Interview with author Miralee Ferrell

Today we are interviewing author Miralee Ferrell. Her most recent book, Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon , is available through Summerside Press.

Miralee Ferrell lives with her husband of 36 years on eleven acres in rural WashingtonState. They have two dogs, two cats, one horse, and a huge garden that they both enjoy working in, in the spring and summer. Reading, horseback riding with her daughter, sailing with her husband, and puttering in her flower beds are some of Miralee’s favorite pastimes. She serves on staff as a licensed minister (not a pastor) in their small church, ministering to women and leading prayer groups.  She has 3 books out now and another releasing in April, and started writing in the spring of 2005.

Miralee took a few minutes to talk about publishing from a writer's perspective with Tiffany Colter.

Tiffany Colter: What do you do other than writing? How do you maintain balance.

Miralee Ferrell: I try to do a lot of my work in the winter when I can’t get outside, as I don’t enjoy snow or outdoor winter events. In the summer, I work in as many trail rides on my Arab mare as I can. My daughter and her husband own adjoining property to ours and she and I ride together at least two days a wk, sometimes more. My husband and I also have a large garden area as well as an extensive yard and flower beds that we enjoy working in. Of course, I also love to read, but I find that much of my reading time is spent writing instead. I also have two dogs and two cats that take a bit of my time and lots of love, as well as my horse.

TC: Who has really influenced you?

MF: I guess that would depend on what aspect of life you’re talking about. If personal, then my mother who is also one of my closest friends. If spiritual, then a pastor who has gone on to heaven, but whose teaching and ministry helped me grow to a whole new level. If writing….well, that’s a hard one, as I’ve had many people who’ve helped along the way. An editor/writer from Canada who gave me pointers when I was just starting, my first critique group that introduced me to the editing process, as well as ACFW and OCW, as I’ve learned so much at the conferences. And of course, the other Christian authors who’ve encouraged, supported, and helped me beyond what I could have imagined would be possible when I started out.

TC: How do you market yourself and your writing?

MF: I have a web site… www.miraleeferrell.com 

an active blog… www.miraleesdesk.blogspot.com 

I have a Reader’s Group on Facebook where we talk about fiction of all genres, as well as my books. I can also be found on Shoutlife, Goodreads, Shelfari, Plaxo and a couple of Ning groups, but I’m the most active on Facebook.

TC: Upcoming projects?

MF: I’m working on an old west romance set in 1874 that has a Western feel rather than a prairie romance. I’m presenting it as a three book set and have two publishers interested in seeing it. I’ll be sending it out in the next week or so. I’m also working on a possible third book with Kregel that would follow secondary characters we’ll meet in Finding Jeena, (releasing April 2010—the sequel to The Other Daugther),  as well as a women’s contemporary dealing with a grown woman who’s been verbally abused by her mother most of her life.  That book is burning to be written as soon as I can make time.

TC: Anything else you'd like to add?

MF: My current book, Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon, is my second historical romance and I think I’m finding my niche. It’s set in 1902 and interwoven in the plot are historical facts that happened during that time period. I was blessed to discover that my great-grandfather worked for the same lumbering company featured in my book, so I wove him in as a strong secondary character, using his actual name, Art Gibbs. He had a team of horses he used to skid logs, and later helped build the Columbia River Gorge highway, so he played quite a part in the local history of that era. It was a blessing to include some of my own family history in my new book, and I think my readers will enjoy the part Art played.

Learn more about publishing from Miralee’s perspective here at Writing Career Coach.

Other books by Miralee Ferrell:
The Other Daughter (The Homecoming Series, Book 1)
Love Finds You in Last Chance, California (Love Finds You, Book 5)

 YOU COULD WIN!
Leave a comment on this posting and you could win a copy of Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon. The drawing will take place on Jan. 15, 2010.  This give away is for US residents only. There is no fee to enter.