Spotlight Saturday: Author Interview with Gina Holder

Hey, Readers! I have another interview for you today, and you don’t want to miss this one! Please help me welcome indie author, Gina Holder, to the blog! I relate to Gina because not only are we both redheads, but she’s also a homeschooling work-from-home mama who likes to cook! Read on to find out more about Gina and her work…

Now, let’s jump into the interview…

Hi, Gina, it’s so great to have you on the blog today! What’s the last book that had a significant impact on you? It might be a story that made you cry or one that had delirious with laughter. Why do you think it had that impact?

Unveiling the Past by Kim Vogel Sawyer made me bawl like a baby! The personal conflicts of the character connected with me on a spiritual and emotional level. It’s the spiritual journey these characters take to overcome their fears that impacted me the most.

I’m a big fan of Kim, as an author and as a person. You can see her faith so clearly through her books! What about favorite books when you were a kid? Do you have any favorite books from childhood, and why are they your favorites?  

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff and Love You Forever by Robert Munsch. I don’t know why I loved the first book, but as far as Love You Forever, I think it was the part where the young boy (now a man) picks up his mother when she’s too weak and sings the song to her. It’s this reversal of roles and sense of gratitude that blesses my heart even now that I’m grown. Maybe more so now that I have a daughter of my own.   

Before I started writing, I was a Youth Librarian, and I used both of those books quite a bit in my story time programs. They’re both such sweet stories, for different reasons, and definitely touch your heart as a parent!  What about writing? We all have projects that are a real bear! Which book of yours was the toughest to write? Why?

In each of my books, I’ve found there is at least once scene or at least one element of the book that I don’t want to write. I feel God press upon my heart to include it and I try arguing with him about it. In the end, He always wins, and I include whatever I was uncertain about. Never once has anyone complained or criticized the book for it.

That’s great that you’re sensitive to what He’s asking you to do, though. A writer can’t go wrong by following His lead! What do you love about the genre in which you write?

I write women’s fiction suspense, if there is such a thing. LOL! It’s romantic suspense with a heavy emphasis on the spiritual and emotional journeys of the main heroine.

What I love most is touching readers on a spiritual level with the personal struggles the characters face while also intriguing them with the conflict and mystery that unravels through the suspense aspect.   

I’ll buy it, LOL! I’ve found that the stories I enjoy most are ones that really focus on that internal journey of the main character, and when you can layer that with the external action of an interesting plot, you can get something really powerful. You talked about what drives your writing journey. In the Bible, do you have a “life verse” that’s significant to you? Do you find yourself exploring this theme often in your work?

Ephesians 3:20, Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us…” I think this theme probably shows up in all my stories in one way or another as I love to show how God can do more with and through our lives than we ever thought possible.

I can’t think of a better note to end on than that! Gina, I know readers will want to continue the conversation with you after the interview. Care to share where readers can find you online?

I can be found…

Blog: http://storiesbygina.wordpress.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/storiesbygina

Instagram: http://instagram.com/storiesbygina

Twitter: http://twitter.com/storiesbygina

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Gina-Holder/e/B074HC9SHX

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/gina-holder

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17074375.Gina_Holder

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Thanks so much agreeing to be on the blog today, Gina! It’s been wonderful to get to know more about you and your writing. Readers, if you’d like to check out Gina’s most recent novel, here’s the info (Plus, bonus! She’s giving away e-book copies of TWO of her books!):

She’s running for governor. He’s a pastor.

Will they risk their lives to keep a secret?

Annie Staten, now known as Kathleen Phillips, has dreamed of pursuing a political career and following in her father’s footsteps. But Richard was a hated man during his tenure as governor and now his enemies will stop at nothing to prevent his daughter from winning the election.

Ryan Whitestone has loved Annie since high school, but his heart is broken by the woman she has become. When the daughter she gave up for adoption comes back into her life, can he help her heal from her pain and remind her of who she used to be?

Will Kathleen be able to forgive herself, put the past behind her, and find love again?

The continuing story of No Greater Love.

If you’d like to snag an e-book copy of Gina’s book, you can grab it here:

Or you can choose to buy a paperback copy here:

If you would like to have a chance to win e-book copies of both of Gina’s books, just leave a comment for her below! One winner will be announced on Monday, April 19, by 8 am CST!

Keep reading!

Shaen

*Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash