Tuesday, August 17, 2010

At the Fair with Ruth Logan Herne

Today we're going to visit the fair with none other than author Ruth Logan Herne! For those of you who aren't familiar with this author, you can find her at her website or her blog. Also, one of my favorite places to chat with her is at the Seekerville blog. Ya'll are in for a treat today!

Amber: What is your favorite part about the fair?

Ruth: I love the animals. I can moo like a cow, cackle like a hen and crow like a rooster. I love to see who's cross-bred what, to check out new breeds to our area, to see the 4-H projects. I love the county fair for just that reason, the animals/farm essence of the whole thing. It's great. Totally bucolic and country. A few country rock guys that know how to play a mean guitar or fiddle just add to the fun!

Amber: Do you have a favorite fair food (ie: popcorn, cotton candy, curly fries)?

Ruth: Funnel cakes. Awesome. And Cheesy fries. A heart attack waiting to happen.

Amber: What kind of ride do you enjoy the most, and what do you think that says about your personality? (For example, if your favorite ride was the Ferris wheel it might say that you're daring and you like seeing the big picture from a higher perspective. This is just for fun, so anything goes!)

Ruth: The Merry go Round with my husband at the Fair. At an amusement park? The biggest, baddest, fastest roller coasters they make.

Not with hubby, he'd rather watch.

Not me!

Amber: Any fun fair memories you want to share?

Ruth: Kissing behind the chicken barn.

Amber: You're not going to elaborate on that? ;) Anyway, can you think of any movies or books set at a fair that you would recommend for us to check out?

Ruth: There's a great fair chapter in Understood Betsy one of my favorite childhood books. It's a great book about coming of age and growing up and seeing the world through changing eyes, and I just love it to pieces. It affected my outlook on life and the way I raised my kids. That's some book!

Amber: Could you tell us what books of yours are available? Maybe a short description of each would be nice... ;) And, of course, we would love to hear about any upcoming releases, as well!

Ruth: My debut novel, Winter's End, is still available on Amazon. It's an amazing book that's got a lot of people talking because it touches hearts in ways you don't often find in a romance novel. Marc and Kayla are two people who cannot be together for a number of reasons, and they know it. Still, they yearn. And with the gentle power of God's love and patience, the Holy Spirit is able to apply slaps upside the head at just enough velocity to bring two stubborn hearts and heads around.

Waiting Out the Storm is actually the FIRST novel in the series, but it was published second because my editors at Steeple Hill loved Winter's End and wanted to get it out there, in people's hands. What a lovely compliment that was. And if you love county fairs, farm folk, totally hot country vets, and farm girls that do not need a man to help tend the farm, but like to have one around anyway, then this is a book you'll cherish. Great story, great setting, the North Country of New York State, rugged and cold, bordering our Canadian friends. Long winters. Short summers.

Due out in two weeks is the second book in the series, Made to Order Family, a great story of forging a family out of the ashes, of rebuilding lives, hopes and dreams with enough humor (and a DOG) that you just want to sit down and have supper with this family. And the dog, of course! All of them are available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, Parable.com and Made to Order Family will be in WalMarts, big grocery stores, book stores, etc., anywhere where Harlequin books are sold.

And (bragging here!) all three books have been given the coveted 4 1/2 STAR review from Romantic Times Magazine. I'm so grateful for that, what a lovely pat on the back that is!And Winter's End was named a BEST BEACH READ by Woman's World magazine in July.

SWEET!!!

Amber: Congrats on all those accolades! I really need to read your books now! Thanks so much for joining us, Ruthy!

Now, readers, I sort of coerced Ruth into giving away a book today. ;) Here's how I asked: "And, if you wanted to...say...give away one of your books on my blog, I wouldn't hate you for it or nothin'. ;) Completely up to you!"

Yes, I was bad. BUT, Ruth went along with it anyway! Here's what she said in response: "Yes, give away a copy of Made to Order Family, okay? It's the new one about to come out. If you need anything else, let me know, kiddo." Isn't Ruth great? =)

So leave a comment for Ruth along with your e-mail address to enter for a chance to win Made to Order Family! Giveaway ends 11:59 PM West Coast time on Friday, August 20. ;) Winner will be announced on Saturday, August 21.

24 comments:

Julie Lessman said...

Whoo-hoo -- it's SO fun reading interviews with Ruthy, Amber, so thank you for putting her out there. Of course, we already know Ruth is pretty "out there" already, but it's nice to learn a little bit more about this crazy Seeker bud of mine.

