The Ball's in Her Court by Heather Justesen

I just finished reading The Ball’s in Her Court by author, Heather Justesen.

Paperback: 256 pages

Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc.; 1st edition (October 1, 2009)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1599552345

ISBN-13: 978-1599552347

I have to tell you, I really enjoyed this book. I loved the hero and the storyline but there were times I just wanted to slap the heroine! (So, I guess that means I liked the book!) But then again, I love heroes who fight for the girl no matter what gets in their way!

This book is about Denise DeWalt, who was in foster care growing up and ultimately was adopted by a wonderful LDS family. Haunted by memories, she delves into her past in search of answers about her biological family. Unable to believe that she is worthy of love, she is constantly pushing away her roommate’s cousin, and her boss, Rich. Still, the attraction is undeniable and Rich is the only one who seems to be able to look beyond her past. Denise must learn to trust and allow people to love her so that she can heal her heart and have a chance at a normal life.

I also had the chance to interview Heather.

Thanks for joining us today, Heather.

Thanks for having, me Rachel.

Tell us a little about yourself? What makes you tick?

I tend to be eclectic in my interests. I work part time in my parents' store, run as an EMT-I with the local volunteer ambulance, I love to decorate cakes and cookies. I have lots of animals from cats and dogs and fish in the house to chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys and guineas out back. I enjoy gardening and have dabbled in quilt making, scrapbooking, and other crafts. I really, really love to read, which I don't get nearly as much time to do as I'd like with my current writing goals and deadlines, but I still sneak some in here and there. Okay, I don't get nearly as much time as I'd like with any of my hobbies now that I'm writing more, but it's well worth it as I love creating stories.

What drives you crazy?

All of the hundred little interruptions that keep me from my writing and other projects. Also, chocolate cupcakes. Why did I make them when I knew they would sit there on the counter taunting me? I really should have taken them to a neighbor yesterday to get the extras out of the house, but did I? No.

You mentioned your foster kids in the dedication of The Ball’s in Her Court. How did you decide you wanted to be a foster parent?

Bill and I discussed adoption before we were every married, so when we had trouble conceiving, we decided to try foster-adopt. We had 15 kids placed with us over a two-year period and nearly all of them ended up back at home again. With subsequent moves and job issues we've never gotten back to fostering again, but it was a great experience despite the challenges.

Tell us a little of being a foster parent.

We actually covered a wide range of situations. We had two toddler brothers placed with us, and later we had five siblings aged 11-17 live with us. We had other groups, singles and age ranges in between, with a variety of situations so I was always on the go. Though it was a struggle, it was also a joy most of the time to work with the kids. I've loved getting back in touch with several of them after I found them on Facebook.

Obviously as a foster parent you are drawn to your foster kids’ stories, backgrounds, and their successes. Was there a certain foster child who inspired The Ball’s in Her Court?

Actually, I started the story before we began fostering. I spent hundreds of hours learning about adoption and reunion on the internet while we were taking the foster classes and through the time that we had children living with us. Though their situations influenced the end results of the book, I can't say any of their situations were really in any way like Denise's in the book.

Why did you decide to write this book?

I was fascinated with the idea of an adoptee finding her family again and how the relationship dynamics work. For me relationships between people of any combination (siblings, parent/child, coworker, romantic relationships) are what make a book enjoyable, even if there's a lot of action and other great things going on in the story. And Denise called to me. I couldn't let her down. =)

What strange quirks do you have? Any fetishes?

You mean besides the dozens of birds running around the pasture out back? Or the obsession with cake decorating (I'm just starting, but having a blast with it). There's the fact that I'm addicted to hatching chicks. I only stopped for a couple of months last winter before I fired up the incubator again. I still have it running, actually. Though when this last group come out next week I'll probably stop again until the first of the year.

What’s your favorite writing food?

Water. I'm not saying I never eat anything while I'm writing, but it's hard to keep both hands on the keyboard and focused on the story if there's something to snack on nearby. Like the chocolate covered pretzel balls sitting next to me right now. They're evil.

Can you tell us a little about what you’re working on right now?

Which one? =) I have an unrelated title I'm getting ready to submit soon, and I recently finished a solid draft for a fourth book--totally unrelated to anything else--that I'll be sending out for critiques from a few friends. And this month I've been doing a major tear apart and rewrite on a third book related to the one that was just released. Apparently I can't be happy working on just one thing at a time. That would promote sanity, after all.

I saw on your website that you have a new book under contract, Rebound. Can you tell us a little about it? When can we anticipate its release?

Rebound is slated for release next summer. It's a spinoff of The Ball's in Her Court as it follows the story of Denise's roommate, Lily (who was supposed to be the main character in The Ball's in Her Court, but Denise refused to allow it). In the opening scene Lily's husband is arrested or fraud and every asset with his name on it is frozen by the government. She has a toddler and another one on the way and has to start over. It's a fun romance with plenty of pitfalls along the journey.

Thanks for letting us get to know the author behind the story just a little bit better!

Thanks for the interview, Rachel!

And you can learn more about Heather on her website and her blog. You can also purchase The Ball’s in Her Court at Cedar Fort, Inc. and Amazon.com.

Trail of Storms by Marsha Ward

I wanted to let you all know about Marsha Ward's new book, Trail of Storms. She is a wonderful woman and writer. I can't wait to read this and hope you will check it out too!

Jessie Bingham put heartbreak away to tend to her sister's needs, but when she settled for second best in love, she didn't foresee that James Owen would come back into her life.

