Lydia Winters just came out with her brand new book, and I'm so excited to be a part of her book tour!
Here is the synopsis:
Infertility stinks. No one knows that better than Megan. After six years of insanity-inducing hormone drugs and desperate prayers, all she has to show for her efforts are enough negative pregnancy tests to fill a bassinet. All around her women are accidentally getting pregnant—like her star piano student—while Megan remains hopelessly barren. Megan’s never felt so alone. But she’s not the only one struggling.
Christina has just entered the world of infertility, made worse by the fact her husband isn’t ready to be a father. Their marriage, already hanging in the balance, is being torn apart.
Then there’s Kyra, the mother of a precocious three-year-old. She’s shocked to be struggling with secondary infertility. A baby is priceless, but sometimes Kyra feels like she’s being forced to choose which commandment to keep: stay out of debt, or multiply and replenish the earth.
When Megan and Christina are assigned as Kyra’s visiting teachers, they all realize that what you see isn’t necessarily what’s beneath the surface. Some secrets aren’t worth the cost of keeping them.
I seriously adore this cover!
I had the chance to interview Lydia. Here's what she had to say:
Where do you get your writing ideas?
A lot of my ideas come from music or really compelling images. I'll see a photo on pinterest and just have to write about that person or that setting. I'll hear a song and it'll spark something and snowball from there. I also get a lot of ideas from watching TV or hearing news stories. I used to get a million ideas a day, but having two three-year-olds running around has seriously limited my brain power! Now I have to make a conscious effort to think up new ideas. But once I focus my mind and really concentrate, the ideas come from almost anywhere.
Do you like to listen to music when you write?
If so, what's your favorite playlist? Yes I do! I usually set up a different playlist for every book I'm writing, based around the tone of that book. My go-to music is whatever is currently trending, a lot of Top 40 type songs. Miss Match was largely written with the song Say Something by Great Big World on repeat. Wishing on Baby Dust I actually wrote without music, but I edited it to emotion-filled, soulful music. My go-to song for that one was I Would Die for That by Kellie Coffey. Hostage Heart is being written to music with a more Celtic vibe.
What made you start writing?
I honestly don't remember a time when I wasn't writing! My mom said as a baby, there would be a room full of toys but I would find the one book and latch onto that. I have always loved stories. I remember in second grade I won Reflections and said "I'm going to be a writer when I grow up." In third grade, my teacher told me on one of my assignments that I was a really good storyteller, and that was that. I started writing full-on novels about that time and have never looked back. By the time I was fourteen I was attending conferences and submitting to publishers.
Who is your inspiration as a writer?
I have a lot! J.K. Rowling, Stephenie Meyer, Veronica Roth, John Green...whatever you think of their writing style or books, they all wrote stories that resonated with millions of people. The writers who sell millions of copies and have thier books become box office hits in theaters are the ones I want to be like. Not because they're well known or rich or anything like that, but because they wrote something that changed lives. I remember finishing Harry Potter and thinking "I want my stories to stay with people forever, just like this one." Anytime I read a book that makes me literally ache with emotion, one that I just can't forget and want to hold on to forever...that is my inspiration as a writer. The first book I ever read that really did that to me was Gone With the Wind in seventh grade. I had no idea how the story would end, and I literally cried for weeks because I was so devestated. But it was so beautiful at the same time, because I knew if the story had ended any other way it wouldn't have felt real.
What advice would you give those who want to write?
Figure out why you want to write, and then do it for that reason. The road to publication is sometimes rough and discouraging, and knowing why you're doing it helps keep you focused. Other than that, my best advice is find your tribe! There is nothing like finding those people who understand why you write and love it just as much as you do. Writers are some of the kindess, most giving people I know, and I would've given up a long time ago without their constant encouragement and reassurances.
What is your favorite part of being a writer?
I'm never bored! My mind is constantly buzzing and if I'm stuck in traffic or something, I just figure out a new story to tell. :)
What is the hardest part of being a writer?
Balancing writing with family life. I'm kind of a workaholic, and when I'm really excited about a story I forget to eat, forget to go to bed, forget everything. I also get really cranky when interrupted. It's hard to figure out how to be a great mom and wife, while still making time for my career. I'm constantly having to talk with my husband and reevaluate. Thank heavens I married one seriously supportive guy! He takes up a lot of the slack when I'm consumed with a project.
When you get frustrated, how do you get out of it and continue with writing?
I have to give myself thirty minutes or so to unwind. Usually I do another task that's job-related but not actually writing...answering emails, updating my website, reading the submissions for critique group that week. If I'm still frustrated I'll write anyway, and then I usually end up having to edit the anger out of the scene later. :)
If your book were made into a movie, who would play your characters?
Oh such a hard one! I have a pinterest board (
http://www.pinterest.com/lindzarmstrong/wishing-on-baby-dust/) with most of the character's photos (there are a few not there because I didn't find the photos on pinterest, and now I can't find where I found them to pin them). I'm really awful at paying attention to actors and actresses so I really have no idea who I would cast to play who!
What other projects do you have coming up?
I'm writing a companion novel to Wishing on Baby Dust, tentatively titled Love's Own Melody, that I'm hoping to have out late spring of this year. That story follows Sienna (a minor character in Wishing on Baby Dust) to college. I have a novelette coming out in an anthology in March. That story is a contemporary romance. And then I have another romance coming out the end of the year, and a medieval fantasy early next year. You can find specifics on all those projects on my website,
www.lydia-winters.com
Author Bio
Lydia Winters decided in first grade that she’d grow up to be three things—a mom, a teacher, and a writer. She’s lucky enough to have accomplished all three tasks. Lydia received her bachelor’s in history education from Utah Valley University. Soon after leaving her teaching career behind, she became a mother to adorable twin boys, who guarantee her life is never dull.
Lydia is married to the most supportive man in the world. He regularly takes care of the twins and cooks dinner so she can escape with her laptop to chase her dream of being a writer. When she has time for hobbies, Lydia is a reality TV junkie, loves to cross-stitch, and sometimes even finds time to play the piano. She eats way too much chocolate and wishes she liked things like running or yoga.
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/authorlindzeearmstrong
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/lindz_armstrong
Pinterest:
http://www.pinterest.com/lindzarmstrong/
Website:
www.lydia-winters.com
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10319067.Lydia_Winters
Amazon Author Page:
http://www.amazon.com/Lydia-Winters/e/B00R3KYWK4/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1420300219&sr=1-1
And don't forget to enter to win prizes!
