Leave a comment for June at the bottom to enter for a chance to win a copy of her novel, Ryan's Father!
A little bit about June...
An award-winning author, June Foster is also a retired teacher with a BA in Education and a MA in counseling. In 2013, June's book Give Us This Day was a finalist in EPIC's eBook awards and in 2014 a finalist in the National Readers Choice Awards for best first book. Ryan's Father won The Clash of the Titles book of the month for 2014 and is one of three finalists in the published contemporary fiction category of the 2014 Oregon Christian Writers Cascade Writing Contest and Awards. June has written four novels for Desert Breeze Publishing. The Bellewood Series, Give Us This Day, As We Forgive, and Deliver Us, as well as Hometown Fourth of July. Ryan's Father is available from WhiteFire Publishing. Red and the Wolf, a modern day retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, is available from Amazon.com. June loves to write stories about characters who overcome the circumstances in their lives by the power of God and His Word. June uses her training in counseling and her Christian beliefs in creating characters who find freedom to live godly lives.
How to connect with June...
Blog: http://junefoster.blogspot.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5755395.June_Foster
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjunefoster
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vjifoster
Infinite Characters: http://infinitecharacters.com
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/junefoster
Purchase: Ryan's Father
Author Interview | June Foster
You and Writing
Tell us a little bit about yourself: How did you start writing? What has kept you writing?
...I am a retired school teacher with two children and ten grandchildren. Oh, and yes, one great grandchild. The unique thing about me is I didn't start writing until four and a half years ago. God set me on the road to becoming an author and has kept me there.
...Here's how it began. My husband and I were enjoying our retired life and traveling in our RV. For a while I noticed a story lurking in my head, which had never happened before. When I told it to my daughter and she commented that I should write it, that was the spark the Lord used. I started writing Christian romance and haven't stopped. I've got too many more stories to tell.
Do you have a favorite book or work that you’ve written? If so, why?
...Ryan's Father is probably my favorite because it took courage for me to write and WhiteFire to publish. The story is one that has stepped out of the "Christian box," yet needed to be told. I pray God is changing lives with Ryan's story.
If published, what was the hardest thing about publishing? The easiest?
...The hardest thing about being published is the continual responsibility for marketing. These days, authors are expected to do their own advertising and I am not good at it. I thank God I have a wonderful publicist who helps me. The easiest thing, I think, if celebrating when I hold that book in my hand and see the author's name, June Foster.
Tell us a little bit about your book. Why did you write it?
...Ryan's Father is the story of a young Christian man who loves the Lord and wants to remain obedient to him yet struggles with homosexuality. To make things more difficult, a beautiful young nurse falls in love with him. Though he leads her to faith in Christ, the attraction most guys feel for a woman aren't there. I wrote this story because I'd like to see Christians who struggle with this issue set free.
Do you have a favorite character in this work? If so, why?
...Of course it has to be Ryan. Ryan was the most difficult character I've ever written, especially since I'm a heterosexual female and he was a homosexual male. What I love the most about Ryan is his faith in God and how he allows the Lord to work in his life.
What is one take-away from your book that you hope readers identify with?
...A person struggling with homosexuality can be set free if they truly desire freedom and completely abandon themselves to the Lord.
Writing
Where do you find inspiration for your story/characters? Are they based on real life or pure imagination or both?
...My characters are based on real life people I know but are a composite of several rather than just one person. I have to admit, I don't know anyone like my heroine in Misty Hollow, Molly Cambridge, so I struggled with her character.
When you write, what is your overall intention with your stories?
...One of these days, I'd like to write a novel that provides an imaginary place to get lost. But so far, my goal with my books is to write about characters who struggle with problems common to many Christians. My prayer is many will find hope and freedom through their stories.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors for writing and/or publishing?
...Keep on writing and perfecting your skills through critique groups and "how to" books. Toughen up your feelings. You will get many rejections. Don't take any of them personally but learn from them. This has been one of my hardest obstacles to hurtle.
You
In honor of the fall, what’s your favorite fall treat?
...Hot apple cider and spice cake.
When you were a child, what did you dream of growing up to be?
...I wanted to be a teacher like my mother and aunt. But now, in retrospect, I think I would've enjoyed being an interior designer or psychologist.
Will you participate in National Novel Writing Month? If so, what’s your plan to keep your writing on track?
...Not sure right now. I never have before, but I might think about it.
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Thanks for being my guest today June! I'm amazed at your boldness in writing such a potentially controversial book. I love how God places stories in our hearts for a reason and purpose. We never know what He will do through what we write. And, speaking of spice cake...now I want to go make one ;)
Don't forget to leave a comment, readers. I'll announce the winner next Tuesday!
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