An interview with Lilly & Sam, from Beyond Africia

We're here today with Lilly and 3 year old Sam from Beyond Africa . (Author Carie Lawson is in "character") Welcome Lilly and Sam.

STEPH - Lilly, where did you train to a missionary?

LILLY: At my Mom's knee. This mission is home--it's where I grew up, I say grew up, but really I lived here from the time I was two until I was eight. It's a place I felt very loved. The best memories of my childhood were right here. It's kind of funny comparing those childhood memories with the reality of today. You know everyone talks about things seeming smaller when they return to a place they remember as a child. I'm finding that things here are more worn than I remember.


STEPH - Lilly, what inspired you to become a missionary? I understand you grew up with a Aunt.

LILLY: After my parent's died, all I ever wanted was to come back here. The best way to do that was to get a nursing degree. I completed my degree about eighteen months ago and started looking for a way to get back to the mission. God worked more than one miracle to help me get back.


STEPH - Sam, what about Lilly do you like?

LILLY: Her hair is shiny like the sun. And she smiles a lot. I'm not scared anymore when she's near me.


STEPH - Lilly, how has Sam's presence in your life, changed you?

LILLY: He's given me a family again. I know what it's like to be alone and so does he. I guess that makes it very easy for us to stay together.


STEPH - Lilly, I hear there's a pilot who likes to help out, Case? What's he like?

LILLY: Hmm, well. I'm not sure that he really likes helping out. But he's been very kind when we've asked him. We might have overstepped by asking for his help this last time. It's just that there are these children here, a family looking for their mother. They got separated from her during a round of fighting not too far away. Nick, another missionary, suggested asking Case to help us look for their mother, because he's a pilot. Of course, I had to ask him because I met him first and we've become friends...kind of. He agreed to help, but wants me to go with him. It makes me a little nervous. He's so handsome and has been kind, but I don't really know that much about him. I mean, why would an American pilot chose to stay in the DRC? I don't think it's for the money. Still, if it can help those children, I'll go. It'll be fine.


STEPH: - Lilly, what do you love about the Congo ? Sam, what do you love about your home?

LILLY: I like helping people who need it. The other missionaries, Bill and Sarah, remember my parents so it's kind of like being with family.

Sam: I like Lilly and Nick. I get to sleep on a pile of blankets in Lilly's room and Nick gives me cake sometimes. He smiles a lot.

Lilly: I think Nick might be the real Santa Claus. He's great with the kids here.


STEPH: - Lilly, do you have TV? The Internet.

LILLY: Oh, no. We have one phone here. It has a cord. But I wasn't expecting things to have those things.


STEPH: - Sam, are you an Elmo fan?

SAM: Lilly, who's Elmo? Oh, no, but there's a dog that I like to play with sometimes. I think monsters are scary.

Thanks for popping in today Lilly & Sam.
*smiles*
Steph

Carie's book is available at the Desert Breeze Site or on Amazon for the Kindle

Featured March Release - Beyond Africa

THE BLURB:

Lilly finally returns to the only place that's ever been home, a mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. But the ongoing civil war creeps closer, threatening her sanctuary.

Case McCord, a weary soldier, determined to keep Lilly safe from the encroaching dangers, offers her protection, a home and love. Accepting him would mean turning her back on everything she believes. Rejecting him would mean turning down the greatest desire of her heart, and putting a child she loves in danger.

******
EXCERPT:

"Tell me about Sam," Case ordered, breaking the silence between them.

Instant words of defense sprang to her mind. She shoved them away. "What do you want to know?"

"Well, he looks like a native, but Sam's not exactly a Congolese name. And he looks as if he belongs to you, or at least wants to."

"Bill and Sarah named him after he was found walking out of the jungle. You know, because Samuel in the Bible was taken to the temple when he was probably about this age." The second comment could be ignored.

"Didn't know that."

Now you do. "Why do you ask?"

"You two looked so close, I thought I might offer a suggestion."

This sounded suspicious. She raised her eyebrows and smiled. "What's that?"

"What if I could get both of you out of here? Wouldn't it be worth it to rescue this one child from the poverty, sickness and war he's destined to see if he stays here?"

