Monday, February 8, 2010

Never Say Never by Lisa Wingate Interview & GIVEAWAY

Never Say Never

Paperback: 352 pgs
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: Feb. 1, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0764204920
Retail: $12.95



About the Book

Kai Miller floats through life like driftwood tossed by waves. She's never put down roots in any one place--and she doesn't plan to. But when a chaotic hurricane evacuation lands her in Daily, Texas, she begins to think twice about her wayfaring existence. And when she meets hometown-boy Kemp Eldridge, she can almost picture settling down in Daily--until she discovers he may be promised to someone else. Daily has always been a place of refuge for those the wind blows in, but for Kai, it looks like it will be just another place to leave behind. Then again, Daily always has a few surprises in store--especially when Aunt Donetta has cooked up a scheme.

Interview

1. How did you develop the initial story idea/plot line for this book?

Some book ideas you search for, and some just blow in on the wind. For the past several years, dating back to Hurricane Katrina, we in Central Texas have been the recipients of massive hurricane evacuations. These massive exoduses of people, pets, and belongings are frightening, frustrating, challenging, and at times oddly wonderful. When so many are on the road seeking shelter, the worst, but also the best qualities of humanity come to the surface. Hurricane evacuations truly provide times when we ask the question, "Am I my brother’s keeper?" In answering that question, we’ve enjoyed amazing moments of friendship and fellowship, family reunions, and chances to share a food and space with strangers from other parts of the country. We’ve traded stories and recipies, laughter and tears.

One thing we’ve learned about hurricanes, living here, is that the paths are never predictable. Storms waver, hesitate, speed up, slow down, and sometimes change course unexpectedly. Evacuations needs can change and develop quickly. What better way for the beauty shop girls to find their inner strength and to show Daily hospitality, than for their cruise plans to land them smack in the middle of a sudden and chaotic hurricane evacuation?


2. Almost every author puts a little of themselves into their stories—what did you put of yourself into this one? (personality traits, life events/jobs, settings, characters based on people you know, likes/dislikes, etc.)

There’s a bit of me in the setting, of course. I love Texas, in all its variety of cultures and landscapes, but, living in a small town, I have a particular affection for little bergs like Daily, where the coffee’s always hot, and a good slide of pecan pie can cure most ills. Having watched our little town mobilize to take in hurricane evacuees several times now, I’ve been reminded that sometimes the worst things that can happen bring out the best in people. Given the opportunity and faced with the need, regular people can rise to the occasion in amazing ways, as do the citizens of Daily in the book.

Some members of the Wingate family might also claim to recognize themselves among the citizens of Daily, Texas. I would offer the disclaimer that any resemblances are completely unintentional, but that would be a bald-faced lie. When you come from a family of great storytellers and colorful characters, there’s nothing to do but make use of what you’ve got.


3. Did you encounter any interesting challenges while writing/researching for this book? Please explain if so.

The most difficult part of working on Never Say Never was researching and reliving the devastation left behind on the Texas gulf coast last year after Hurricane Ike. While interviewing family members about their experiences during the evacuation and return, we shared laughter and quite a few tears. For those who have lived in southeast Texas all their lives, talking about familiar landmarks, heirlooms, and old family places that were washed away forever, knowing some things will never be the same, is both difficult and devastating. For those of us who have so many memories of family gatherings and vacations there, it’s hard to believe we’ll never visit the old places again.

4. Why is this book/story relevant today?

Despite our best-laid plans, we all experience storms in life—whether those storms be of a weather-related nature, or due to an illness, death, or in recent months, job loss and financial misfortune. When the parameters of life and our ability to control fate suddenly change, we’re confronted with our own helplessness and need to rely on other people and God. In a culture that values independence and self-sufficiency, it’s important to remember that we all have a common need and a common responsibility for each other and that without faith we really are alone in the storm.

About the Author

Lisa Wingate is a popular inspirational speaker, magazine columnist, and national bestselling author of several books, including Tending Roses, Talk of the Town, Drenched in Light, A Thousand Voices, and A Month of Summer. Her work was recently honored by the Americans for More Civility for promoting greater kindness and civility in American life. Lisa and her family live in central Texas.

Grandprize Drawing

Donetta and Imagene's Texas Road Trip Basket (approximate total value over $150)
Take a Texas road trip, without ever leaving home!
The Daily Texas Series by Lisa Wingate
  • Talk Of the Town
  • Word Gets Around
  • Never Say Never

The Blue Sky Hills Series by Lisa Wingate

  • A Month of Summer
  • The Summer Kitchen
  • Beyond Summer (a special advance copy not available in stores until July 2010)
Road Trip Snacks (Straight from Texas, of course!)

Wrap it all up with a fuzzy, fleecy Texas throw blanket for those cold nights on the road (or curled up with your books!)

For stories with Texas flavor and fun, come see us at http://www.lisawingate.com/

REQUIRED: Leave a comment to be entered. Giveaway ends Feb 19th, 5pm CST. I am ending this one early in the day so that I can send my winner in to Kathy Carlton Willis Communication who will choose a winner out of all the winners from each of the participating blogs. Must be at least 18 yrs old and a US resident. Void where prohibitted.

