 |
| Connect with Beth! blog |
Today, I am ecstatic to hang out with the wise, lovely, talented author, Beth Vogt. I read her debut novel, Wish You Were Here and I gotta say, it was so much fun to read. I laughed out loud, I swooned, and I’m pretty sure I laughed and swooned some more!
Beth K. Vogt is a
non-fiction author and editor who said she’d never write fiction. She’s the
wife of an Air Force family physician (now in solo practice) who said she’d
never marry a doctor—or anyone in the military. She’s a mom of four who said
she’d never have kids. She’s discovered that God’s best often waits behind the
doors marked “Never.” Her inspirational contemporary romance novel, Wish You Were Here, debuted May 2012 (Howard
Books.) Her second novel, Catch a Falling Star,
releases May 2013. Beth is an established magazine writer and former editor of Connections, the leadership magazine for MOPS
International.
non-fiction author and editor who said she’d never write fiction. She’s the
wife of an Air Force family physician (now in solo practice) who said she’d
never marry a doctor—or anyone in the military. She’s a mom of four who said
she’d never have kids. She’s discovered that God’s best often waits behind the
doors marked “Never.” Her inspirational contemporary romance novel, Wish You Were Here, debuted May 2012 (Howard
Books.) Her second novel, Catch a Falling Star,
releases May 2013. Beth is an established magazine writer and former editor of Connections, the leadership magazine for MOPS
International.
JP: You said
you’d never write fiction. The world is a better place because you do! Tell us
why you chose romance?
you’d never write fiction. The world is a better place because you do! Tell us
why you chose romance?
BV: God turned a
season of burnout into a bend in the writing road and I found myself on the
“Dark Side” writing a novel. I’ve always loved to read romances – contemporary,
historical, even some suspense – so it was a natural choice for me to try
writing one.
season of burnout into a bend in the writing road and I found myself on the
“Dark Side” writing a novel. I’ve always loved to read romances – contemporary,
historical, even some suspense – so it was a natural choice for me to try
writing one.
JP: In your debut
novel, one of your male characters, Daniel, has spent years sending your
heroine, Allison, postcards. Are you a postcard fan? Do you collect them? How
did this idea come to you? It was one of my favorite things about the book,
among so many others!
novel, one of your male characters, Daniel, has spent years sending your
heroine, Allison, postcards. Are you a postcard fan? Do you collect them? How
did this idea come to you? It was one of my favorite things about the book,
among so many others!
BV:The title Wish You Were Here came first – after several
misfires – and then the idea for the postcards came after that. It just seemed
natural that Daniel would send Allison postcards – glimpses of all his travels.
Most of the postcards are based on places that my family has lived or visited
through the years.
misfires – and then the idea for the postcards came after that. It just seemed
natural that Daniel would send Allison postcards – glimpses of all his travels.
Most of the postcards are based on places that my family has lived or visited
through the years.
JP: Can you share
with us one of your favorite lines from this novel and tell us why?
with us one of your favorite lines from this novel and tell us why?
BV:This is some
dialogue between Seth, Allison’s ex-fiancé, and her stepfather, Will:
dialogue between Seth, Allison’s ex-fiancé, and her stepfather, Will:
“I’m sorry about how
things ended between you and Allison. But that doesn’t give you the right to
get physical with my daughter. Do I make myself clear?
things ended between you and Allison. But that doesn’t give you the right to
get physical with my daughter. Do I make myself clear?
Seth closed his
eyes, searching for a way to make amends. “Look, Mr. Denman, Allison and I had
a bit of a disagreement before Christmas. I assure you that I didn’t hurt—”
eyes, searching for a way to make amends. “Look, Mr. Denman, Allison and I had
a bit of a disagreement before Christmas. I assure you that I didn’t hurt—”
“The only thing you
can say at this time is ‘Yes, sir.’”
can say at this time is ‘Yes, sir.’”
Seth gritted his
teeth. “Yes, sir.”
teeth. “Yes, sir.”
