INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR DAPHNE SELF with DOUBLE GIVEAWAY!

Happy Wednesday suspense readers! Mary Ellis here and today I have the honor of interviewing Daphne Self, who has a new book coming in June, Alabama Days. Daphne is giving away one copy of Mississippi Nights (book 1 of A Southern Saga) and one copy of Alabama Days (book 2 of A Southern Saga.) But first, the interview:

ME: If you had to describe yourself in one sentence, what would you say?
DS: I am a dreamer who sees the bright side of everything.

ME: What do you do when you’re not writing? Any interesting hobbies?

DS: I am usually playing video games (Ark Survival, Minecraft, or Forza), or painting or sewing, yet definitely reading. And I am still on the hunt for another 3D Sudoku book.

ME: What was your favorite book as a teen or child?

DS: As a child, when I was eight, it was Disney’s The Black Hole. By the time I was around twelve, Louisa May Alcott’s Eight Cousins. When I became a teenage, I had quite a few Louis L’Amour books that I absolutely loved: Jubal Sackett, Too the Far Blue Mountains, Son of a Wanted Man, and Lonesome Gods.

ME: Tell us three things about yourself that might surprise your readers.
DS: 1) I served as an EMR (Emergency Medical Responder) for a volunteer fire department.
       2) I’m terrified of deep water, yet ironically, I love the ocean.
       3) Despite a life of chronic pain and cognitive difficulties, I still pursue my dream of being an author and work to become an advocate for those with chronic illnesses.

ME: What genre did you start out writing? Have you changed course? Why or why not?
DS:  I started in fiction (Mississippi Nights), mainly suspense/romantic suspense. Then I ended up writing a nonfiction book (30 Days: A Devotional Memoir), which is a cross between a devotional and a memoir. The next book was my children’s book (The Case of the Missing Firehouse Dog), which is the first of a five book series. The one that is about to be released, Alabama Days, is a romantic suspense. And even though I will have another nonfiction book (Journey On: Through This Shadowed Valley) releasing later this year, I enjoy writing fiction. I write across the board, it seems. Probably because of how my mind perceives things. I think there are too many stories in my head (maybe a side effect of being a bookworm in my childhood?).
ME: What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?
DS: The toughest criticism was when someone told me that my book read like a rough draft, even after professional edits and proofing. The best compliment is when readers say they were excited about the book and can’t wait to read more by me.

ME: Any other genres you’d like to try? If yes, what and why?
DS:  I plan to write science fiction and fantasy. In fact, I’m collaborating with a few fellow authors about a science fiction short story collection. I do want to delve a bit more into a pure romance book. No suspense. No action. Just the romance. But knowing me, I would probably throw some kind of conflict in there and turn it into a suspense.
ME: If you could go back in time and do something differently at the start of your career, what would it be?
DS: To not be discouraged when doors kept closing on me and to finish the next book. I waited too long to come back to writing after feeling discouraged for so many years. That was my mistake. Redoing and reconnecting is tough.

ME: What is the most important piece of advice you’d like to give to unpublished authors?
DS: As they say in Galaxy Quest: Never give up, never surrender.
Never give up on your books and your talent. And never surrender to doubt and fear. Your fellow authors don’t bite. You can reach out to us and we would be happy to connect with you.
Here's a little bit about Alabama Days: How could a loving God hurt so many people? Paramedic Scott Wilson believes he can chase death away, but his spirit is shattered when people he loves are taken from him. As a paramedic, Scott sees every day the pain that people suffer, and he wants no part of a God that would allow bad things to happen to good people. As a result, he hides behind his work and addiction to ease the pain within his soul. But once newspaper reporter Angela Mabry and her son, Max, move into town, Scott can’t help but notice the feisty redhead. Angela is determined to uncover the town’s seedy underbelly and reveal the strange coincidences of so many car accidents at one location. When a prominent city official dies in a car wreck, Scott and Angela find themselves tangled in intrigue and deception. Together they search for the truth and discover that not all is what it seems. 

Here's little bit about Daphne Self:
"I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me" (Psalm 119:119). This verse is Daphne's life. "Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, 'Peace, be still!' And the wind ceased and there was a great calm" (Mark 4:39). This verse is the promise made to Daphne.
Daphne Self, formerly published under the name D.M. Webb, resides in Iowa. As a Mississippian transplant, she spends her days in the Midwest state writing, editing, reading, antiquing, and planning adventures with her husband and sons. She pursues her dream as an editor and author with one goal in mind: To Glorify His Name. Daphne is also an avid reader who devours book in many genres. As a long time member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), she volunteers her time helping published and unpublished authors.




To pre-book Alabama Days, click this link:  https://www.amazon.com/Alabama-Days-Southern-Saga-Sagas-ebook/dp/B082K9RZHJ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2500CHTFIN6VE&dchild=1&keywords=alabama+days+daphne+self&qid=1589574615&sprefix=Alabama+Days+%2Caps%2C1218&sr=8-1




To buy Mississippi Nights, click this link:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006NG8OEE?notRedirectToSDP=1&ref_=dbs_mng_calw_0&storeType=ebooks


Leave a comment for Daphne to be entered in a drawing for one print copy of Mississippi Nights and one print copy of Alabama Days (to be shipped after its June release date) You must leave an email address in order to win. Contest is open to anyone, worldwide. Drawing in one week.