What was your inspiration for A
Marriage in Middlebury?
The idea for this book came
from my absolute love of tearooms in Texas. In fact, here’s my note to readers
on that very subject:
More than a
decade ago I met a woman named Linda Becker
who opened a tearoom in the Houston burbs called,
Tea for
Two. Her eatery and gift shop did so well, she
opened a second
shop. Over the years I’ve enjoyed her wonderful
tearoom
fare as well as the quaint ambiance. Linda’s tearoom
isn’t just
a café—it’s a gathering place for friends, a place
to eat home
cooked food, and a place so cozy you don’t want to
leave.
As a writer I thought it might be fun to create a
heroine who
owns a tearoom similar to Linda’s and set her shop
in a small
town on the gulf coast of Texas. So, that’s how the
novel, A
Marriage in Middlebury, was born.
Even though my story, the
characters, and the town are fictional, Linda’s
tearooms are
real places you can visit and enjoy. Thank you,
Linda, for the
great food, and the fellowship, and the inspiration.
Everything was going smoothly for the main character when suddenly
everything changes with the return of her ex. What advice do you have when life
throws a curveball?
As a Christian we should
trust in the One who made us, the One who’s known us from the first day when we
were being knit together in our mother’s womb, the One who loves us best.
Trusting in Him during life’s storms is the only answer, and it’s more than
enough.
Charlotte was pressured into breaking off her relationship with
Sam by Sam’s father - how should we react to family pressures and difficult
relatives?
Bathe the situation in
prayer and then talk things through no matter how painful. But once the air is
clear, forgive and move on. Don’t keep going back over and over. Forgiveness is
not easy, but it’s the only way to live free. It helps to remember that
forgiveness is what God offered us when we sinned against Him.
Is there a certain Bible passage or verse that goes along with the
theme of A Marriage in Middlebury?
Trust in the Lord
with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways
submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
Are any of the characters or events in A Marriage in Middlebury based on your own experiences?
Well, I love art,
flowers, quirky characters, and tearooms. And somehow I managed to put them all
into the novel. It was a fun ride!
Do you find yourself returning to similar themes in your novels
(i.e. forgiveness, trust, etc.) or do you have a new message with each release?
Yes, I tend to go back
to the themes of forgiveness and reconciliation. These are not only good themes
for a story, but they are paramount in living the Christian life.
What do you hope readers will walk away with after they turn the
last page of A Marriage in Middlebury?
That with God all things
are possible!
Like several of your other books, A Marriage in Middlebury is set in your home state of Texas - what
are some of your favorite things about Texas?
Overall, Texas is an
inexpensive place to live, it’s a great place to raise a family, and it’s one
of the friendliest places on earth. I’ve lived here for about thirty years, and
I’m proud to call Texas my home.
Before becoming a writer, you had number of interesting jobs -
what was it about writing that drew you in?
I had an incredible need
to tell stories. I don’t think I had a choice in becoming a writer—the profession
sort of chose me. But I’m content in that truth.
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