Gabe Knight, a pastor in a small coastal town,
finds his life is turned upside down when Dee Dillow arrives and hires him to
remodel an estate she's inherited from her aunt. Dee dashes his plans for
wedded bless when on a drunken binge, she divulges that she's the highest paid
call girl in Nevada and part-owner of the ritziest brothel in the state.
Gabe falls in love with her, but can't believe
he's hearing the voice of God when a still, small voice tells him to marry her.
After much questioning, they marry and he is deliriously happy. Until, Dee
betrays him.
Gabe soon discovers just how hard it is to have
the unconditional love God calls him to have for his wife, the kind of love God
has for his children. When faced with losing her, Gabe realizes what true love
is, how much it hurts, and just how much God loves and is willing to sacrifice
for his children.
INTERVIEW WITH K. DAWN BYRD, AUTHOR OF AMAZING LOVE
1) What would you like readers to take away from your book?
Amazing Love is the modern-day version of the Hosea and Gomer story from the Bible. I'd like for readers to take away that God loves us with an unconditional love. My heroine, Dee, does some pretty terrible things and believes that God could never forgive her, but He does.
Amazing Love is the modern-day version of the Hosea and Gomer story from the Bible. I'd like for readers to take away that God loves us with an unconditional love. My heroine, Dee, does some pretty terrible things and believes that God could never forgive her, but He does.
2) Why did you choose to write this book?
A couple of years ago, I was the story of Hosea and Gomer in the Bible and the thought came to mind that it would be fun to retell the story in a modern setting.
A couple of years ago, I was the story of Hosea and Gomer in the Bible and the thought came to mind that it would be fun to retell the story in a modern setting.
3) What did you learn while writing this book?
I learned that even though the Bible gives us stories about individuals who lived in Bible times, it's vague at times about specifics. This give a fiction writer a lot of leeway to let their imaginations run wild.
I learned that even though the Bible gives us stories about individuals who lived in Bible times, it's vague at times about specifics. This give a fiction writer a lot of leeway to let their imaginations run wild.
4) What is the toughest test you've faced as a writer?
Finding time to write. I work a full-time job and also a lot of weekends, which means that I have to be really devoted to my writing time. I set aside at least an hour every night, six days a week if possible. The fact that I start with a well-developed plot makes things move faster.
Finding time to write. I work a full-time job and also a lot of weekends, which means that I have to be really devoted to my writing time. I set aside at least an hour every night, six days a week if possible. The fact that I start with a well-developed plot makes things move faster.
5) Which books on writing have been the most helpful to you
and why?
It's not really a book, but I'll tell you about it anyway.
Margie Lawson's on-line classes made more impact on me and my writing style
that anything else I've ever studied. They're very affordable too!
6) What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of,
writing-related or not?
I'm proud of earning a master degree in professional
counseling from Liberty University. I believe this degree helps me to
understand my characters better and what makes them tick.
7) What kind of planning do you do before writing a novel?
I fill out character sketches in order to get to know my
characters better. I ask myself what their goals are, what motivates them, and
what's keeping them from reaching their goals. Sometimes, I start by writing a
synopsis. This gives me information about the plot as it develops. I usually
have a pretty strong plot before I actually begin the story.
8) What are your favorite writing conferences and why?
The ACFW conference is my favorite because I absolutely love
the worship. It blesses my heart. It's also really nice to chat with
like-minded people.
9) Why do you write?
I write because I can't stop. It's more than a hobby, it's a
passion. It's the most fun I've ever had in my life!
10) Are you a plotter or a pantzer?
A big time plotter. Because I write all of my books in
30-day marathons, I have to start with a thorough plot. That doesn't mean that
sometimes the story doesn't take a life of it's own, surprising me when it
takes me down a road I hadn't planned to travel.
11) What are you working on right now?
I'm working on a thriller about a serial killer. It's a
difficult story because there are several twists and turns and I have to be
careful how I write it for everything to fall into place correctly.
12) What's next for you?
I have three releases in 2012, all young adult. Something
Beautiful in January. The Hot Line Girl in June. Luck of the Draw in November.
13) What would you be doing if you weren’t writing?
Probably still riding a Harley. I sold my bike in order to
have more time to write. On weekends, I'd rather curl up with my laptop and the
story in my head.
14) Tell us a little more about yourself , with three things
not many people know
about you.
a)
I have a masters degree in professional counseling from
Liberty University.
b)
I'm an animal lover. I own two hairless Chinese Crested
dogs, an African Gray parrot, three ferrets, and several aquariums in my home.
c)
I love sour foods. I'd rather have olives, pickles, or
dilly beans than something sweet sometimes.
15) Do you listen to music when you write and if
so, what kind of music – or do you find
it distracts you?
I must have total peace and quiet when I write. I
hate it because it keeps me from writing sometimes when I'd like to.
16) What do you do for fun when
not writing?
When not writing, I love to read.
Romantic suspense or young adult novels are favorites.
17) Tell us about your latest
release and what you think readers will enjoy about it.
My latest release, Amazing Love, is the modern story of
Hosea and Gomer from the Book of Hosea in the Bible. It was a tough story to write because my heroine suffers
severe consequences for her sins, but it was necessary to portray how low we
can go and how much God still loves us through it all. I hope readers will take
away the fact that no matter what we do, God loves us with an unconditional
love and is ready to accept us back into His loving arms.
18) If you were an animal, which
one do you think you would be, and why?
I'm not sure which animal I would
be, but my step-daughter was recently joking and said that if she believed in
reincarnation, she'd want to come back
as one of my ferrets because I take such good care of them. That was the
ultimate compliment!
19) What is your personal
definition of success?
My
personal definition of success has nothing to do with money. To me, a
successful person is one who is happy and enjoys life.
20) How can readers get in contact with you? (mail, email,
website)
Email: kdawnbyrd@yahoo.com
Twitter: kdawnbyrd
Pinterist: kdawnbyrd
Facebook: kdawnbyrd
Youtube embed code if you'd like it for your blog:
MEET K. DAWN BYRD
K. Dawn Byrd is an author of inspirational novels in several
genres, including, historical, suspense, romance, and young adult. Some of her
favorite things are chocolate, cars, and her pets. Her hobbies include reading,
writing, and riding down country roads in the passenger seat of her husband's
Corvette Stingray. When asked why she writes, her response is, "For the
simple joy of placing words on the page!"
Dawn's book, Amazing Love, sounds like a very good read, all of her books do! The video caught my inerest, as did your interview. I like her personal definition of success, and being able to write a book in 30 days. It's great to read about other writers and how each works her craft. Dawn sounds like an interesting person and good writer.
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