Talkshow Thursday: Meet Stacy Simmons

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Stacy Simmons

Linda: Welcome to my blog. It’s a pleasure to have you. Congratulations on your debut novel, A Promise for Faith. What was the inspiration for the story? 

 

Stacy: Hi, Linda. Thank you for having me on here, and for your congratulations. A Promise for Faith’s inspiration was the career transitions both my husband and I have encountered in our married lives. It strengthens your faith to undergo life changes and this story is based upon this fact. 

 

LM: What is your writing process? (e.g., Do you devise your characters or plot first? Do you outline or write as you go?) 

Stacy: Over the five years since I began writing, I’ve become a “loose outliner” of the story. At first, I was a “pantser,” travelling where the plot or characters led me. Advice from some author friends help steer me toward creating a roadmap for the story. 

 

LM: Research is an important aspect of writing. How did you go about researching A Promise for Faith? Was there a particular piece of information you knew you needed to include in the book? 

Photo: Pixabay/David Mark

Stacy: The setting, Briar Creek, North Carolina, is based on my summer trips with my family growingup, and eventually with my husband and kids. I wanted to imbue the beauty of nature in the Smoky Mountains and the absolute friendliness of people who lived in the are as well. 

 

LM: In addition to writing, you work as a Special Education Inclusion Paraprofessional. How do you juggle your many responsibilities? 

Stacy: As soon as I get home from school, I visit with my family before cooking dinner. I am fortunate that my family understands I need writing time in the evenings and nights since I’m on a deadline. 

LM: What is one thing you wish you knew how to do? 

Stacy: Crochet and draw or paint, my youngest makes gorgeous blankets as gifts for friends. I seem to have two left hands. My oldest is a graphic artist, both my husband and I can barely draw a Pictionary answer. Each of them are blessed from the Lord, it’s not passed down from either side of our family. 

LM: Now that you have a book published, what is your advice to other fledgling authors? 

Stacy: Please be gentle with yourself, take the time to enjoy what you’ve written, and the fact you’ve got it down in a document. That is an amazing thing. Study the craft of writing, there are many wonderful books to teach you. Plus, going to an ACFW-American Christian Fiction Writer’s Conference is a great way to connect with other writers and bolster your foundation for writing. Make sure to listen during prayer time for Jesus’ urgings, as you walk on the writing path. 

 

LM: What is your next project? 

Photo: Pixabay/Pia

Stacy: I’m currently editing my Christmas novella which will be out later this year. It’s centered around castles, which as an Anglophile, I’m completely thrilled to write. 

 

LM: Where can folks find you on the web? 

Stacy: https://linktr.ee/StacyTS

A Promise For Faith: Secrets have the power to ruin lives. 

Faith and love have the power to disarm those secrets. Failure isn’t an option for Faith Fuller. She wants to prove to herself and her very successful parents she can stand on her own, even if it means accepting a job offer from someone she wanted to forget. To add to the problem, that job means facing her biggest fear. 

 

Caleb Gaines is looking for a manager for his coffee shop. He’s in over his head running his successful river outfitters business and being a single dad to a preschooler. But the perfect candidate wants nothing to do with him. Risk-taker Caleb is up for a challenge and wants to convince Faith to help him. 

If neither one relies on faith and learns to trust, any chance at love will be washed downstream. 

An out-of-work chef and successful river outfitter are both hiding secret tragedies. How much faith will it take to learn to trust in each other, overcome obstacles, and find love?

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3J7OGfh