Author Spotlight + GIVEAWAY: Victoria Bylin

I am thrilled to welcome Victoria Bylin to The Power of Words today! Vicki is not only a very talented author, but a fun person as well. I enjoyed her recently published contemporary romance, Until I Found You, so much that I wanted to introduce her to my blog readers (click on the title to see my review). Until I Found You is one of my favorites in this genre and I highly recommend it.

Victoria is also graciously sharing a copy of this book with one of you, so please read on for further details.


Q:  Please share briefly about yourself, Victoria. Married with kids? Full-time or part-time writer?

        Thanks for inviting me to your blog, Carole! My husband and I met in high school and have been married for thirty-four years. We have two sons, both married. Our oldest son and his wife just made us grandparents for the first time. Our twin granddaughters arrived this summer and we’re loving it.
        Writing is a full-time occupation for me, but I don’t spend eight hours a day at the computer.  Some of my best ideas come when I’m walking the dog or folding laundry.  I also work part-time job in a doctor’s office. It gives me structure, which I like.


Q:  You've written both historical and contemporary romances. Do you have a favorite and is it difficult to transition from one style to the other?

This is one of the great ironies of my career.  My first love has always been contemporaries. I knew I didn’t have the chops to write the big book of my heart, so I decided to practice on a short western historical. To my amazement, that book sold. One thing led to another, and before I knew it, I was working on multi-book contracts for Harlequin Historical and Love Inspired Historical. I’m focused on contemporaries now, but I have a couple of ideas for westerns.  Maybe someday!


Q:  A few fun short-answer questions . . .

Describe yourself in one word:  Loyal
Favorite indulgence:   Cheese Danish
Favorite ice cream flavor:  Kroger Brand Caramel Swirl
Book are you currently reading:  Anne Mateer’s Playing By Heart
Favorite hymn:  Be Thou My Vision
Favorite movie:  Witness

Q:  Tell us a little about the book we're featuring today, Until I Found You.

Until I Found You is both a faith journey and romance. The heroine, Kate Darby, seems to have it all . . . until she swerves her car to avoid hitting a California condor and ends up dangling off a cliff.  Nick Sheridan, a reformed veteran of life in the fast lane, comes to her rescue. As a new Christian, Nick has taken a vow: No dating for one year. He’s determined to keep that promise but then meets Kate.  I had a blast with these two characters!


Q:  What is something that will draw readers to Nick and Kate?

I’ve been told that Nick and Kate are realistic and relatable. They live in the real world full of choices, conflict and challenges. My hope is that readers will be encouraged by how Nick lives his faith, and how Kate puts her whole heart into the search for a faith of her own.


Q:  Until I Found You seemed different from some other contemporary romances that I've read, Vicki. What do you think sets it apart?

I’ve thought about this a lot, because Until I Found You doesn’t quite fit the mold. It’s a romance,  but Leona and her journal add some women’s fiction elements.  It has some humor, but it’s not a romantic comedy. There’s a little bit of danger, but it’s not romantic suspense. It comes down to this:  The core of the story is Kate’s spiritual journey.  That’s what makes Until I Found You  a little different in both tone and structure.  As much as I love writing romance, my writer’s heart gravitates to the spiritual side of life.


Q:  Quoting from the book, Nick knew that "human strengths often signaled spiritual weaknesses. Independence could turn into lonely isolation." I think this is something many readers can relate to and would love for you to expound a little on those words.

One of my biggest challenges as  Christian is to “let go and let God.”  There’s a song that says, “It’s not in trying, but in trusting.”  I think that’s true.  How many times do we charge ahead in our strength rather than wait on God?  Waiting on God vs. running ahead on my own steam is one of my personal challenges.


Q:  What do you hope your readers will take away from Until I Found You?

First, I hope readers simply enjoy the story.  We can all use a little escape from the ups and downs of life.  Secondly, and most important, I hope readers are encouraged to explore and grow in their faith.


Q:  What stories can we expect from you in the days ahead?

My next book for Bethany House is called Together With You (April 2015).  Like Until I Found You, it looks at the consequences of our modern dating culture.   I had a ton of fun with the heroine.  Carly Mason is a Kentucky woman transplanted to Los Angeles.  Easy research, since  I’m a Californian living in Lexington!  The hero, Dr. Ryan Tremaine, made a mess of his first marriage and wants desperately to reconcile with his sons and daughter, a little girl with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.   The last thing he wants to do is fall in love with nanny . . .


Q:  How can we support and/or pray for you, Victoria?

Prayers for good health, the discipline to get up early, and to stay focused on the story are deeply appreciated.  It’s amazing how tempting it is to wander around Facebook and play games.  I’m so fortunate to be able to do what I do.  It’s a dream come true, and I’m grateful.

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Victoria, it has been a pleasure to have you with us today and I hope many new readers will discover your writing. Please come back when Together With You is published.

Until I Found You can be purchased at CBD, DeeperShopping, Amazon, and B&N.

GIVEAWAY

To enter the drawing for Until I Found You, simply answer ONE of the short-answer questions that I asked Victoria. E-mail address are required for the drawing and be sure to leave them in a safe format - [at] and [dot]. If you're willing, it's also helpful to share about this giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter.

Entry question (choose one) . . .

Describe yourself in one word -

Favorite indulgence -

Favorite hymn -

Please "like" my Facebook page, ThePowerofWordsBookReviews, if you haven't already. And new followers of this blog are always welcome!

• E-mail required, one entry per person. Odds of winning are based on number of entries.
• Contest ends at midnight PST on Monday, October 13. No purchase necessary.
• Winner will be chosen by Random.org and contacted by e-mail by Wednesday, October 15. Respond within 48 hours of notification or another winner will be chosen.
• Eligibility: US/Canadian residents, 18 and older