Welcome to Author Spotlight! Each week will feature a different author. We’ll get the scoop behind their writing life and dish a little. The authors will also be giving away a copy of their latest book. FUN.
The winner from the last Author Spotlight giveaway is BOBBE HADLEY! Please email info {at} suzannewoodsfisher {dot} com with your mailing address to claim your prize.
Welcome Deborah Raney, author of Home to Chicory Lane, to Author Spotlight! Leave a comment below for the chance to win a copy of Home to Chicory Lane!
What is the smartest writing advice you ever got?
If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a hundred times: Nothing can happen until you put your butt in the chair and keep it there until the book is finished!
What was your biggest break?
My first novel, A Vow to Cherish, was the inspiration for the acclaimed film of the same title from Billy Graham’s World Wide Pictures. I’m certain that event has everything to do with the fact that I was able to continue getting writing contracts despite unremarkable sales of my early novels.
My great adventure has been…
My truly great adventure in life has been being a wife, mommy, and now “Mimi.” My mom was a stay-at-home mom who made her job look like the most wonderful adventure the world had to offer, so that became my dream from early childhood—to have a big family, and stay home full-time with my children. There was a rather high cost to pay financially because we live in a world where it’s increasingly hard for families to make it on one income. But I will never regret one “thing” that we gave up in order for me to stay home. We lived in a small duplex and things were pretty cozy with four kids, but I got to live my dream, and I’m so grateful. I’m also grateful that God gave me this “next thing” to do—writing—or I think I would have been quite adrift when our kids started leaving home. I love writing, and teaching at conferences, and it’s a wonderful life I’ve been given, but those years our kids were growing up were the best adventure of all.
If I could go anywhere, it would be…
I have a deep longing to visit Europe and especially York, England, where my great-great-grandparents came from. My maternal grandfather, my mother, and my sister have all stood in the doorway of the house where my great-great-grandfather lived as a child before coming to America by boat. His future wife did the same, from England and they grew up to marry in the U.S. Our son lives in Berlin, and we so want to make our trip to Europe while he is still there to serve as a tour guide for us, but right now it’s simply not in the budget. But someday . . . Someday . . . .
Describe yourself in one word:
Delighted.
If your house were on fire, what one thing would you save?
That’s easy: my laptop. All my photos are there, all my correspondence with family and friends, all my important information, all my novels, pretty much my whole life is on this hunk of steel!
What drives you to succeed?
Deadlines and paychecks. Seriously.
Best Surprise:
This past spring I was missing our grown kids and grandkids so badly it was akin to a physical homesickness. My two daughters conspired and surprised me, driving almost 10 hours to arrive at our house at 1:30 in the morning on Mother’s Day weekend with three of our grandsons in tow. It was exactly the cure for what ailed me and I’ll never forget their thoughtfulness and sacrifices to make that happen!
Best Saturday Afternoon Read:
Anything by Robin Lee Hatcher or Susan Meissner. If I wasn’t her critique partner, Tamera Alexander is another one I’d choose to read on a weekend afternoon.
Best Forgotten Custom:
Not exactly forgotten, but sadly given up. My hubby and I used to buy peanut butter twists and glazed donuts from the local donut shop every Saturday morning without fail. Sadly, when the scales started inching up, we had to give up that custom.
Best Indulgence:
King-size Butterfingers!
Best Advice:
Don’t sweat the small stuff. And consider almost everything to be small stuff.
[Tweet “Don’t sweat the small stuff. And consider almost everything to be small stuff. @authordebraney”]
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Wow! I can’t believe your first novel was the inspirations for a movie – what an amazing thing! I visited your website as well and I love the fact that you hang pictures of your characters (celebrity photos) and places for your books. I’m really going to like thinking of those pictures as I read your book {especially the males ;)}. I’d love to win a copy.
Butterfingers are my favorite candy bar. Would love to win this books
What an honor that your novel, A Vow to Cherish, was the inspiration that was made into a film by Billy Graham’s World Wide Pictures. I need to mention too that I love your writing room. Oh my goodness, it is beautiful and cozy looking. A great place to read a great book too! Your novel, Home To Chicory Lane sounds so good! On my wish list!
Blessings!
Judy B
My grandchildren are 6 hours away, miss them.. I could go for a butterfinger about now! I’d love to win a copy 🙂
Love reading Deborah’s books.
You sound so down to earth & fun. I love Amish fiction books. Keep up the good work so I can keep reading. Thank you for this opportunity!
Thank you.to you.and.all the authors that give us a.chance.to win books.
would love to win.
I loved A Vow to Cherish! I also like Butterfinger candy bars. 🙂
Sounds like a great life (other than like me being too far from grandchildren) and another great author to become familiar with ( and yes…having taught Kindergarten for 42 years, I know better than to end a sentence with a preposition…:)
I hope it isn’t long before she get to stand in the doorway of her great-great-grandfather’s house 🙂 I appreciate the chance to maybe win a copy of Home to Chicory Lane.
Thank you for all the wonderful comments! And it sounds like maybe I should have offered a giveaway of BUTTERFINGER CANDY BARS instead of a book! LOL! Glad to know I have good taste! All the best!
I not only love your books, but also following you on FB. I feel like I know you and you are one of my friends. With me it is a toss up between Butterfingers or Baby Ruths. Hope I win your book.
I have your book A Vow To Cherish and loved it. It is an honor that it was an inspiration for a Billy Graham movie. I love the pictures you post of your house and love the fact that you furnish it mostly from yard sales. It is beautiful. I would love to win your new book, to add to my collection of your other books that I have. I hope to read many more in the future.