When I wrote this
scene I imagined what my husband would say if he were talking to Seth – I think
I even asked him. Will represents safety for Allison – and he comes through for
her again. I believe fathers can (should) play a crucial role in their daughter’s
life – and one facet of that role is to protect them.
scene I imagined what my husband would say if he were talking to Seth – I think
I even asked him. Will represents safety for Allison – and he comes through for
her again. I believe fathers can (should) play a crucial role in their daughter’s
life – and one facet of that role is to protect them.
JP: I remember grinning at this snippet! Daniel is a
big-time outdoorsman. What about you? Indoor girl or Outdoor? Have you ever
done any of the things he did in the book?
big-time outdoorsman. What about you? Indoor girl or Outdoor? Have you ever
done any of the things he did in the book?
BV: I’m an indoor
girl who married an Eagle Scout-outdoor guy. I love to watch my husband camp.
My husband and I enjoy snowshoeing and we’ve gone snowmobiling. The scene where
Daniel breaks his knee cap? That one is taken from real life. Several summers ago,
my husband broke his knee while we were hiking. After our daughters headed down
the mountain to alert the rescue team, he splinted his leg with two tree
branches, bandanas and a rolled up T-shirt and with the help of two guys,
started hiking down the mountain. We met the rescue team halfway down.
girl who married an Eagle Scout-outdoor guy. I love to watch my husband camp.
My husband and I enjoy snowshoeing and we’ve gone snowmobiling. The scene where
Daniel breaks his knee cap? That one is taken from real life. Several summers ago,
my husband broke his knee while we were hiking. After our daughters headed down
the mountain to alert the rescue team, he splinted his leg with two tree
branches, bandanas and a rolled up T-shirt and with the help of two guys,
started hiking down the mountain. We met the rescue team halfway down.
JP: Oh, wow! You
married the real MacGyver! So tell us, did you try on wedding dresses for fun,
you know as inspiration for the novel!? What kind of research, hands-on/off,
did you do?
married the real MacGyver! So tell us, did you try on wedding dresses for fun,
you know as inspiration for the novel!? What kind of research, hands-on/off,
did you do?
BV:The only one
trying on wedding dresses was my oldest daughter, who got married in 2011. I
did visit a llama ranch to get up close and personal with llamas. I even shared
a few kisses with some of them.
trying on wedding dresses was my oldest daughter, who got married in 2011. I
did visit a llama ranch to get up close and personal with llamas. I even shared
a few kisses with some of them.
JP: Um…I’ve done lots for research, never
smooched a llama! Okay, now a couple of fun questions before you have to go! If
you could be a character in any book you’ve read, who would you choose and why?
smooched a llama! Okay, now a couple of fun questions before you have to go! If
you could be a character in any book you’ve read, who would you choose and why?
BV: Oh. My. Word.
That’s a tough one. I’ll go with Anne of Anne
of Green Gables. I love that girl’s spunk and intelligence and
imagination and sense of adventure!
That’s a tough one. I’ll go with Anne of Anne
of Green Gables. I love that girl’s spunk and intelligence and
imagination and sense of adventure!
JP: Fill in the
blank: If I were out for the day, I’d be lost without __________ and
__________, but I could make it without __________________.
blank: If I were out for the day, I’d be lost without __________ and
__________, but I could make it without __________________.
BV: If I were out for the day, I’d be lost
without my sunglasses and my iPhone, but I could make it without breakfast or
lunch..
without my sunglasses and my iPhone, but I could make it without breakfast or
lunch..
JP: I could make it,
but I wouldn’t want to! Before you go, what would you like to ask the readers
today? They love to comment!
but I wouldn’t want to! Before you go, what would you like to ask the readers
today? They love to comment!
BV: I’ll offer them
two questions: If you could be a character in any book you’ve read, who would
you choose and why? And here’s an easier one: What 2 things do you need to make
it through the day?
two questions: If you could be a character in any book you’ve read, who would
you choose and why? And here’s an easier one: What 2 things do you need to make
it through the day?