And I would love to win Made to Order Family, so throw my name in the pot, okay? This isn't Seekerville, after all, so I can win this time, if I'm lucky ... :)

Hugs,
Julie

Bluerose said...

I would love to be entered. After seeing Ruth on Seekerville, I went to Wal-Mart(cause that's all we have) just to see if her new book had been put out a little early. Of course, it hadn't. :)
After Vince commented that it was the perfect romance, I knew I had to read it!

Kav said...

Understood Betsy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've never met anyone else who loved Understood Betsy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry, I'm a tad excited. I have to go home and read it again. It's been a looonnnngggg time. I have this lovely, old, library discard edition that smells like...well an old library discard. But I LOVE that smell. Very comforting. I'd wear perfume if they came out with that scent. :-)

And don't enter me in the draw because...ta da...I've ordered and am waiting for my copy of Mail to Order Family to arrive. It is taking forever this time. Sometimes mail from eharlequin arrives in a few days...other times it's a few weeks. Sigh. I'm trying to be patient and uncomplaining so I'm reading about a blind dog in the meantime, hoping the delivery is made before the weekend.

Amber Holcomb said...

Good morning, everyone! :)

JULIE: Ruthy is so fun, isn't she? ;) I was so excited that she agreed to come visit my blog!

And good luck in the drawing!

BLUEROSE: I'll need to check Walmart when I'm back at school in a couple of weeks (egads! how did that happen?). Vince was pretty convincing, wasn't he? If a guy calls this book the perfect romance, it HAS to be good! ;)

Good luck in the drawing!

KAV: I'm so happy Ruth was able to excite you! ;) I'm afraid I can't really share in you excitement in the same way, but it's fun to just observe. ;)

You should consider manufacturing your own perfume in that scent. I'm sure there are others out there who would love it! ;)

I know what you mean about waiting for deliveries, and I can be very impatient sometimes. I hope your copy comes soon, and I'll look forward to you review of it!

~Amber

Casey said...

Ruth, you aren't going to tell more about that chicken barn incident? Talk about jerking away a plate of tantalizing food!

Woo-hoo on those 4 1/2 stars!! That is something to behold. :)

It was fun to read this interview. :D

caseymh18(@)gmail(.)com

Michelle said...

Very enjoyable interview. ;) I've read so many good things about Ruth's books. It's very nice to meet you! Please enter me.

mchapman (at) windstream (dot) net

Ruth Logan Herne said...

Oh my stars, it is sooooo stinkin' nice to be here with you guys.

I'm grabbin' coffee, not iced although I WANT iced but I'm too lazy to climb over the dog fence to get ice.

Don't ask.

Amber, thanks so much for having me, chica, I LOVE the fair. Just love it. And funnel cakes.

Oh mylanta, I could live on funnel cakes. This, THIS is why I have to do Atkins a couple of times a year, because I have no will power. None.

Jules, hey, girlfriend, thanks for comin' over and checkin' out the county fair. I've got Darius Rucker (can you say HOT, HOT HOT???) ON Great American Country and watching two goofy preschoolers dance.

Adorable.

And Bluerose: whose name I love....Next week. It's supposed to be out 8/28 but it can go a few days either way depending on shelving time.

AND... I love this book. Just love it. It's a story near and dear to my heart, successfully overcoming addiction. That's a tough row to hoe for anyone.

And Brooks? The hero????

OH MY STARS.... BE STILL MY HEART. Brooks is such a perfect blend of tortured soul and straight-up army that you can't help but want to offer this man ANY HELP HE NEEDS TO FEEL BETTER ABOUT LIFE. LOVE...

Sigh... ;)

Ruth Logan Herne said...

Kav...

How could you not know of my love for Understood Betsy? Talk about an under-rated children's classic, that book (I first read it at nine years old) taught me how to be the mother I am.

Cousin Ann = Ruthy

I love that common sense approach, the farm, the warmth, imagining Betsy curled up with Aunt Abigail, all toasty warm.

And when she made applesauce the first time??? I felt enlightened, LOL!

Oh, yeah, I've got one of those old copies too, mine has red binding I think. I keep it on my 'keeper' shelf and I've given all my kids a new copy of the book. And I've given them out to friends, and to their kids. I've probably bought more copies from Amazon than anyone else, and that's okay!

