Today, I’m pleased to welcome inspirational author, Elaine Stock for an interview. She’s also graciously offered to give away an e-book copy of her latest novel: Her Good Girl. So stick around until the end to enter the contest!

Thanks for joining us, Elaine. Could you tell us about your writing journey, how you came to be a published author?

Thanks, Cynthia, for having me back on your lovely blog.
I’ve been writing ever since I can remember. While other children played with toys… then got involved in the dating scene as a teen, I often took pen to paper and created stories for my own entertainment. In junior high I was very influenced by movies and wanted to be the next Neil Simon playwright (guess that dates me some!). In high school my story interests turned toward suspense and then in college to writing romance.

Two life happenings occurred that turned my dabbling into serious desire for publication: first, the passing of my talented and creative mother (who never made much of her gifts) a little after her 46th birthday and second, the tragic and infamous day of 9-11. Unable to work on my writing every day back then, it took me several more years to not only hone my craft (I’m still doing so… and believe all authors perpetually do so!) but to hone my perseverance. It wasn’t until I turned my writing over to God, asking Him to help me do what He wants me to do, that I saw my first publication contract. That was for the novel Always With You, which I was blessed to have win the 2017 Christian Small Publisher Association Book of the Year Award in general fiction.

What a wonderful honor! When we give God control, He does marvelous things! What is your favorite part of being a writer?

The whole package! I enjoy the creative side, especially seeing the “story magic” happen when the characters and plot start dictating what should occur (I’m a total seat-of-the-pants writer). I also have fun editing, and editing, and did I say editing? It’s like solving a puzzle that doesn’t fit well until the right pieces fall into the right place. I also enjoy the promotion part. Though it’s too time-consuming, I feel as if I don’t have a choice in promotion.

I can identify! What is the most difficult part of writing for you?

Honestly, not comparing myself to others’ journeys. Why did Author Annie A get picked up by Big-Name Publishing House? Why did Author Ben B see his first novel at the age of 20 and never has looked back since? Why does Author Constance C not work a day job and manages to produce 5 books a year?

This past year I’ve been narrowing—or widening, depending on how you want to interpret it—my focus on God’s plans for me while trying to tune out the rest of the world when it comes to my writing. Not easy. But, I’m doing it. I’m choosing to trust in Him.

That’s so hard, but so necessary. Your latest novel, Her Good Girl, deals with the issue of mental health. Why did you choose to write about this topic?

Objectively, I love how the human mind works. I was a psych-sociology major in college and people and their behaviors always fascinate me. Plot wise, I don’t think I can run out of premises when wrapping my stories around how people act and treat other.

Subjectively, my own mother was a very mentally ill woman, although not diagnosed properly until I was 18. However, although there’s only a thread—loosely, very loosely—about this in Her Good Girl, the story’s focus wraps around MSP, Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy. This is often a tragic emotional disturbance when (usually) a mother craves so much attention by the medical field that she induces illnesses onto her child to achieve deliberate attention. I first became aware of this syndrome when I had chanced picking up a memoir of a survivor and reading the account. Then, through the years, I followed true cases in the newspapers and other media. My “author theme” seems to be growing into how God’s love and power can help families heal and stay united, and I hope I succeeded in Her Good Girl. The suspense angle of the novel comes into play with the elements of a near-perfect stranger to the family taking matters into his own hands, and also, of the dad engaging in caving exploration.

Sounds intriguing. How did you incorporate faith into the novel?

I try my best not to push faith on my reader, but instead have it come naturally as part of the story. In Her Good Girl a few of the characters have abandoned their once strong faith, although the character of the grandmother is resolute in her beliefs. Yet, it is the amazing grace of His love that definitely comes into play in the novel, though I don’t want to say more because it would give it away.

What can we expect to see from you in future writing endeavors?

I’m itching to write this time-slip novel that is based upon the mysteries of my own family’s journey to the US. Although I’ve begun it, I also have a romance series out to publishers for consideration. Right now, with the imminent launch of Her Good Girl, and its subsequent promotion, I’ll have to see which exact novel(s) get my next full attention.

A family will change in 5 days. Will it be for better or worse?
Her Good Girl is a coming-of-age suspenseful story of a whole family. Sadie suffers through her mother’s home-remedies for her illnesses, hoping if she can make it to the fall when she will leave for college, then she’ll be fine. Sky, a classmate, who showers her with kindness and admiration, opens her eyes that she might not live that long if her mom has her way. His solution for a happily-ever-after is not pretty. But, can she partner with Sky to hurt the mom who has hurt her for years?
“From the very first page, Her Good Girl is intense and emotionally gripping. Elaine Stock is a writer of immense power. Her characters are unique, haunting, and memorable. Superb prose and vivid storytelling propels the reader to keep turning the page until the richly satisfying end.” –Megan Whitson Lee, author of Suburban Dangers and Captives.
“Her Good Girl is a story that will remain with you long after you close the book…Readers will find themselves unable to stop reading about this train wreck of a family until the last satisfying page. And then they will want more.”—Patricia Bradley, The Logan Point Series, Memphis Cold Case Series

Elaine Stock is the author of Always With You, which released in January 2016 and has won the 2017 Christian Small Publishers Association Book of the Year Award in fiction. She has also penned the novella And You Came Along, originally part of the Winter’s Kiss novella collection, plus several short-stories.

Her novels fuse romance, family drama and faith in a clean fiction style. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, and Women’s Fiction Writers Association, and contributes to the international “Happy Sis Magazine” and “InD’tale Magazine.” In addition to Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads, she hangs out on her active blog, Everyone’s Story, dedicated to uplifting and encouraging all readers through the power of story and hope.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, Elaine has now been living in upstate, rural New York with her husband for more years than her stint as a NYC gal. She enjoys long walks down country roads, visiting New England towns, and of course, a good book.

Elaine’s contact info:
Website
Everyone’s Story Blog
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads
Amazon Author Page:
Amazon Page for Her Good Girl

A family will change in 5 days. Will it be for better or worse?

Her Good Girl is a coming-of-age suspenseful story of a whole family. Sadie suffers through her mother’s home-remedies for her illnesses, hoping if she can make it to the fall when she will leave for college, then she’ll be fine. Sky, a classmate, who showers her with kindness and admiration, opens her eyes that she might not live that long if her mom has her way. His solution for a happily-ever-after is not pretty. But, can she partner with Sky to hurt the mom who has hurt her for years?
“From the very first page,

Now for the Giveaway! Leave a comment to unlock several chances to win an e-book copy of Her Good Girl!

a Rafflecopter giveaway