SIT BACK AND GET TO KNOW LAURIE ALICE EAKES

Hey, everyone -- it's with great pleasure that I host my friend, Laurie Alice Eakes today. For those of you who aren't familiar with Laurie Alice, here's her bio:

Author of eleven books and two novellas, Laurie Alice Eakes has won the National Readers Choice Award for Best Regency and was a Carol finalist for The Glassblower. She has also sold numerous articles on writing including one for the debut issue of the new ACFW journal. She is an experienced writing teacher and speaker and has her master’s degree in writing. She lives in Texas with her husband and their dogs and cats.

Laurie, what is your latest novel about?

Here's a blurb:

All Phoebe Lee wants out of life is to practice midwifery in Loudon County, Virginia. But when she refuses to accompany her pregnant sister-in-law to help save her husband from an English prison during the War of 1812, Phoebe finds herself pressed aboard a British privateer crossing the Atlantic under the command of a man with a deadly mission.

Sounds like a story I'd love to read. I just finished my edits on a book involving a sea captain who commands a fast slip, transporting cargo from London to New York, like the famed Black Ball Line. But more about my book later!  :)

Note to my readers: Laurie Alice is giving away a free e-copy of her book, Hearts Safe Passage. It sounds like an incredible read, so be sure to leave a comment and get entered into the drawing. We'll select a winner Sunday afternoon or evening.

AND NOW FOR THE INTERVIEW WITH LAURIE ALICE

What genre do you write in?

            My primary genre is historical romance with a fair bit of suspense woven into the plot.

What motivates you?

            My motivation stems from the work itself. I simply love to write stories.

How much spirituality do you weave into your story?

            The level of spirituality depends on the story and the line for which I am writing. I want enough to get the message, the theme of the story across, and little enough to not come across as preaching to my audience. The spirituality stems from the characters’ needs and relationships to God and one another.

What is your general purpose as an author?

            I consider myself in the entertainment business. The primary purpose in my books is to entertain the reader. Within that entertainment lies the purpose to teach, encourage, and uplift the reader.

What message do you hope to convey to readers?

            In my latest book, Heart’s Safe Passage, the message is forgiveness, of others and of oneself. This is a strong theme in many of my books because I believe it is one of the most difficult challenges we face in life. People hurt us. We can’t stop it. We can stop how we respond.

Do you believe there is evil in the world, and, if you do, how do you portray it in your novels (or do you portray it in your novels)?

            Yes, I believe in evil in the world. I have met it face-to-face and defeated it by the grace of God. In my novels, I portray evil through the actions of men—and women—who have ill-intent for greedy, selfish, and just plain mean motives. Evil is a powerful force in Heart’s Safe Passage and nearly destroys the hero.

What’s next for you as an author? Any books in the hopper?

            I have a number of books in the hopper. My next book A Flight of Fancy, is a Regency romance with a heroine who wants nothing more than to be an aeronaut, a balloonist. It’s just been released for preorder and the cover is breath-taking.

Well, thanks, Laurie Alice, for being my guest today. Readers, if you want to find out more about this fabulous author, log on to her web site:  http://www.lauriealiceeakes.com

 And don't forget to leave a comment for Laurie Alice and enter the drawing for a FREE e-copy of her novel, Hearts Safe Passage.