The aftermath of the Civil War creates cruel circumstances for the Bingham family. A brutal attack on Jessie's sister, Hannah Fletcher, drives the extended family to flee to the West. They are soon joined by Heppie Bingham's beau George and his brother, Ned, who bring news that the Binghams are being pursued by cronies of Hannah's attacker. Even after they fight off that onslaught, poverty, bad weather, and Hannah's frightful secret plague their journey. Nursing her battered heart when she hears James Owen took a wife, Jessie accepts Ned's offer of marriage. But a stop on the trail holds surprises that launch Jessie into a bewildering tangle of values, emotions, and high adventure.

I hope you will all check out this book! I can't wait to get my copy! I'll make sure and do an interview after I read it. In the mean time, check out her website and blog if you are interested in reading more of Trail of Storms.

Influences on Writing - Part 1

MUSIC

Music is a powerful source in this world. I am qualified to write a lengthy dissertation on music and its effects on the mind and body. I can tell you more about it's origins and evolution than most of you would ever care to know. But for most of us, music is just part of life. It's a staple. We need to have it. We expect it. It's always been there. And with so many resources available, it's easily accessible. So let's talk a little about it's impact and influence on writing.

What are you listening to right now? I'm listening to Reggae music and quite honestly I'd rather be up dancing than typing away on my computer. However, it puts me in a happy, positive, optimistic mood. I also find that my fingers kind of type to the beat! Silly, I know. But it's true. I want to write about dancing and cheerfulness! Love that only has happy endings and is carefree and painless.

So what happens when I change the station? I'm now listening to heavy metal. My mood has completely altered. I feel angry and grumpy. I feel narrow minded and don't want to be talked to. My fingers are pounding on the keyboard and I want to write about revenge and hate.

When I turn the station to classical, my mood alters again. I feel tranquil and soothed. Maybe even a little sleepy. I feel calmed and my typing has slowed. No specific thoughts are coming to mind of what to write, but I feel peaceful. Still, if I sit here long enough, I may be able to write something.

Now, I realize these examples are extreme. Still, have you ever considered what your listening habits do for your writing? Even your reading? Your environment plays a big part in how you respond to certain things.

For me, depending on where I am in the writing stage, I prefer quiet. No music. Then I can just let the story play out and build itself. If I'm writing a love scene or a kissing scene, I will often have country music playing (because that's my personal favorite!) If I need a little extra anger or hatred, I'll put on my husband's heavy metal.

Music helps us write but it can also discourage our writing. Different genres bring different personal memories or thoughts to mind which can add to or hinder our progress. Perhaps it isn't good for you to listen to jazz music while writing a love scene because you hated jazz band in school. Or the sound of video games makes you feel resentful. Whinny children might make you feel frustrated.

Music is all around you! Everything plays a part. So think about it as you write. Think about what kind of environment you are creating for yourself and your story. What is it you want to accomplish? What kind of an environment will help you achieve that?

For part 2 of this series, view the Writer's Fortress blog on Sunday, November 15, 2009.

November's Contest

The book for November's contest is...

I first was turned onto the retelling of fairytales a couple years back. I devoured them. I'm so used to Disney's retellings that I figured that's the way the stories went. And I have never actaually read a lot of the originals. But I ran across retelling and fell in love! This is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, and I love that story anyway. This was artfully done. The heroine in this book is not really all that beautiful, and perhaps that's one reason I love it so much!

This month is November, and while this isn't a book on Thanksgiving, to enter, just leave me a comment and tell me your favorite Thanksgiving memory. I love memories and love hearing about other people's too! So tell me what you love the most about Thanksgiving, or a favorite memory, or whatever you want to tell me about Thanksgiving. The contest will end November 30th at midnight and I'll post the winner on the December 1st.

I have also included a contest list on my sidebar so you can click on it to find the contest post each month. I look forward to hearing from you! Gobble, gobble!

Winner of The Witch Who Wanted to Be a Princess

And the winner

of

is...

Anna del C. Dye!

Congrats Anna!

Please email your mailing address to

rachelrager(dot)romance(at)gmail(dot)com

And since you all gave me your favorite memories of Halloween, I'll tell you one of mine. I don't remember a Halloween when there wasn't snow on the ground and the wind wasn't blowing. Still, we would bundle up with our coats, snow pants, and boots under our costumes and go around the neighborhood. We would go until our little pumpkin buckets were too full of candy to carry and we could hardly feel our mittened fingers. We loved it and had a great time!

Check back in. I'll post November's contest later this week!

Also, read another interview of me here!

I've Been Interviewed!

Anna Arnett has done an interview on me. I've never done one quite like this before! She asked a lot of personal questions - like how I met my husband and a little about my kids. I had a great time! I hope you will all check it out!

*Although after reading everyone's comments, I may have to do a second installment somewhere and include Rachel's first kiss. Or Rachel's first kiss with her husband. That sounds fun. Right?

Halloween Contest!

I realize it is almost Halloween and I'm a little late with this but I thought it would be fun anyway! Since Halloween is on Saturday, I thought I'd give away a free book!

I adore this book! It's one of my favorite Halloween books about a young girl who learns to be happy with who she is!

All you have to do to enter is leave me a comment about your favorite Halloween, your favorite Halloween candy, or anything you want to share with me about Halloween!

I'll close the contest November 4, 2009 at midnight. Best of luck to you and happy spooking!