Shock took her words. "You. You. You could do that?"

****

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Carie Lawson home schools her four kids, drives the soccer van --- complete with dirty socks and McDonalds bags scattered throughout --- and tries to sneak away to her computer whenever possible to write. She is an active member of a local writer's group, Middle Tennessee Christian Writers, and received third place in the North Texas Romance Writer's Great Expectations contest in the Inspirational Romance category.

****

Beyond Africa is available on Amazon.com and at All Romance Books

Interview with Desert Breeze Author, Carie Lawson

Carie Lawson has a March release with Desert Breeze, "Beyond Africa." She's here with us today to talk a little about the book and her writing. Welcome, Carie! Onto the questions:



#1 - You have release coming out in March - Beyond Africa. What inspired the plot?

When I decided to write Christian Fiction, I wanted to write something with a dangerous, sexy hero. Lilly was a missionary from the first time she popped into my head, so her hero had to be able to appear in the mission without being a missionary...hmm, a pilot. After that, I think I let them tell me their story more than anything else.

STEPH: Pilots always make sexy heroes.

#2 - Can you tell me a little about the plot for Beyond Africa?

Case meets Lilly when he's assigned to take her to a mission in a dangerous part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. He's seen enough of the area to know he doesn't want to leave her there. His conscience continues to drag him back there to offer her a small amount of protection. Lilly fights her instant attraction to him because he obviously isn't a Christian and she's dedicated her life to continuing her parent's work as a missionary. She finds herself in the undesirable position of having to choose between everything she's ever believed and the only thing she wants in the world. A little boy she meets at the mission, Sam, adopts her and then she has to factor in his safety.

STEPH: I love the plot. It sounds really exciting.

#3 - Do you cast your characters when you write? If so, who would cast for the main characters in Africa .

I didn't cast my characters exactly. The McCord family is very loosely based on my own family. I've taken personality traits from my four kids--the good and the...hmm...challenging. Case is a pretty typical oldest child--a little bossy, protective and serious natured. His closest friend is his younger brother, Zane, who's story is told in Beyond Summer, coming out September 1.



#4 - You have four kids and a soccer van! Tell me when you have time to write? Seriously, when do you write? Do you listen to music? Light candles. Tell me about your writing space.

I started writing Beyond Africa when my daughter, who's now six, was an infant. Much of it was written with her sleeping in my arms. That's a wonderful memory for me as this dream of writing is starting to happen. Not much has changed, I guess. When all goes well, I enforce a naptime at my house and then head off to my computer for an hour or so. It probably takes me longer to write than someone who has a little more free time. But I find I'm better off when my life is balanced (sometimes it feels like a tight rope) family time mixed with writing time. What's funny is that my creative juices really get flowing when I'm driving. I think because the kids are in the backseat and I have a little bit of time to let my mind wander or mull over a problem. By the time I get to the computer a lot of the time the scene exists entirely in my head and all I have to do is get it out on paper.

STEPH: I agree in that balance is so important. I have two kids, a full time job, a passion to write, and a desire to go to the gym every day. Striking the balance is not easy. I, too, find that same peace to let my mind wander when I'm driving. Sometimes, I'll put on a audio book. It's one of the few times I can 'read.' so to speak.


#5 - Who are your favorite authors?

That's a tough one. I love to read and nearly always have a book going. Some of my favorite inspirational authors are Susan Mae Warren, Tamara Leigh and Kaye Dacus.


#6 - What's the last book you read?

The Heart's Journey Home by Jen Stephens. It is a wonderful book written by a friend of mine.


#7 - What inspires you in general?

This sounds like a simpleton answer, but its honest. That fun, fluttering, falling in love feeling inspires me to write...and read. We all need little escapes in the everyday.

STEPH: Yes, I agree - we all need the little escapes everyday. It keeps me sane. When I get to work and I have down time between calls or on the radio, I pull out my pen and paper and escape. My co-workers have gotten used to me escaping into my fantasyland, haha! Those escapes are so important. It keeps us all fresh.

Thanks so much for being here today, Carie!