Today I'd like to welcome Elaine Stock to the Suspense Sisters!
Born in Brooklyn, NY, Elaine has now been living in upstate, rural New York with her husband for more years than her stint as a NYC gal.
She is the author of Always With You, which released in January 2016 and won the 2017 Christian Small Publishers Association Book of the Year Award in fiction.
Elaine, if you had to describe yourself in one sentence, what would you say?
An extroverted introvert, who by God’s grace makes it through each day of the life allotted her.
What do you do when you’re not writing? Any interesting hobbies?
Hobbies? Once upon a time I played the viola, as well as began to teach myself piano. And throw in baking and cooking. When it’s nice outdoors, I love taking long walks and traveling with my husband to New England towns to explore shops—bookstores for me, antique shops for him. I also listen to classical music and read. A lot!
I love classical music and write to it sometimes. Tell us three things about yourself that might surprise your readers.
I am quite shy and daily struggle with this.
I’m a closet-choreographer, often staging dances in my mind’s eye… even to Bach!
I was vice-president of a community civil group that fought (for 10 years) and won against a mining company that wanted to blast for 100 years 2 prominent hills, basically across the road from me… in this case, God can make a mountain stay still!!
Oh, wow! That is awesome that you took on the mining companies. What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?
The toughest criticism: Any variation of “the story’s not working for me.” In my writing-youth I took this personally. And, I admit, I didn’t accept it. I think I became a published author upon learning that I needed to analyze why a story wasn’t working, get over myself, and learn and hone my craft better to make a story work.
The best compliment: That my work has touched a reader’s heart and spirit.
Yes, Elaine, those words are what keep us writing, I believe. What is the most important thing you’d like readers to take away from your books?
To have hope that with God, the dark times of despair will become bright and joyous. Not if but will.
What is the most valuable piece of advice you’d like to give to unpublished authors?
Believe in your dreams and don’t give up because of a lack of enthusiasm from family and friends, or rejections from agents or editors, or when Life 101 happens and throws you into a tailspin. If you want to write, and publish, keep trying and it will happen.Sometimes digging deep frees you to bloom.
Here's the cover of Her Good Girl and the back cover copy. You can purchase Her good Girl at Amazon.
Elaine is giving away a Kindle version of Her Good Girl to one lucky commentor and I'm giving away a $10 Amazon gift card to another winner! So 2 winners this week! Winners will be determined by Random.org and will be posted in the comments on Friday, February 23, 2018.
Sadie Tremont’s will to survive is killing her. Almost 18, she’s battled mysterious illnesses, which her mom treats. While her dad devotes his time to underground caving and her grandmother waits for a miracle, Sadie is running out of time.
An extroverted introvert, who by God’s grace makes it through each day of the life allotted her.
What do you do when you’re not writing? Any interesting hobbies?
Hobbies? Once upon a time I played the viola, as well as began to teach myself piano. And throw in baking and cooking. When it’s nice outdoors, I love taking long walks and traveling with my husband to New England towns to explore shops—bookstores for me, antique shops for him. I also listen to classical music and read. A lot!
I love classical music and write to it sometimes. Tell us three things about yourself that might surprise your readers.
I am quite shy and daily struggle with this.
I’m a closet-choreographer, often staging dances in my mind’s eye… even to Bach!
I was vice-president of a community civil group that fought (for 10 years) and won against a mining company that wanted to blast for 100 years 2 prominent hills, basically across the road from me… in this case, God can make a mountain stay still!!
Oh, wow! That is awesome that you took on the mining companies. What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?
The toughest criticism: Any variation of “the story’s not working for me.” In my writing-youth I took this personally. And, I admit, I didn’t accept it. I think I became a published author upon learning that I needed to analyze why a story wasn’t working, get over myself, and learn and hone my craft better to make a story work.
The best compliment: That my work has touched a reader’s heart and spirit.
Yes, Elaine, those words are what keep us writing, I believe. What is the most important thing you’d like readers to take away from your books?
To have hope that with God, the dark times of despair will become bright and joyous. Not if but will.
What is the most valuable piece of advice you’d like to give to unpublished authors?
Believe in your dreams and don’t give up because of a lack of enthusiasm from family and friends, or rejections from agents or editors, or when Life 101 happens and throws you into a tailspin. If you want to write, and publish, keep trying and it will happen.Sometimes digging deep frees you to bloom.
Here's the cover of Her Good Girl and the back cover copy. You can purchase Her good Girl at Amazon.
Elaine is giving away a Kindle version of Her Good Girl to one lucky commentor and I'm giving away a $10 Amazon gift card to another winner! So 2 winners this week! Winners will be determined by Random.org and will be posted in the comments on Friday, February 23, 2018.
Sadie Tremont’s will to survive is killing her. Almost 18, she’s battled mysterious illnesses, which her mom treats. While her dad devotes his time to underground caving and her grandmother waits for a miracle, Sadie is running out of time.
Sky, Sadie’s new boyfriend, offers a sliver of joy. But when he schemes that the only way for Sadie to be happy is to escape with him from her native West Virginia hills by killing her mom, she’s trapped. She can’t partner with Sky to hurt the mom who has hurt her for years … or can she?
When tragedy strikes and threatens the ground the Tremonts stand on, will they pull together or give in to the weakened earth beneath their feet?