Monday, May 4, 2015

Interview with Rebekah Morris



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Rebekah, welcome to Homeschool Authors! Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hi Sarah, Thanks for letting me come over here and chat. I am a homeschool graduate, a stay-at-home daughter, aunt to two nieces and four nephews, a writing teacher and an author. I live in southwest Missouri and am very much a “Show-Me” girl. When I’m not writing, teaching or playing with my nieces and nephews, I love reading (what author doesn’t love to read?) or listening to audio books while I knit or hand quilt. I also play the violin and piano, and dream of traveling. I’d much rather clean the house than cook and I’d rather write a new story than clean.

Everyone’s homeshooling experience is different. What do you think made yours unique?
We did a lot of hands on schooling. Drawing each of the 50 states on a square of sidewalk before our house or digging in the sandbox for “archeological finds and visiting state parks are a few of the things which stick out in my mind. And a lot of reading. If there were books on any subject, we read them. We read history, we read biographies, we read science, we read fiction. Since I am an auditory learner, listening to books on audio or my mom reading them left lasting impressions on my mind, and I can still quote parts of the stories we listened to over and over again. 
“For several days we had been tempest tossed. Six times had the night closed over a wild and terrific scene . . .”
“Three snowflakes fell. Exactly three. I counted them.”
“Please, sir, is this Plumfield?”

How did homeschooling prepare you to write?
Since I HATED writing when I was in school, I can’t say that it was the writing assignments. (I remember crying because I had to write three or four sentences!) One thing that I know had a huge impact on my writing and the style of my writing is the books I read or heard. My mom loves to read and for as long as I could remember she would read books to us for school. My brother, sister and I got to listen to books of all genres both at home and in the car when we traveled. Books from Little Women to Swiss Family Robinson to Pilgrim’s Progress to Justin Morgan had a Horse. I loved history because in that class we got to read more books. The more I read, the more I enjoyed it and the better it has enabled me to write my own stories now. I’ve taught students who never liked reading and they have a very hard time writing papers while other students who have read (or listened to) many books have an easier time.

What caused you to start writing?
It was around the time I graduated from high school that some friends and I began writing “pretend letters” to each other. Picking a time period in American history, we’d create families and write letters as though we lived during that time. It was a lot of fun and I began to realize just how exciting it could be to create and write down stories. That style of writing is prominent in my first book Home Fires of the Great War as there are a lot of letters between two cousins. My other books are a different stye, but I wouldn’t be writing them if it hadn’t been for those “pretend letters” of long ago.

What inspired Triple Creek Ranch - Unbroken?
Good question. It all started when I was coaching an online writing class for several young ladies. We all had to create three people and write character descriptions about them. And we were supposed to use names we’d never used before. Mine were Norman, Jenelle and Orlena. I later wrote a thousand words about them which became the start of my story. The other girls were interested in reading what happened and the story grew from there. It took me more than a year to really get into the story (I was finishing up my first four books), but then I really focused and the story grew. I was originally going to write one book, but it was growing too long and I decided to make it into two: Triple Creek Ranch - Unbroken and Triple Creek Ranch - Home at Last.

Would you give us a synopsis?
Sure. This is from the back of the first book.
Difficulties arise at Triple Creek Ranch when Orlena, Norman Mavrich’s spoiled, pampered younger sister comes to live with her brother and his wife. The move is much against Orlena’s wishes, and she doesn’t hesitate to let everyone know it. Time and again Mr. and Mrs. Mavrich are driven to their knees to find strength to face another day. Join the young ranch boss, Norman Mavrich, his sweet wife, Jenelle, and the rest of the members of Triple Creek Ranch as they strive to be examples of Christ to the unbroken newcomer.

Who will enjoy Triple Creek Ranch - Unbroken?
Though it might depend on what you have trained yourself to enjoy, I’d have to say around ages 11 and up. Some younger ones who are well read would enjoy it, and both boys and girls are begging for more. I had one father tell me he loved this series and wanted more books.
Do you plan to write more books?
Absolutely! There are already four books in the series and I have plans to start book five this year. If the ideas keep coming and my readers keep wanting more, there is no telling how many books will be in this series. (One reader told me I had to keep writing until Orlena was 21.)
I also have five other stand alone books that are not a part of the Triple Creek Ranch series and am writing another one.

Where can people connect with you online (social media, websites, blog)?
Anyone is welcome to stop by my blog: Rebekah’s Reading Room (www.rsreadingroom.blogspot.com) I love comments and you can contact me on the “contact author” form on the side bar.
I would tell you to connect with me on Facebook or twitter, but I’m not a social media bug and stay off those places. (Too many distractions would keep me from writing.)

Do you have any final thoughts?
When I was coaching the online writing class, each member had to agree to the “Scribbler Pledge” which reads: "I promise that with the help of the Lord Jesus Christ, I will never write anything of which I would be ashamed to let my family and friends or my Savior read.
I will strive to honor the Lord in my writings as well as in the comments and criticisms I leave for others about their work.
I will not be offended if the critiques my work receives is not all praise, but will receive criticism with a loving spirit.
I will remember that all my writing abilities come from my Heavenly Father and will strive to please Him above all else.

Let us strive as authors to write for the Glory of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Thank you for having me.

Rebekah is giving away a signed copy of Unbroken. Enter to win below

14 comments:

  1. I love this author! All of her books are amazing, but especially her newest book "Gift from the Storm". I read it in a day and a half. : ) Definitely sharing this interview with my friends. : )

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  2. Hey Rebekah,
    My sister has read this series and really likes it. :) How many books have you written?

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    1. I've written a total of 11 books if you could the picture book my best friend and I did together. (I just added the poems.) But the 5th Triple Creek Ranch book should be out sometime this summer, I'm guessing.

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  3. I just wanted to comment and say how much I enjoyed this interview, Rebekah! It's so cool seeing you on here. :-) I loved the Scribbler Pledge. It's so true! We need to write books that we wouldn't be embarrassed or ashamed if others read what we've written or the Lord Jesus Himself read our work. :-)

    ~Bekah

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  4. Do you have any early unpublished books? If so how many?

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    1. Clare, I have a bunch of short stories that have remained unpublished, but the only "books" which I have written and not published are the pretend letters I wrote with my friends.

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  5. A friend of my just loves your books and has told me about them! I always appreciate authors who write wholesome ranch or country style books! Looking forward to reading your books soon!

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  6. @ Rebekah: what are some of the ways you get inspired for writing if you are lacking inspiration? This is something I deal with often and would love to hear what you think!

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    1. Hi Holly,
      Hmm, inspiration . . . There are a few ways. One is pictures. I love looking a calendar pictures and imagining what is happening. (It's also a great way to practice writing descriptions.) Read good books. Listen to other people talk. You never know when some little thing might spark an idea. Sometimes, when I'm really stuck and can't think of a thing to write, I'll go play the piano for a while. I don't know how or why, but it always helps trigger my ideas again. :) Hope these ideas help.

      And I hope you get to enjoy my books soon.

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    2. Hi Rebekah!
      Thanks for the tips! I also love to look at calendar pictures, but never thought about writing out a description for them! Can't wait to try that!

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  7. Hi Rebekah!

    What is your favorite book that you have written? I can not wait to read one!

    ~Kelby

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    1. Hi Kelby,
      What a hard question! I don't know. I really like the 4th in the Triple Creek Ranch series, but my newest book "Gift from the Storm" is also one I really like. And I imagine I'm always going to love my first book "Home Fires of the Great War" because I lived with the characters for 6 years and they became close friends. So . . . I honestly couldn't pick a favorite. Sorry. :)

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