CONGRATULATIONS!
GAIL PALLOTA
WINNER OF "GOD, ME AND SWEET ICED TEA"
Let's welcome Rose Chandler Johnson along with her new devotional "God, Me and Sweet Iced Tea." Rose has graciously offered a free copy of her devotional to someone who leaves a comment. You must leave your email address and comment on the interview to be entered.
1. Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m from a tiny
Georgia town, in Burke County, GA. I
moved away right after high school graduation, first to Augusta, then all
across the U.S. for over a decade. I’ve
lived in Martinez, GA (a suburb of Augusta) for the past 28 years. I have six children—three boys and three
girls. I’ve been a French and English
teacher for the last 20 years. I enjoy
baking, gardening, reading and writing, and spending time with my family.
2. Tell us about your most recent book/or the
book we are focusing on.
My devotional
journal, God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea:
Experiencing God in the Midst of Everyday Moments released July 10, 2013 from Lighthouse Publishing of the
Carolinas. I also write regularly for my
devotional blog, Write Moments with God.
3. Why did you choose this particular genre?
When I decided to
make Jesus the Lord of my life, in 1977, I starting reading a devotional every
morning. It helped me focus and
structure my time. I’ve incorporated devotional reading in my quiet times with
God for decades. I think most people
could benefit from that format. I
transformed it into a journal because I am a journal keeper and I’ve
experienced its benefits. I think the journal component makes it more memorable
and allows readers an opportunity to go deeper and apply their faith.
4. What was your journey to publication like?
I mention that
briefly in the “Acknowledgements” for my devotional. Over a period of two years, the kind advice,
encouragement, and practical assistance of other Christian authors led me to
the Write to Publish conference in 2012 where I met my publisher Eddie
Jones. I signed the contract for this
devotional there.
5. What is a couple of your favorite books and
what are you reading now?
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte might be
my all-time favorite. A Severe Mercy by Shelton Vanauken is
also beloved. Right now I’m reading Alice Wisler’s Rain Song.
6.
What are
you working on now and can you give us a little peek inside it?
I am writing a
novel about a young Southern woman’s journey to rediscover herself and by so
doing she finds her place in the world.
7.
What
advice would you give authors who are on their own journey to publication?
Build relationships
and network with others. Learn how to
use social media and give yourself a year or more to have a real presence on
the web. Help other authors as much as
you can, and celebrate one another. I’ve
learned so much from other writers and people in the publishing business, that
was basically just friends helping friends.
8.
Do you
have any books or websites that have helped you with your writing that you
could share with us?
My own blog has
helped me with my writing more than any other particular website. I’ve written for it consistently, usually
twice a week, for the last thirteen months.
Because I’ve managed to do this, I’ve gained confidence in myself. I’ve
also read lots of other blogs which has helped me as well.
9. Is there anything you’d like to tell us we
haven’t covered?
I invite your
readers to take a look at my devotional journal, God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea.
This devotional is
uniquely appropriate for working mothers, but it’s also for anyone who wants to
put their Christianity into practice in their everyday moments and go deeper
into God’s word. I think they will find
it refreshingly relevant and inspiring. God,
Me, and Sweet Iced Tea: Experiencing God
in the Midst of Everyday Moments is available at http://ow.ly/mJQtj
Amazon.com , as
well as Barnes & Noble.com.
10. Please let us know where we can find you on
the web.
Blog: http://www.writemomentswithgod.blogspot.com
Twitter: @rechanjo
Pinterest:
http://pinterest.com/rosecjohnson/boards/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/rosechandlerjohnsonauthor
