(Please leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of A Woman of Fortune)
Kellie,
Tell me about yourself:
Thank you for hosting me on your blog, Cindy.
For your followers who have never met me, I’m Kellie Coates Gilbert and I currently live in Dallas (the setting for A Woman of Fortune). My childhood years were spent on a sheep ranch near Sun Valley, Idaho. I married my skydive instructor who drove a green Chevy van (yup, my daddy was a little worried!) and we raised our family in Boise, Idaho and spent seven years in Portland, Oregon before moving to Texas. Turns out Dad had little to worry about. We’ve been married nearly thirty-five years. Now, we live near both of our adult sons and I spend every possible minute I can with an adorable three-year-old grandson who places his little dimpled hands on either side of my face and says, “I wub you Dammy!” (I know! Melts your heart, huh?)
What are some specific events that led to writing?
I’m a former legal investigator and trial paralegal who spent more than a little time juggling the roles of wife and mother while working outside the home. During those years I wrote magazine articles here and there. In 2008, my husband made a career move that brought us to Dallas allowing me the freedom to transition to full-time novelist. I still own a contract paralegal business and a legal marketing business too, so my waking hours are pretty full!
What are you working on now?
My first book, Mother of Pearl (Abingdon Press) released in 2012 to rave reader reviews.
I am currently working on a four-book contract with Baker Publishing/Revell. These contemporary women’s fiction stories are called the Texas Gold Collection, and are set in the four metro areas of Texas: Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, and Austin.
The first book to released in this collection is, A Woman of Fortune, which will be available on June 3 (description below.) Early next year, we’ll be releasing, Where Rivers Part, which features a woman maneuvering a corporate scandal that threatens to destroy her career. The third and fourth will release in late 2015 and late spring 2016.
Who is your intended audience and Why?
I spent a lot of time in courtrooms working on high profile cases, including the Jack-in-the-Box e-coli litigation in the mid-nineties and the largest cattle fraud case in the United States. People are often at their most vulnerable in these tense situations where much is at stake, and I gained a unique perspective on the human psyche. Early in my writing career, I recognized there could be value in telling stories about women facing relationship fractures, betrayal, loss, and what it looks like to exhibit strength and dignity in these journeys.
I write stories for women that focus on relationships and the deep places in life. People have many layers, and never more than in family dynamics and hard times. I’m intrigued with the coping mechanisms we employ to fill our empty places—that space inside of us designed to be inhabited by God. These are the stories of my heart.
What can your readers do to help you with your books and help make them successful?
One of the biggest highlights of my writing career so far has been opening and reading my very first email from a reader:
“Hi Kellie, I was in Barnes and Noble last Friday evening around 6:00 pm on the 7th. You signed your book for me, I just wanted to say your book was touching, gut wrenching and truly amazing at the same time and made me cry a lot. This book made me feel like I knew this family just by reading your book. You’re an amazing writer! It’s very hard for me to find the “Right” book to where once I start to read I can’t put it down. I finished it and just wanted to let you know I can’t wait to read the next one!”
Readers, you have no idea what your emails and reviews posted to Amazon and Goodreads mean to an author! Thank you for taking the time to give feedback when you read a novel. (and THANK YOU for telling others if you enjoy the story. Getting the word out is essential!)
How about a snippet from your book that will make us rush to buy it!
A Woman of Fortune (a Texas Gold novel)
Texas socialite Claire Massey is living the dream—designer clothes, luxury cars, stunning homes. But her Neiman Marcus lifestyle comes crashing down when her charming cattle broker husband is arrested for fraud. Suddenly she finds herself facing attorneys, a media frenzy, and a trail of broken hearts. Betrayed and humiliated, Claire must start over against incredible odds to save her family—and discover a life worth living.
What do you hope readers will take away from this book?
When readers face their own disappointments in life, I hope they’ll remember Claire Massey’s journey and hold fast to the belief that true treasure is found in the people we love and the gifts God provides.
Please share your website, blog, books, book signing, speaking, and teaching events.
I hope readers will visit my website at:
From there, they can follow links to my Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Goodreads accounts. My events and appearances are also available on the website. Most importantly, I’d love if readers would sign up for Readers Club so they are notified of future releases and promotions.
And now (drumroll here) I’d like to invite all your blog followers to our big online book launch party scheduled for 7:00 CST on June 3. Details will be on my website. You and your followers won’t want to miss out on the fun and all the door prizes, so scoot over there and get registered! I’ll be posting on Facebook all about the party too.
Again, thank you for introducing my books to your followers. I’ve enjoyed the time chatting about these stories of my heart. (see you guys at the party!)
As always, thanks for stopping by.
CMJ
Thank you for hosting me, Cindy. Can't wait to head down your way to meet you in person someday and maybe chat over coffee. People who love books are my favorite kind of people!
I am always happy to meet a new author and check out their books, this one looks great and how true that we fill so much of our lives with nonsense where God would and should be if only we would turn to him, I am trying a little more now that I am a senior and have more time to ponder. thanks for sharing on this blog, have had an invite to a FB party so maybe will see ya again.
Paula O(kyflo130@yahoo.com)
Enjoyed getting to know you and would love to have you visit!
Thank you for stopping by Paula!
Always good to meet others who enjoy reading.