I remember when I first came to the Bushton/Ellsworth area and met you and others at a bible study. And as you moved on and became an accomplished novelist, I can say….I knew you when! 🙂 I enjoy your books!
Tanya, that Bible study was such a blessing, and built such a strong foundation of faith for Ken and me. We have wonderful memories of that time of life, and wish we saw everyone from those days more often. I LOVE that Facebook has connected us again! 🙂
Deborah is a new author to me and I would love to read this book.
this sounds like a good book I would sure like to win it
Would love to win a copy of this book!
Butterfingers are one of my favorites too! Thank you for the interview. Love reading about authors and their books.
Deborah Raney is another author on my Favorites List at an indy. book store. My list keeps growing as my favorite authors continue to increase. Oh well, rather read than go to a movie, watch tv or go shopping. When I run out of bookshelf space, I weed out a few but none by my favorite authors. Then I take at least one-two sack full books to a local assisted living place. They have a small library & always say bring us good books.
Thanks to both of you for great books. I’m retired and partially disabled so I read and the ones I really enjoy I leave reviews for.
May God bless both of you & especially in the idea department of writing truly great inspirational books.
Love to read
Have followed Deb for some time and am seriously looking forward to this new book! Since both of my kids are married and now expecting their firsts, your special surprise blessed my heart. 🙂 And I, too, have had the privilege of being a stay-at-home mom as well as homeschooling my 2 K-12. The sacrifices were worth the benefits! Thanks for the giveaway!
Deb–Thank you very, very much for taking time for this interview. I loved learning more about you! Have been to a number of terrific workshops you’ve given at ACFW. I always feel like you’re someone I’d like to be friends with. Keep writing! You’re an inspiration for many reasons. Warmly, Suzanne
I’ve read many of Deb’s books and enjoyed them. Though I do like Butterfingers, I’d pick one of her books over the candy anytime! Thanks for the chance to win Home to Chicory Lane. This looks like another great series.
I have not read any of Deb’s books, so it would be awesome to win one…
Thank you Suzanne for the interview with Deborah Raney. I like her quote: Don’t sweat the small stuff, too. It was nice learning about her family and how her daughters’ surprised her for Mother’s Day. I would love the chance to win her new book. Thanks again for the giveaway. I look forward to this blog every week and getting to know more about my favorite authors. Blessings!
Vow to Cherish was one of the most powerful books I have ever read and I read lots of books every year. I would love to read her newest book.
Butterfingers are my favorite candy bar also. I haven’t read any of your books, but it sounds like a good one and I would love to win it. Blessings to you and have a great day! 🙂
The movie, A Vow to Cherish, was shown at our church one evening and then was replayed at a Sunday morning service so that more people could view it. Our pastor then thought that it was a message everyone needed to hear/see. Really it is a wonderful book and movie. I can’t believe it was your first effort.
I rejoice with you that you could live your dream. That is an awesome thing and certainly not something everyone is granted. But God is good and He knows what is best for each of us. May God continue to bless you as you write those wonderful stories He has given you the ability to write. I’m thankful for the opportunity to win your book.
This sounds like a good book. Thank you for the chance to win a copy.
How cool is that! Having your first book published made into a movie. Would love a chance to win “Home to Chicory Lane”. Thank you. I enjoyed reading the spotlight and getting to know you better. I too, live by the motto “Don’t sweat the small stuff”. And I like Robin Lee Hatcher as well.
I agree with your philosophy that most of our problems are very small when we look at world events. I also agree that
Butterfingers are the best and the bigger the better! Thanks for a great interview and giveaway.
Blessings to both of you,
Connie
I love her attitude to life. I missed being a stay at home mom, but I am able to make up some of it with my grandchildren. This author sounds interesting. I would love to read her book.
Now Home to Chicory Lane is on my to-be-read list! Great post…I love Author Spotlight’s to help get better acquainted with authors. Would love to win, thanks for the opportunity! Linda
Would love to win! Butterfinger now has cups like Reese’s that are ahh-may-zing!!
This book sounds wonderful! A must have and must read.
I would love to visit an Amish woodworking shop, if I would be able too!
Would love to win one of her books. Miss my oldest son also.
I must admit I have never read any of your books. 🙁 But I’m hoping that will change… Especially if I win your book!
Hi Deborah, never knew this about your first novel/and the movie done. you sure started with a bang, was the second one hard to do with that first one so big? Like reading your stories and interesting to read the interview today.
thanks for sharing your book.
I didn’t know enough at the time to make the second one “hard to do,” Pauline. I’m thankful for that. Ignorance IS bliss sometimes. 🙂 I’ve never had a book made into a movie since that first one…came close a few times, but I’m grateful it happened that once. World Wide Pictures did a wonderful job and the movie still plays on Christian cable channels and in churches.
I would love to win a copy of this book.
Thanks again, everyone for all the comments. Great to meet so many fellow Butterfinger lovers! And I appreciate those of you who’ve read my books, or hope to try one since reading the interview. Blessings on the rest of hour week.
Love reading Deborah’s books. Thanks for the giveaway.
Wow, cant wait on reading this one!
Those are some great afternoon reads, some of my favorite authors!
Deborah sounds like an awesome lady, I enjoyed the interview!
Thanks for sharing with us Deborah. Would love to read your books. Of course, I love Butterfingers too!
The book looks really good!
Would love to win a copy of Home to Chicory Lane, looks very interesting!!I have also tried to live by the saying that it’s all small stuff! God Bless You and keep writing!!!