Good questions!
Thanks, Beth, for hanging out today!
Thanks, Beth, for hanging out today!
Here’s a sneak peek of Wish You Were Here
 |
| Purchase Wish You Were Here HERE! |
Kissing the wrong
guy days before her scheduled
wedding leads Allison to become a runaway bride. But can it also lead to
happily ever after?
guy days before her scheduled
wedding leads Allison to become a runaway bride. But can it also lead to
happily ever after?
Allison
Denman is supposed to get married in five days, but everything is all wrong.
The huge wedding. The frothy dress. And the groom.
Denman is supposed to get married in five days, but everything is all wrong.
The huge wedding. The frothy dress. And the groom.
Still,
kissing the groom’s brother, Daniel, in an unguarded moment is decidedly not the right thing to do. How could she
have made such a mistake? It seems Allison’s life is nothing but mistakes at
this point. Daniel’s adventures—chronicled through a collection of
postcards—have always appealed to Allison’s well-hidden desire for something
more. But how can betraying her fiancé’s trust lead to a true happily ever
after?
kissing the groom’s brother, Daniel, in an unguarded moment is decidedly not the right thing to do. How could she
have made such a mistake? It seems Allison’s life is nothing but mistakes at
this point. Daniel’s adventures—chronicled through a collection of
postcards—have always appealed to Allison’s well-hidden desire for something
more. But how can betraying her fiancé’s trust lead to a true happily ever
after?
Can
Allison find her way out of this mess? Recognizing she doesn’t have all the
answers won’t be easy because she’s used to being in control. To find her way
again, she will have to believe that God has a plan for her—one outside her
carefully defined comfort zone—and find the strength to let Him lead.
Allison find her way out of this mess? Recognizing she doesn’t have all the
answers won’t be easy because she’s used to being in control. To find her way
again, she will have to believe that God has a plan for her—one outside her
carefully defined comfort zone—and find the strength to let Him lead.
Great, Beth. Jessica asked you some terrific questions. I'd probably be Dorothy in Girl of the Limberlost (a classic); in fact one friend has told me so. After covering essential bases in morning devotions, Sunglasses are essential on bright days and Starbucks dark roast if available.
Yay, Beth and WYWH…one of my best reads of 2012…and ever. 🙂
If I could be any girl in any book, I'd have to pick Kat in Taming Rafe…because I'd end up with Rafe. Hehehe…
Two things to make it through the day: caffeine in whatever form available and yeah, like Beth, probably my iPhone. 🙂
I love Beth Vogt! 🙂 So fun to see her here today.
I would choose Betsy Ray in Maud Hart Lovelace's Betsy-Tacy books. These are my favortite books of all time – they are set in Minnesota at the Turn of the Century and Betsy Ray is a clever young woman from a beautiful family who loves to write. She comes of age in one of the greatest generations in our country's history – and does it with her friends by her side.
I need patience and energy to make it through the day! 🙂
Good morning to all you early risers! I'm heading out on my "wake up" walk with my husband. Enjoying the conversation here.
Dee: You would make an excellent Dorothy, but yes, a Starbucks would need to be added to the story!
Melissa: Love your answer — but what will Tim Tebow think of you choosing Rafe over him?
Gabrielle: I haven't read the Betsy Ray series but she sounds like good fit for you! And patience and energy — yeah, those should be on my need-it-to-make-it-through-the-day list too!
Oh dear, I forgot about Tim!! Considering Rafe is pretend and Tim is real, I'll have to retract my answer. hehehe…
How fun! This book is on my TBR pile for sure!!
Glad to hear that you want to read WYWH, Jennifer! Funny thing from the author's perspective: I read and re-read and re-read WYWH dozens of times … and there were still times I thought, "Huh. I forgot about that scene."
I never forgot the llamas though.
;o)
Ok..ay. I would be lost without my special blend of hazelnut and regular grind coffee and like Beth, I have to have my iPhone–wouldn't feel dressed without it. lol.
