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Book: Awakening Of The Heart

Q1. Hello Ma’am, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.

My name is Jo Dawson I was born and raised in Wellsford, North of Auckland, on a dairy farm. I was a primary school teacher for more than 15 years in New Zealand and I also spent some time in the USA and Australia. I’m a committed Christian and my faith plays a pivotal role in my life and in my writing. I hope that my books encourage other Christians to turn to God in the good and bad times. To find our support networks and through it all chose joy.

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘Awakening Of The Heart’ book?

Self-belief was one of the biggest challenges. It took me some time to believe my story was actually one that people would actually want to read. I found a few passages tough to write because they were telling some of my own story of the battles I’ve faced in my life.

Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?

Laura Ingalls Wilder – Little House on the Prairie series.
Lucy M Montgomery’s – Anne of Green Gables series
Louisa May Alcott’s – Little Women series
Janette Oke, Christian Author
Francine Rivers
Pretty well any classical literature from Tolkien to Dickens, I have an extensive collection, poetry as well.

Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?

This might seem like a strange choice, but the little Waikato town of Matamata. I lived there for 13 years and it’s a fabulous little town with all the shops you need, plus plenty of cafes and easy travelling to three cities.

Q5. Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing a book?

There wasn’t for me, it just sort of happened. I carried around the story in my head for some time so once I started to write it down it happened rather quickly. The rest of the series just flowed after that as I looked forward to developing more characters and finding out how they would respond to real situations.

Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘Awakening Of The Heart’ book?

I started it around 11 years ago, got to chapter nine and just stopped. I shelved it until a couple of years ago when I showed it to a friend and she insisted I finish it. Then it happened very quickly over the space of a few months. Once I get the ideas I have to get them down on paper or they rattle around in my brain. Once I start writing it’s as if all the ideas just come tumbling out. It all comes together in a short time after that.

Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘Awakening Of The Heart’ book to buy?

Amazon.com, Kobo.com, Koorong.com, Bookdepository.com, Sparklemoonpublishing.net. It’s available in Paperback and E-book.

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Awakening Of The Heart’?

I actually had the name of the book before I even had the main idea. I just woke up with the idea one morning; I believe it was God-given.
My publisher’s brother Tony, was the designer for the cover. We met together for a brief time and talked about the vision. He really captured that and ran with it. He came up with a number of ideas and then we tweaked them until we had the final result, I was really happy with it, I wanted the right combination of love story and tragedy, some idea of the time period of the book without giving away too much. I really think what Tony did was excellent.

Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

It wasn’t easy. I’ve read so widely in this genre and watched plenty of tv and movies from the same period so it was hard to come up with some new ideas but once I started writing about Abigail the ideas all came tumbling out. I often wonder how a character would respond to this situation or that event so I write it down and it’s as though I’m living the situation with them. It’s often very emotional for me.

Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?

I’m reluctant to give away too much but I can tell you there are some very lovable characters, like the Murphy’s and Declan O’Leary the rather eccentric Lighthouse Keeper. I can tell you that Motherhood doesn’t look quite the way Abigail expected it to, there are plenty of ups and downs as she navigates tragedy and joy with the help of her God, her friends and her precious baby.

Book Is Available On Amazon

Awakening Of The Heart

Book: Mirabelle

Q1. Hello Ma’am, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.

My name is Sandi Wilson, and I hail from a small-town north of Auckland, New Zealand. As a teenager, I was encouraged to write by my English teacher, but I didn’t take this up until in my forties. I am a Mother of three, Bonus Mother of two, a devoted Wife and also the Publisher at SparkleMoon Publishing, who produces this and other books.

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘Mirabelle’ book?

Time. In the midst of writing, I had to put the book on hold for around six months, due to my elderly father’s illness. But once I came back to it, it flowed amazingly quickly. The other challenge was believing I had something worth publishing.

Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?

Of course, being a Christian, the Bible is first and foremost. However, most writings by Brock & Bodie Thoene have impacted me and given me a great love of history and fiction woven together.
William. P. Young, ‘The Shack’ – there was something within these pages that spoke to my soul so deeply, that I often refer back to it in challenging times.

Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?

Tutukaka, north of where we live. As a youngster, we spent many Christmas holidays up there, living in essentially a shack, with an outhouse and a small boat to use. Many days of happily playing in the sand and swimming in the ocean.

Q5. Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing a book?

I believe that traditionally there are key things to do, but that isn’t how I write. I usually have words swirling in my head, or I will dream of a character or storyline. I know there are some who will want to outlay their plotline/storylines, but for some of us, it really is very organic and flowing.

Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘Mirabelle’ book?

Without the break in between, it took almost a year.

Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘Mirabelle’ book to buy?

Our website: sparklemoonpublishing.net, amazon.com, fishpond.co.nz, koorong.com, waterstones.com, bookdepository.com and others.

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Mirabelle’?

The name Mirabelle came to me one morning when I was in my kitchen. It was that simple. The cover was something I got my brother Tony to come up with. He being a Creative Director, knows the market better than me, and with just three things I asked of him, I believe he delivered something outstanding.

Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

I don’t write for the readers sorry! I write what I believe God gives me, and leave it at that. Having said that, I am influenced by people I meet, places I go and research that I am guided to do.

Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?

There are many parts of my own story and journey, woven into the fabric of this journey. There are also very real incidents that did happen. This isn’t a journey of self-discovery as much as it is a journey into the heart of Father God.

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Book Is Available On Amazon

Mirabelle