Thank you for ordering Made to Order Family! Oh, gosh, I'm honored, and I mean that sincerely.

This is me, giggling in upstate NY.

Ruth Logan Herne said...

Casey, girlfriend, I married my high school sweetheart.

There were stolen kisses in lots of venues, LOL! And now with how busy life is, we still have to steal kisses. But every now and again we just plan a date night and ignore the world.

And yes, we still have a chicken barn. ;)

Kav said...

Okay, I just have to ask. What on earth is a funnel cake????

Ruth Logan Herne said...

Michelle, you're in sweet thing! And I'm glad you heard great things about my work, it shows those bribes are well worth the dollars and cents.

SWEET!!! ;)

Ariel Wilson said...

All your books sound great! Thanks for the giveaway! :)

pinkdaddysgirl[at]msn[dot]com

Ruth Logan Herne said...

Kav, are you kidding me????

Funnel cake.... Okay, go to this link:

http://tinyurl.com/2b39w49

That is funnel cake, a fun, light, egg-y type cake that is dripped/poured through a funnel into hot oil and fried, then served with sifted confectioners sugar or cinnamon sugar.

SO GOOD!!!!

Ruth Logan Herne said...

Ariel, thanks for the compliment, pink girl.

And daddy's girl????

Sweet! If you win, let me know what you think, okay? I'm at ruthy@ruthloganherne.com

I value opinions, and I want to get a good solid read on younger readers' opinions.

Kav said...

Well, I've been educated. Thank you! I have never seen a funnel cake and it didn't look anything like I thought it would. I was thinking something along the shape of a tornado. :-) Perhaps I'll have to frequent a county fair in the states to sample one.

Kav said...

Guess what???? My box from eharlequin came and I am about to crack open Made to Order Family.

Casey said...

Ahh, that is sweet Ruth. :) I love hearing love stories like that. How long have you been married now?

Amber Holcomb said...

CASEY: Glad you enjoyed the interview, and that was quite a teaser, wasn't it? ;) I'm so happy Ruthy decided to elaborate and gladden our hearts! :D

Thanks for stopping by, and good luck in the drawing!

MICHELLE: Happy to hear you liked the interview, and I've heard good things about Ruthy's work, too! I need to get my hands on one of her books soon! ;)

Good luck in the drawing!

RUTHY: It was my pleasure to host you here (and thank you for letting me convince you to give away a book, too!). ;)

Also, thanks for taking the time to respond to everyone. :D

ARIEL: Don't they, though? ;) How is it that I haven't read one yet?

Good luck in the drawing!

KAV: Happy reading!!! Can't wait to hear your thoughts on Made to Order Family! :)

~Amber

Ashley (Ibreath2read) said...

Mrs.Herne!! LOVE YOUR BOOK!!! Winter's End was fantastic and I can't wait to get my little southern hands Made to Order Family!! And you seem like the type of gal who likes an adrenaline rush.LOL Same here. The faster, the better, right?;)
I've never read Understood Betty, but I'll have to hunt for it at the library.

Amber!!! Thank you for another awesome interview, and please, please, PLEASE(!!!)enter me in the giveaway.
Love Y'all,
Ashley

Amanda Stanley said...

Wow! What a fun interview, Amber & Ruth!!

Ruth, your books sound WONDERFUL!! I've been wanting to get my hands on Winter's End for a while now, especially after reading an excerpt from it! This post confirms that I NEED to read it and SOON :D

And I would love to be entered for a chance to win Made to Order Family! Thank you so much for the opportunity, girls!!

Blessings to you both :)
Amanda Stanley
mrose608{at}gmail{dot}com

Amber Holcomb said...

Ashley,

Yet another thumbs-up on Ruthy's books...I really need to get my hands on one of her books, don't I? ;)

Thank you for stopping by, and good luck in the drawing!

~Amber

Amber Holcomb said...

Amanda,

I'm so glad you enjoyed the interview! I know what you mean about reading her books--she's been getting such glowing reviews and ratings! :)

Good luck in the drawing!

~Amber

Ashley (Ibreath2read) said...

You do, Amber. In fact, if you'd like, I can send you Ruth's frist book, Winter End, to you when I send out your sister's bookmark. Just shooot me en e-mail and let me know.
Love Ya,
Ashley

Amber Holcomb said...

Ashley,

You are such a dear! You know, I just might have to take you up on that... ;) You might see an e-mail heading your way sometime today!

Thank you so much!

~Amber