be hot as a nanny goat in a pepper patch. Don’t let that trouble your mind, though.
Seeing the whole state might seem about as easy as tryin’ to saddle up house flies or put socks on the rooster, but here’re a few phrases that’ll make your trip just as smooth as a calf’s ear. You’ll find this little bit of Texan talk just as handy as a pocket on a shirt. With these phrases, you’ll be right at home in jig time, and happy as a pig in sunshine, I promise.
Folks’ll think you’re just as fine as frog hair split four ways. Why, you might even find yourself a Texas gal who’s cute as a bug’s ear or a fella who catches your eye like a tin roof at noonday. Even if you don’t find love here, you’ll run across lots of folks who’re so friendly, they’ll add a cup of water to the soup and tell you to get your sittin’ britches on.
Some of them might be full of wind as a corn-eatin’ horse, but you’ll be welcome ‘till whenever you figure it’s time to put the chairs in the wagon and turkey-tail it toward home.
When you do, we’ll keep a light on and a hitch out for ya, just in case you miss us like a west Texas farmer misses rain.
You’re welcome to darken our door any old time. Long as we got a biscuit, my friend, you got half, and if that ain’t a fact, well, then I’m hip high to a horned toad.
Y’all come back now, y’hear!
–Lisa Wingate (and the REST of the folks in Daily, Texas, too!)
For stories with Texas flavor and fun, come visit at www.Lisawingate.com
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m looking forward to next serving of life from Daily Texas! Its a bit different from my life in Northern Ireland.Isn’t great that God loves variety! Really enjoying your books may God continue to bless you! Joanne
I LOVE Lisa Wingate!!! When my little girl was born she was my little velcro-baby. She wouldn’t let me put her down and she nursed so much that I decided it was the perfect time to take up a long lost love…reading fiction. I went to my local small town library and was drawn right away to “Tending Roses”. I would hold my baby girl and fall so deeply into the pages it felt like Grandma Rose was talking directly to me. Her wisdom couldn’t have come at a better time. So many times I would find tears spilling down my face as I would stroke my daughter’s hair and reflect on some of the amazing words and advice of Grandma Rose. She’s far more than just a character in a great book to me. Lisa brought her to life in my mind.
I recently read the first of the Daily, Texas, series. Part way through, I went out and bought the second book. Looking forward to the third! Thanks for hosting this giveaway.
Before I became a SAHM, I worked in a prosecutor’s office and my secretary gave me “Tending Roses” as a gift once and told me to “lighten up.” (I think I must have been overworked -hA!)
Anyway. . . I thanked her for the gift and put the book on a shelf. FastForward five years — I’m a SAHM and now ReALLy overworked!!! LoL! (If secretary could see me now!!) So I “lightened-up” and read the book.
*WoW* So now I am a huge Lisa Wingate fan! She is my escape! She has inspired much of my own desire to write.
Thank you for hosting this give-a-way.
God Bless. . .
~es.
I love Lisa Wingate books! Her characters are so colorful and real. I lost count of how many copies of “Tending Roses” I bought and gave away to friends and family. My grandmother had just passed away when I first found “Tending Roses” and the book made me cry, laugh and reflect on my own memories.
I can’t wait to read her new book “Never Say Never” as I enjoy her Daily, Texas characters, situations and atmosphere. Lisa really is one of the great writers of our time and I thoroughly enjoy her books.
The winner of this part of the contest is Esthermay. I will be sending your name in to enter for the grand prize. They will choose from among the other entrants from the other blogs that are entering. I hope you win, Esthermay!