Looking Out The Window: Lillian Duncan Talks About The David Years, Her Sequel To Puzzle House. She's Holding Two Giveaways.

A Warm Welcome to Lillian Duncan

To celebrate the release of The David Years, Lillian's having a giveaway--actually TWO different giveaways!

To enter to win follow the directions below.

GIVEAWAY DIRECTIONS

Giveaway # One: The grand prize is a $25 Amazon gift card. To enter that giveaway, click here and follow the directions!

Giveaway #Two: Lillian will pick FIVE lucky winners to receive their choice of one her eBooks  from comments left on her blog about The David Years.  To be entered in that giveaway, go to her Website then leave a comment under one of The David Years posts. EASY-PEASY!

Hi Lillian, how exciting about your new book and the giveaways! Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m 63, happily married, and live in a small town in Ohio.

Were you an avid reader as a child? If so, what did you read?

I never went anywhere without a book. Fishing—took a book. Relatives—took a book. In the car—took a book. Went to bed—you guessed it, I took a book. So yes, I was an avid reader. The library was my favorite place to go.

Why do you write?

Wow. That’s a good question. There’s so many different ways I could answer that. I could say I write because I have these stories that rattle around in my brain. I could say I write because I love books and stories. But the real reason I write is that I believe God created me to write.

Tell us about your latest book.

The David Years is the sequel to Puzzle House. In Puzzle House at the age of 15 Nia was anointed to become a healer. Overwhelmed by the thought, Nia’s auntie tells her about King David and how even though he was anointed at a young age, he didn’t become king for many years. Those years were his learning years and now she has her learning years ahead of her—her David Years.

Most of this story takes place after Nia graduates as she struggles to find her place in the world. Impatient to begin her life as a healer, Nia tries to make it happen in her own timing. But God will not be rushed and whether Nia likes it or not, she’s still in her David Years. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, ‘we learn from our mistakes.’ Well, Nia learns a lot that year.

What inspired you to write this particular book?

I wrote Puzzle House because of my own experiences with brain tumors because of a genetic disease called Neurofibromatosis Type 2. It’s not autobiographical at all, except that the main character has the same genetic disease. The David Years is just a continuation of the story of Puzzle House.

What do you love about this book? And what do you hope readers will tell others about it?

Nia wants to serve God but struggles to know if she’s doing the “right thing.” I think we’re all like that at some time in our lives—probably several times.

Where do you get ideas for your books?

Anywhere and everywhere!

In three words describe your style of writing.

Lots of action!

How do you get to know your characters?

I get to know them as I write, which is why, I write and rewrite—a lot. As I get to know the characters, I have to rewrite their words and actions to fit the person they are.

What themes do you write about?

Forgiveness seems to be a recurrent theme in many of my stories. But another theme seems to be emerging which is how crucial God’s Word is to all of our life journeys.

What is your writing schedule and where do you write?

I write up in my office but I don’t have a strict schedule as to when I write. If there are days I don’t feel up to writing because of my health issues, then I don’t worry about. Sometimes, I may write for several hours and other days, an hour is more than enough.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Definitely a pantser. I have no idea what’s going to happen in my stories until it happens. That makes me surprised as I hope my readers are when they read it.

Does your faith affect your writing? If so, how?

I hope so! My faith affects the way I look at the world and it does the same for the characters I create.

Do you put yourself in your books?

Of course! It’s not a conscious thing but it happens. Sometimes it’s a snippet of a real life event that happened to me but more often it shows up in other sneaky ways.

What are you working on right now?

I have another book releasing at the end of September—Trapped. It’s completely different from The David Years. It’s romantic suspense with lots of action and a little romance. Along with that I’m also working on the third Puzzle House novel—Suffer The Little Children.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

First, don’t worry about being perfect—just write. Once the story’s finished, then you can go back and fix your mistakes.

Second, write every day—even if it’s for only ten minutes. This will make writing a habit that will help you become a writer and it will help keep you sane when life gets crazy.

What would you be doing if you weren’t writing?

Not a whole lot! I’m retired from my job as a school speech pathologist so my life isn’t about being busy. It’s about enjoying my husband and family and friends. And writing, of course!

What is the coolest, wackiest, most risk-taking thing you’ve ever done?

Uh…I’m not much of a risk taker, but I’ve been to 48 states and three continents. So I guess that’s sort of cool, isn’t it? Also, I rode a camel a few weeks ago! Does that count?

Oh my, yes! How can readers connect with you?

My blog is Tiaras and Tennis Shoes. I also have a devotional blog at Power Up With God. I’m on Facebook as well.

An Excerpt From The David Years

Nia looked at her aunt and asked, “So what am I ‘spose to do now?”

“Have you ever heard of King David from the Bible?”

“I guess.”

 “There were a lot of years between the time David was anointed as the king and he actually became the king. It’s a time for you to grow in your relationship with God.”

“And then later I get to be king?” Nia giggled.

“I meant that figuratively not literally but these are your David Years.”

“My David Years. I like that.”

Nia Johnson has spent the past four years developing a closer relationship to God. She wants to believe she’s still anointed to become a healer at Puzzle House but as each year passes, she has more and more doubts.

Now that she’s graduated from high school and is an adult she is sure it’s time to take the mantle of healing Rachel passed to her so many years before. But the harder she tries, the more it eludes her.


BIO:

Lillian Duncan… turning faith into fiction.

For years, my tagline has been “stories of faith mingled with murder and mayhem” since I wrote Christian suspense and mystery novels.

In 2012, I heard the words, “you have brain tumors.”

When life changes for a writer, their writing changes as well. So I wanted my tagline to reflect the new me. I still love to write suspense and mystery novels but also have branched out into other genres, including non-fiction and women’s fiction.

In spite of being diagnosed with bilateral brain tumors and a rare genetic disease (Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2), God continues to strengthen me and give me peace and joy as well as the blessing to be able to write my stories.

I’m a multi-published author who lives in the middle of Ohio Amish country with my husband and a menagerie of pets. After more than 30 years working as a speech pathologist for children, I believe in the power of words to transform lives, especially God’s Word.

My goal is to write stories that entertain but also demonstrate God’s love for all of us. To learn more about me, visit my Wesbite. I also have a devotional blog at www.PowerUpWithGod.comPower Up With God.