It’s my pleasure to welcome talented author, Pepper Basham, to my blog. Pepper writes inspirational fiction in two different genres: historical romance and contemporary romance. Thanks, Pepper for joining us today!
By The Book: When did you first know that you were a writer?
Pepper Basham: I feel like I’ve always been a storyteller, but I didn’t start ‘writing’ down those stories until I was about 7 or 8. I actually still have a story I wrote and illustrated from when I was 9. Poorly illustrated . . . it was pretty clear writing was more my forte than drawing (especially from the sizes of the noses on my poor people I drew ;-).
BTB: What people, including friends, family, teachers or other authors, have influenced/encouraged you?
Pepper: The very first person who ever called me a writer was my Granny Spencer. She was a wonderful Appalachian storyteller, all oral storytelling, but the love for storytelling started with her. My parents have been an ENORMOUS wealth of encouragement. My wonderful AlleyCats have been such supports and cheerleaders through the journey as well as the amazing gals of Seekerville! And, I cannot forget my amazing Street Team and Brainstorming Team. I’m just surrounded my wonderful supporters.
BTB: You write both historical and contemporary romances. Is the writing process the same or different for each genre? What types of research do you do?
Pepper: I love story. The main difference between the two is the research (although there is, of course, voicing difference as I write them. Historical doesn’t ‘sound’ the same as contemporary). I love watching movies of the time period, reading books (especially first person accounts), and even trying on costumes. I LOVED getting to drive a Model T for research. For contemporary I usually do a lot of chatting with folks who have the occupation of my characters.
BTB: The Christian message is strong, but naturally woven throughout your novels. What is your motivation for writing Christian fiction? What do you want your readers to take away after the last page is turned?
Pepper: I love writing faith into fiction. Love it . . . and Him. I hope people see the hope Christ’s love can bring and the power in His forgiveness to change lives. I also want to show humor and authenticity.
BTB: Can you give us a sneak peek at soon to be released works or works-in-progress?
Pepper: Oh my! How about a first few paragraphs of book 3 in the Penned in Time series! The Thorn Healer releases in November!
Chapter One
May 1918
Wounded soldiers returned from war as heroes. Wounded nurses returned as old maids.
Jessica Ross gripped the handle of her purse a little tighter, and peered out the dusty train window, eager to catch the first glimpse of her hometown in two years. Home. The word swept a sweet balm over the ragged edges of her memories, rife with the devastation of a world at war. For two dark years, loss and fear crowded light from the shadowed spaces of Jess’ mind, but, now, those dreadful moments could rest in the past. The Great War, as some called it now, held nothing ‘great’ within its muddied trenches and dying breaths, except the weight of its sorrow and its forever-swell of hopelessness.
Her eyes drifted closed and brought visions of her mother and brother to mind, stilling her grin. Home couldn’t be the same without their presence. During her last visit to Hot Springs, she buried her mother. German gunfire took her gregarious baby brother a year and a half later, his remains interred on a battlefield in France, and her only surviving sibling, her older brother, had almost been killed by a German spy.
The hardened fist of hatred tightened around Jessica’s heart with a deeper grasp. Trench warfare, treachery, Kaisers?
She was finished with all of it – especially Germans. She hated them. Even German food was out of the question from this point on. She’d suffered enough from the Huns barbarous hands. Too many nightmares.
“Next stop, Hot Springs!”
The clarion call of the train whistle followed the conductor’s announcement with a glorious exclamation. A waft of mountain air breezed through the window, dampening the unusual May warmth and Jessica’s darkening thoughts with the scent of honeysuckles and fresh rain. Hope tickled a dangerous longing, fragile and as broken as she was, but she grasped its promise. A smile bloomed awake. Even if she was damaged beyond the use of war or the makings of a wife, even if nightmares stole her sleep and fear ripped at her peace of mind, one place always promised a sense of belonging. The Blue Ridge Mountains.
Wow! Just wow, Pepper!
BTB: Please share anything else you want my readers to know — personal info, hobbies, etc
Pepper: Well, I love love love being a mom. I have five awesome kids and I’ve enjoyed watching them grow through every phase. It’s been such a cool journey. Challenging, but such a blessing!
I love dressing in costume, am a huge DC/Marvel fan, love Phineas and Ferb, enjoy very eclectic reading choices, and have a tendency to write music.
Thanks so much, Pepper, for sharing with us today!
Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of 5 great kids, speech-pathologist to about fifty more, lover of chocolate, jazz, and Jesus, and proud AlleyCat over at a group writing blog, The Writer’s Alley. Her debut historical romance novel, The Thorn Bearer, released in May 2015, and has already garnered its first award with Readers’ Favorites International Awards. Pepper’s second and third books in the series arrive in February 2016. Her first contemporary romance debuts in April.
You can connect with Pepper on her website at http://www.pepperdbasham.com, Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pepper-D-Basham or Twitter at https://twitter.com/pepperbasham.
I have just purchased three of Pepper Basham’s books and look forward to reading them.
Enjoy them, Suzanne. And from what Carrie says, the next one due out in the Penned in Time series is great too!
Suzanne, I hope you enjoy them!! I’d LOVE LOVE to hear what you think 🙂
ahhhhh two of my faves talking with each other! Yay!! And yes, Beckie – wow is right for TTH! I have loved all of the Penned in Time books but this next one? Totally my fave!!
So glad to hear it is a winner too! Pepper is such a great author.
It will be really interesting to see what people think of the entire trilogy 🙂 It’s been a crazy and fun journey so far. I hope God lets me do it for a very long time 🙂
I do too! Thanks so much for agreeing to the interview!
How do you find time to write with five children to tend to?
Isn’t that amazing!
It’s a tricky business. After working all day and then helping kiddos with homework or fixing dinner, I usually try to write late in the evening after people are in bed or at least resting 🙂
Very interesting review..book sounds very good