LoRee Peery {Writer Wednesday}

A little bit about LoRee...

LoRee Peery is a lifelong Nebraskan who thanks her mother for teaching her to read when she was four. She has devoured books ever since. She and her husband have tackled some interesting projects over the course of their married life. For one, they built the home they live in with their own hands. They used to want more acres further away from city life, but one day LoRee realized they had their “greener on the other side of the fence” already. All it took was removing the hedge made of trees and bushes. LoRee feels grounded in her sense of place and considers it humbling to be redeemed by grace. She is blessed to have five children and eleven grandchildren. One-on-one time playing cards or Scrabble provides cherished moments and memories.

How to connect with LoRee...

Website: www.loreepeery.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4476230.LoRee_Peery
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoReePeery
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LoreePeery (@LoreePeery)
Purchase: Creighton's Hideaway

Author Interview | LoRee Peery


You and Writing

Tell us a little bit about yourself: How did you start writing? What has kept you writing?
...I’ve always been an avid reader. In the mid-eighties (it doesn’t seem so long ago), I exclaimed over a story, “I could write better than that.” My husband challenged, “Why don’t you?” In the nineties I had a testimony printed in a Christian magazine. But I didn’t think of writing seriously until I was home from work on Martin Luther King Day in 2000. The Nebraska nostalgia I wrote that day sparked the construction and publication of a few nonfiction pieces. But most important, that writing created an urge to keep writing, and though I’ve tried, I haven’t been able to stop. I believe it’s a calling or a prompting of the Spirit. I was convicted to pursue what I was meant to do, which is write fictional Christian romance.

Do you have a favorite book or work that you’ve written? If so, why?
...I believe the rough draft of the story I’m working on is always my favorite because I “live” in the fictional world of my characters as I’m fleshing out their struggles, their spiritual growth, and their ultimate declaration of love.

What was the hardest thing about publishing? The easiest?
...Though I kept taking notes and was on the alert for story ideas, the hardest thing for me at the time was the eighteen months I dedicated to searching for an agent. It was hard because I didn’t have a specific work in progress. Not to mention all those, “sorry, but…s” I received.

...The easiest was meeting an editor personally who asked for the full manuscript of my first published work, Moselle’s Insurance. I was thrilled because she didn’t ask for a synopsis.

Your Writing

Tell us a little bit about what you’re working on currently?
...I’m editing another Christmas novelette, “Christmas Rescue Route,” because I enjoyed writing A Blessed Blue Christmas. I love all the stories my publisher offers through the Christmas Extravaganza.

Do you have a favorite character in this work? If so, why?
...I like the hero and heroine equally. Brock comes to Izzy’s rescue due to a car accident and she initially doesn’t want to accept any further help from him.

What is one take-away from your book that you hope readers identify with?
...I’ve mentioned a few books so far. Since I’m offering a PDF copy of Creighton’s Hideaway, I’ll quote the verse I chose. This verse gave Shana comfort. I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. ~Psalm 121:1-2 

***Leave a comment for LoRee to enter to win a PDF copy of Creighton’s Hideaway***

(I'll announce the winner next Wednesday Feb. 25 right here!)

Writing

Where do you find inspiration for your story/characters? Are they based on real life or pure imagination or both?
...Story and character ideas come from all areas of my life, including family. My senses are sharpened when I’m searching my mind for the lay-out of a new imaginary project. Pictures, concepts, news articles, or various scenarios ignite my curiosity and interest. Those items are in my Ideas notebook. Brainstorming while in the initial stages brings other things to mind. I try to stay open to all that comes my way, especially in nature. While working on the rough draft I may hear bits of conversation or catch something by sight or sound that could apply to one of my characters. Often, a biblical passage will jump out at me to be viewed through the eyes of a character. Many times ideas or “fixes” for something I’m puzzling out, as well as dialogue, come when I’m in the shower. 

When you write, what is your overall intention with your stories?
...I want readers to have fun leaving their daily world as they enter the world of another. I hope readers identify with emotion or a situation and recognize struggles as part of spiritual growth. At some point each of us needs to cease striving and seek to follow the Lord’s path for our lives. The results may be a change of attitude or simply a sigh of understanding to know someone else, even in fiction, has faced a similar struggle.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors for writing and/or publishing?
...Write, write, and keep on writing. If it’s truly your heart’s desire and writing makes your soul sing, never give up. Learn as much as can, and keep on learning. Don’t forget to pray. Attend workshops and conferences. The writing itself is a lone journey, but make friends with other writers, find a group to socialize with and critique with. 

Pinterest- Homemade Salted Caramels

You

Would you prefer chocolates or flowers on Valentine’s Day??
...Chocolates, hands down. Flowers rarely smell like flowers any more, though I appreciate the gesture. I can still imagine the exotic scents of an island setting perfumed by flowers in their natural habitat.

On Valentine’s Day would you rather stay in  or go out?
...When we go out it’s usually for lunch, even while on vacation. A night out on the town has no appeal for either of us, so I describe those scenes through the eyes of my characters. However, an evening around a campfire, underneath the stars, touches my heart.

Describe your ideal date.
...For me personally (I much prefer far-reaching landscapes, hills and rivers, mountains, or the ocean), so fill up the gas tank, pack nutrition bars and plenty of water, and drive me to the country. I love to soak in any vista God has made. I really don’t care for the concrete jungle of cities, but I do enjoy a good movie or play. My husband and I also appreciate historic architecture.

From LoRee... Emilie, thanks so much for inviting me to your cozy spot in the cyber world. I love the month of February and every day of the month feels like Valentine’s Day to me. To romance lovers, I say read on!

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You're very welcome LoRee! I'm honored to have you as a guest :) I love that you said your agent didn't ask for a synopsis! Ha! I really dislike writing anything even related to a synopsis... I can relate to you when you say a biblical passage can jump out at you - I've had that happen before as well. And Happy (belated) Valentines Day to you and your honey. Hope you got to see some of those amazing vistas. Thanks again for sharing your heart here.
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//Last week's WINNER//

We had the lovely Nancy Mehl on the blog last week - which was a treat! She talked about her latest release Deadly Echoes and offered up a copy to one lucky winner! 

I'm happy to announce that winner is...

Cindy Lawrence

Congrats, Cindy! We'll be in contact to arrange getting this book to you. 

If you didn't win last week, don't worry - there will be many more opportunities to win books! Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win LoRee's book and check out Amanda G. Steven's Monday post with a chance to win her latest release, Found and Lost!