I would love to be PJ Sugar in Susie's Nothing But Trouble series. Dunno why, just that she seems to have a lot of fun.
I love PJ too, Pat.
I love to re-read that series!
Yay, Beth! You rock. (And you too, Jess!)
I think I'd be Elizabeth Bennett from Pride & Prejudice. So much intelligence and witty comebacks (and you know, she figures out the whole prejudice thing eventually).
And yeah, couldn't live without my iPhone and chapstick. If my lips are chapped, I'm not a happy camper. (If I was a cheater, I'd also add water bottle to the list, since I live in AZ and carry water with my in my purse everywhere I go…)
Lindsay,
You make me think of my friend, Cheryl, who would routinely say, "Moisture, need moisture," and then grab her lipstick and apply.
🙂
Beth rocks my world. Love how she calls it the dark side. Jessica, that means you and I have been on the dark side for a long time. Mwaaaaaa. 😀
~ Wendy
If I'd known you and Jess were on the Dark Side, I'd have crossed over sooner, Wendy!
Beth, how fun that you are "an indoor girl who married a boy scout." Awesome! The whole smooching llamas thing just leaves me giggling each time. Congratulations on your successful debut launch! And thanks, Jess, for giving us such a great insight into this wonderful author. 🙂
Yeah, I had a lot to learn about outdoors stuff, Donna.
And llamas make me giggle too.
Great interview! I've heard wonderful things about this story – I hope to get a chance to read it soon! Love the postcard concept.
I'm an outdoor girl, for sure, but I still like my indoor amenities. Probably couldn't make it through the day without my iPad!
Hi, Cindy!
I had fun writing those postcards.
And while I'm not an iPad kind of girl, I do like my laptop.
Fun interview!
Thanks, Julie. Jess asks fun questions!
Fun interview! I just ordered and received your book last week. I can't wait to read it, Beth.
Anne of Green Gables…I loved her too!
Loree: Hope you enjoy WYWH — Llamas ahead!
;o)
Great interview, Jessica! And Beth, happy to learn more about you and what inspired you to write Wish You Were Here! Congratulations again on your novel. I didn't know your hubby was also military 🙂
Hi, Brandi — yes, my husband was in the Air Force. We had a lot of fun as a military family, including 2 years living in Turkey.
I've seen this book around and look forward to reading it–especially after listening to you today! Great to meet you, Beth, and congrats on your first fiction novel – never say never, right?:)
And I'll answer the second question–coffee and a quiet morning:)
Have a great Monday ladies!
Nice to meet you too, Susan. And I've learned to never say never … well, there I go again!
I like quiet mornings too — with tea.
:O)
Oooo, I love this interview!!!! And I just got Beth's book in the mail yesterday!!!!! Wooohoooo! I can't wait to dive in and swoon too!
Great post–I think I've told Beth this before, but I love the NEVER SAY NEVER bio! It's so true. If only I could say "I'll never get a book published" (not in a fit of self-doubting, mind you) and it would have the opposite effect!
And I love MacGyver men! So much so, I wanted to name my son MacGyver. To which my hubby said a definite NO.
OOOH, and fave character in a book!? Well, I do love Jo March from Little Women. I also love Bathsheba from Far from the Madding Crowd (I'm classic-obsessed). I also like the toughness and brilliance of Smilla from Smilla's Sense of Snow (but she's no godly role-model, that's for sure). I just don't know! I like the MC in The Mill on the Floss-think her name is Molly?
If I could be a character in a book, it would be Anne from Anne of Green Gables! How funny! I read those books when I was young and one of the few things I have from my late grandmother is her copy.
As for making it through the day – definitely my phone, and, well, I can't think of anything else! My car, maybe?
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More here on that Topic: jessicarpatch.com/2012/06/postcards-smooching-llamas-and-beth-k/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More on to that Topic: jessicarpatch.com/2012/06/postcards-smooching-llamas-and-beth-k/ […]