Writing Heaven’s touch into earthly tales, Delia Latham puts her characters through the fire of earthly trials to bring them out victorious by the hand of God, His heavenly messengers, and good, old-fashioned love. You’ll always find a touch of the divine in this author’s sweet tales of romance.
Delia lives in East Texas with her husband Johnny. She’s a Christian wife, mother, grandmother, sister, friend, and author of inspirational romance…with a finger or two immersed in the design pool, where she creates beautiful marketing material for other authors. Delia treasures her role as child of the King and heir to the throne of God. She’s got a “thing” for Dr. Pepper and loves hearing from readers.
Connect with Delia...
Website: http://delialatham.net
Blog: http://chirpnchatter.blogspot.com
Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/delialatham
Facebook: http://facebook.com/delialatham
Twitter: http://twitter.com/delialatham
Amazon Author Page: http://amazon.com/author/delialatham
Get to know Delia...
Let's talk about you...
Writing is a part of my soul. I’ve always said that I’ve been writing something ever since I could wrap my tiny, baby fingers around a pencil…and it isn’t far from the truth. My earliest memories include an attachment to pencils and notepads. I wrote little poems, songs, and stories. Didn’t matter to me, back then, about critiques and edits, and I didn’t know the term “internal editor” even existed. I just loved to write. It was a grand feeling!
I also loved to read right from the get-go. As soon as I was old enough, I became totally addicted to Grace Livingston Hill and Emilie Loring. My pastor/uncle’s wife was a wonderful, encouraging mentor who convinced me I had writing talent…and despite my own self-doubts, it was enough to set me on the “write” track. I’m still wandering that same delightful path, and still enjoying every step along the way.
Your Writing
Tell us a little bit about your book...Why are you/did you write it?
Summer Dreams is book 2 in my Paradise Pines series (preceded by Spring Raine). Each story takes place during a different season of the year, and is set in Cambria, California—a beautiful little village on the Central Coast. I wanted each book to encourage and uplift readers, and God certainly delivered in Summer Dreams—at least, I was encouraged and uplifted as I wrote Summer’s story. It always helps when God allows His special messengers into one of my books, as He so often does. I think readers will enjoy this portion of the Paradise Pines quadrilogy. (Sounds pretentious, doesn’t it? Yet, I’m told that’s what a set of four books is called. Why not just, “set of four books”?)
What did you learn while writing it?
I knew in my heart that my shy, quiet heroine was a praise dancer…but I’ve been around praise dancing very little, and have watched praise dancers dance only a time or two, and from a distance. Needless to say, I had some research to do.
I spent a great deal of time online, watching praise dancing on video, and reading about it in a good many articles. I had such a wonderful time learning about this beautiful form of worship, and about the meaning of different moves, the clothing worn and the accessories used. Now I want to learn to praise dance!
What’s your favorite snack while writing?
Well, chocolate comes to mind… 😀
Actually, I don’t snack a lot while writing. It’s a little difficult to eat with one’s fingers occupied on the keyboard. But I do like to have some sort of snack that I can just grab and pop in my mouth now and then…M & Ms, nuts, etc. I don’t like trying to deal with “messy” foods, because I hate having tacky residue on my keyboard. Besides, greasy, sticky fingers are distractions, and I have enough of those without creating more. So, yeah, I stick with easy, no-mess snacks. And if that snack happens to include non-messy chocolate, that’s a definite plus.
Writing
Let’s talk about your writing life...
What’s your encouragement for younger writers aside from “keep writing”? We hear this a lot, but dig deeper. Is there something else that helped you?
Never start a writing session without praying first. Invite God to write through you. I consider myself nothing more than His transcriptionist, and I can’t transcribe if He isn’t dictating. Besides, praying first opens the heart and mind to His leading and inspiration. I, for one, can’t imagine even trying to write without those two things.
Where do you find inspiration for your story/characters?
From the world around me. I love to people watch—in the mall, at a restaurant, sitting in a waiting room, walking in the park. Wherever people are, there are things for authors to use in books. Facial expressions, tones of voice, overheard snippets of conversation, body language…and on and on.
Writers tend to be solitary people. I’m probably the most solitary of them all. But it is important to get out of the house and into the world now and then. You cannot write about life if you’re not living.
Ideas are everywhere. I once wrote an article about ideas being like chameleons…they’re there, but they blend into the surroundings. A writer must keep his/her eyes peeled at all times, watching for the little signs that allow the chameleons to be spotted. Read that article here.
Do you listen to music when you write?
Not a chance! I’m very one-track minded. If I’m listening to music, I can’t concentrate on the story line. If I’m focused on a story line, I can’t enjoy the music. I need silence, which is why I do my best writing late at night, after the rest of the world is asleep.
You
What is a favorite memory you have of your mother?
My sweet little mother was an unforgettable character. She wasn’t quite five feet tall, and she never weighed much at all…but packed into that tiny frame was a powerhouse personality. Mama only finished 2nd grade in school, but she managed the finances and household for eight children and a husband without blinking. I tried repeatedly to teach her how to use a calculator, but she just couldn’t quite grasp the concept. Nevertheless, by the time she reached the checkout in a grocery store, no matter how packed her grocery cart, she would have calculated—in her head—how much money she’d need to cough up for the clerk, and she was never off by more than about a quarter.
No one was more “mother” than mine. Every memory of illness or heartbreak or any other type of need, Mama’s sweet face and firm, but gentle hands, are right there in the midst of it. I can’t wait to see her again in Heaven!
If you had to choose one type of food, what kind would it be?
I love Oriental food. Chinese, Japanese, Thai, etc. I did have a surprising experience with Thai food once. The waitress asked if I wanted hot or medium spice. I said hot, because I really love spicy food…but apparently the Thai idea of hot and my idea of hot are worlds apart. My tongue still burned two days later. My mistake. The next time a Thai waitress raises an eyebrow when I say “hot,” I will immediately downgrade to “medium.”
What are you currently reading?
Well, it’s still a little while until this interview goes live, so I’m not likely to still be reading the same book. Right now, however, I’m getting ready to delve into Mary Manners’ Christmas novella, Sugar Cookie Kisses.
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