I'd like to thank KCWC for sponsoring this giveaway and for sending me a copy of Never Say Never.

37 comments:

The Book Club Network - TBCN said...

Hey Mimi;

Is this the place to enter the Lisa Wingate contest. It's a little confusing. BUt it's me!!

Please let me know if I need to go somewhere else to comment.

Liked your intervew and this book looks good. I would like to be entered into the drawing.

Thanks

Nora
Finding Hope Through Fiction
www.psalm516.blogspot.com
norafindinghope@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I would LOVE to read these :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!
theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com

Edna said...

please enter me into this contest. I am a bookaholic.


mamt2730(at)charter(dot)net

Merry said...

Terrific giveaway! Please add my name. Thanks!

worthy2bpraised[at]gmail[dot]com

diane said...

this is a great giveaway. books and more books a throw and more books great wolfbayou@yahoo.com

scottsgal said...

Thanks for the chance to enter and win!
msboatgal at aol.com

annaed_2 said...

Hey, what a great give-away! Thanks for the chance to enter!
annaed_2 at yahoo dot com

Free Pretty Things For You said...

thank you for finding me!! Awesome Blog you have!!
YOur new follower and fan
Keren
www.freeprettythingsforyou.com

Julie Lessman said...

A giveaway of Lisa Wingate books??? Are you kidding??? Count me in!

GREAT giveaway, Mimi!!

gsusatcharterdotnet

Megan said...

I would love to be entered in this giveaway. Thanks so much for the opportunity.


inspiredbyfiction[at]gmail[dot]com

Linda Bell said...

Thank you for having this giveaway. The books look like they would be a blessing to someone lucky enough to win them. Hope it's me! Blessings to all of us who read this blog!
Linda

lbell_pta@yahoo.com

Tiffany said...

Now following you from MBC

The Litrenta Family said...

Enter me please!
Holli dot dague at cuw dot edu

Sarah G said...

I would love to win this! :)

hawaiismn(at)gmail(dot)com

~ Noelle said...

oooohhhh.
Sign me up!
Would love to win!
Thanks!

Kimberly said...

Love the cover. Please enter me.
kimberlyj503(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks

Casey said...

Oh, please enter me! Thanks.:) I am going to go right now and join as a follower. :)

caseymh18(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

please count me in....thanks

karenk
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I would love, love, love to win! Thanks for the opportunity!
e.estt[at]yahoo[dot]com

Rachel C said...

Thanks for the chance. I always love to get new books!!
rach62803@yahoo.com

madwoman-doing-cartwheels said...

I'd love a chance to win this wonderful prize package! Thanks so much! A little confused here but that's just me. So the winner here gets to go to step two to try and win the gift basket? Count me in!

catmom1010 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

Awesome giveaway! Thanks for the chance.

Wendy
ebeandebe at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

What a wonderful prize. Count me in, please.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Emma said...

Great intervew.Please enter me in the giveaway. augustlily06(at)aim(dot)com.Thank you.

Anonymous said...

I would love to win this. thank you trishbazin@yahoo.com

Ann On and On... said...

Count me in too. I am also giving a book away. Isn't it fun! Thanks for giving me this chance to win....there's nothing like a good book!
amerskine@hotmail.com

Maude Lynn said...

What a fabulous giveaway!

hotmama0609 said...

im from texas and i'd love to win! cottncndydreams@aol.com

Bombtastic Belle said...

Sounds like some great reads! Born'n raised Texas girl, so I'm all abut reading about home.
eod_army_wife04(at)yahoo(dot)com

scoop said...

I'd love to win - I love to read and the book sounds great!
teachersarahcooper at gmail dot com

Barbara said...

I would love to read these books!!!! I went to Lisa's site, and read part of the first page of Never Say Never, and I loved it!!!

barbs562@gmail.com

Merrie L. said...

I'm dying for some good reads! (and a blanket and snacks-- woo hoo!)

lockwoodmerrie@yahoo.com

ossmcalc said...

This is a truly awesome giveaway that I would very much want to enter. I am from Oklahoma but my daughter now lives in Houston. I was raised on the Red River Rivalry and understand also the feel of a small town. I wish that I could take a Texas road trip right this minute to Houston and see my grandson who is a born Texan. We could really enjoy reading the books and the Texas prizes.

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

Wendy said...

What a great contest!
Thanks
wsmarple at gmail dot com

Cheryl said...

Please enter me in the drawing. My email address is shryackmom[@]charter[.]net

Julia M. Reffner said...

Would love to read Lisa Wingate. Please enter me.

julesreffner(at)gmail(dot)com

CindyWindy2003 said...

I would love to win this giveaway. I have read Tending Roses and really liked the book. I have wanted to read more of Lisa Wingate since. carawling(at)hotmail(dot)com

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Woven by Words by Mimi B is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.