Guest author @Theresa Lynn Hall

Thanks for coming today, Theresa Lynn Hall! We have some questions for you right out of the corral gate. We also want to hear about your new release, Ransom in Rio.




What is your favorite thing about yourself? And your least favorite?

My favorite thing about myself is my ability to work hard. Luckily, I’m very good at multi-tasking. My least favorite thing is probably dealing with my insecurities.

Writing-wise, where do you want to be in 10 years?

I would love to be writing full-time and selling on proposals.  I think that’s when I’ll feel like I’ve “made it”.

Is there someone you’d like to make proud of you with your writing, and do you think you’ve done it?

I hope I’ve made my sons proud of me. They probably won’t ever read my books, but I think they are proud of the fact that I had a dream and I followed it. I think they admire that.

What do you do on those days when you’re pretty sure the muse has died and you’ll never again write a publishable word?

I’ve been there many times! First, I pray about it.  Then, I pick up a book and start reading other authors’ works. I give myself the time to take a deep breath and relax.  I start writing down ideas for stories and then just go from there.  Sometimes they’re good ideas, sometimes they’re not, but at lease it gets me back in the game.

What would you want to be if you weren’t a writer? 

Since I’m not a full-time author, I can say that I’m already doing it—I’m an elementary teacher. I feel blessed that I get to do two things that I love.

Do you have any particular fan-girl moments you’d like to share? We’d love to hear about them, especially if they were embarrassing and good for a laugh!

In 2005, I went to my first RWA conference. It was held in Reno, Nevada.  I’m a small town girl from Texas so this was big for me! I had just arrived at the hotel, checked in, and was headed up to my room.  The elevators doors opened up to a crowd and everyone was smiling at me! I smiled back and thought how friendly these writers are. I stepped inside and felt the palpable electricity flowing around that tiny space.  One by one, ladies began to exit the elevator until there were only three people left standing behind me.  I glanced back and realized Nora Roberts was standing behind me! I smiled and said hello and then choked back a giggle as I turned around.  She got off on the next floor and I turned to the only lady left on the elevator with me and said, “I should’ve known y’all weren’t smiling at me.” I never saw Ms. Roberts again, but I love telling that story.

Looking back, what do know now that you wish you’d known the first time you opened a file and typed “Chapter One”?

I started writing in 1998 when I was a stay-at-home mom to my first son. The internet was relatively new so networking was hard.  I wish I had known about critique partners, self-help books, and about the time it takes to learn the craft of writing. It takes a lot of practice and dedication.

What was a best day of your life? A worst? (Feel free to skip this one—I know it crosses the line into nosiness, but I’ve been fascinated by it ever since the first time I saw City Slickers.)

The best day of my life (I have 3, actually!) was the day I gave my life to Christ.  The other two days being the births of my sons.   My worse day…I actually don’t think I’ve had the worst day yet. I’m very blessed to say that.

Do you have a favorite quote? Feel like sharing it?

My favorite quote is actually a Bible verse.  It’s Philippians 4:13  “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  I live by those words.

My favorite question—well several. If you could have dinner with any woman, living or dead, who would it be? What would you talk about? Where would you go?

I would love to meet Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone with the Wind. We would talk about writing, of couse! I am in awe of her ability to write setting and characters. I’m not sure where we would go but it would probably involve eating some deep fried Southern food and drinking some sweet iced tea.  

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As a native Texan, Theresa Lynn Hall loves to write suspenseful stories that happen in small Texas towns with old fashioned Southern values. She’s an elementary teacher and mom to two boys—the oldest being in law enforcement, which comes in handy when she’s researching. When she’s not teaching kids or writing, she loves to cook, read a good suspense, and binge-watch episodes of Dateline. She is a member of RWA (Romance Writers of America) and ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). She actively promotes fellow Christian Fiction authors on her blog. She also loves to hear from readers who enjoy Christian Fiction and can be found at www.theresalynnhall.com and @theresalynnhall.
Personal links
www.facebook.com/theresalynnhall
www.instagram.com/theresalynnhall

Blurb:
Private Investigator, Braden McCoy wants nothing more than to finish out the week doing a little fishing from his boat. The ex-special ops vet enjoys his peaceful life and loves his new career. He’s learned to put his past behind him and enjoy his blessings. Until a mourning redhead walks into his office and changes his plans.
Lexi Ramos always knew her family was dysfunctional. Until the sudden death of her brother, she never knew exactly how much. Consumed with questions surrounding his accident, she seeks the help of a private investigator. What starts out as a murder investigation in Cozumel, quickly crosses borders and escalates into a race against time to save them both from Brazilian kidnappers, who somehow know more about her family secrets than she does. Lexi soon realizes that life comes with a price. 


Comments

  1. Thanks for joining us, Theresa. I loved your answers!

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  2. Welcome, Theresa! So glad you could join us (Love the Nora Roberts story!)!

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  3. Thank you so much for having me today, Liz! I really had fun answering all of the questions.

    Ava, I still giggle when I think about that story! Glad you enjoyed it, too! :)

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  4. Great interview, Theresa! I met Nora Roberts at my very first writers conference ever - in Shreveport LA....she did a hands on workshop and I got to read a couple of things to the class...she was a great teacher!! I love her work and hope to meet her again one day.

    Good luck and God's blessings
    PamT

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  5. Thanks for sharing. Love your Nora Roberts encounter.

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  6. Thanks for your honest answers. I love getting to know fellow authors and knowing they have some of the same hang-ups as I do. LOL I chuckled reading your story about Nora Roberts. Mine was with Susan Mae Warren. Oh boy!

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    1. Thank you for stopping by, Paula! I love reading author interviews, too. It helps to know we're not alone. I'm glad you got a giggle out of my story! LOL! I wonder just how many of us have those "fan-girl" moments to share? :)

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  7. Pam, I'd say your encounter was way better than mine! Wow! What an awesome experience to have at your first conference!

    Thanks for stopping by, Anna! :)

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  8. Thanks for the wonderful interview, ladies. It was fun meeting you Theresa, and getting to know you!

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  9. What a fun interview, you two! Theresa, I may have been on that very same elevator! I hope you get a lot of writing done this summer lol--school's out! Best of luck with Ransom in Rio! Have you been to Cozumel and Rio? What exciting places and plot.

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    1. Thank you for stopping by, Tanya! If you were on that elevator then you have to remember how BIG those people were smiling. Lol! I am actually doing a lot of writing since school has been out, but sadly I have not been to Rio or Cozumel. My husband went to Rio for a business trip and told me all about it. Maybe one day I'll get to go!

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  10. What a fun interview, Theresa! Loved the story about you and Nora Roberts in the elevator! Classic!

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    1. Hi Kelly! I'm so glad you enjoyed the interview. I had a feeling people would get a good laugh over it. :) Thank you for stopping by!

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  11. Fun interview, Theresa! I'm a huge JD Robb fan and I've been blessed to meet Nora a couple of times. Highlights for sure!!

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    1. Thank you for visiting, Carrie! I wish I could say I formally met her but all I could do was smile like the others and say hi. Lol!

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  12. Theresa, we were at the same conference! Too bad we didn't meet then. Love reading about Ransom In Rio!

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    1. Tanya, I wish we had met back then! Thank you for stopping in and commenting! Maybe we'll meet at a conference someday very soon!

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  13. Great interview, Theresa! So glad you could be with us today!

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    1. Thank you, Nan! I had such a great time. Thank you so much for having me.

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