Monday, May 18, 2015

Interview + GIVEAWAY: Becky Wade


When it comes to contemporary romance, Becky Wade knows how to serve up a fascinating read with surprising depth, and I have loved each one of her books. Her latest release, A Love Like Ours, is no exception (reviewed here), and I am very glad to share this interview with Becky Wade, courtesy of Litfuse Publicity. Enjoy all the Becky has to share and enter to win a copy at the end of this post.

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An interview with Becky Wade,
Author of A Love Like Ours

Can love really conquer all? For the walking wounded who carry deep pain, a phrase like that can seem trite. Becky Wade weaves a moving tale of the hope of redemptive love in her new book, A Love Like Ours (Bethany House/May 5, 2015/ISBN: 978-0764211096/$13.99). In it she introduces us to former Marine Jake Porter, who carries scars far deeper than the one that marks his face. After serving his country in the Middle East, he returns home struggling with symptoms of PTSD. His pain causes him to live a solitary life, avoiding relationships even with his dearest loved ones.


Q: What is the overarching theme of A Love Like Ours?

Finding hope. The hero of the novel, Jake Porter, is a former Marine and Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. Eight years after returning from his final tour, Jake still struggles with PTSD. A Love Like Ours is about rediscovering hope that once was lost.


Q: Why do you think we’re so susceptible to looking for hope in sources apart from God?

Because God isn’t tangible. We can’t see, feel, hear or talk with Him in the same ways we interact with everyone and everything else. It requires effort on our part to refocus our minds and our hope on Him. Even though He’s the only source of lasting, meaningful hope, it’s sometimes easier to grasp for the things around us that seem to provide “happiness.”


Q: How would you describe your writing style?

Heartwarming. Humorous. Modern. Romantic. Jake is a brooding hero, but his heroine, Lyndie, is funny and outgoing and brave. The overall tone of A Love Like Ours is hopefully very optimistic.



Q: Why did you begin A Love Like Ours with a prologue that gives the reader a glimpse into Jake and Lyndie’s childhood?

Jake and Lyndie were best friends as children. I felt a glimpse into their past together would give the love story between them as adults sweetness and depth.


Q: Jake Porter, the hero of your book, is an actual hero. He served with the Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan and now struggles with PTSD from his experiences overseas. According to statistics from the Department of Veterans Affairs, 11-20 percent of veterans who served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom have PTSD in a given year. What motivated you to write this type of hero?

I’m extremely grateful to our veterans for their service. I cast Jake as my hero because I was moved by news stories I’ve seen and read throughout the years about service men and women who come home with physical injuries and/or disorders such as PTSD.


Q: Is love enough to help people overcome their PTSD symptoms?

No. Everything I read on the topic indicated there is no straight path to a “cure” for PTSD. Not even love. I certainly believe love can motivate someone to turn toward healing and toward God. However, I was careful not to portray Jake’s love for Lyndie as something that solved his issues. Toward the end of the novel, in fact, his love for her actually brings all his issues to the fore.


Q: Not only does Jake suffer with PTSD, but he isn’t a Christian, which causes stress in his relationship with Lyndie. How can a woman’s desire to “fix” a broken man come back to hurt her?

Only God can fix broken people. So whenever you or I latch on to the belief we have the power to change someone else, we’re in trouble and possibly bound for huge disappointment.


Q: There’s a subplot in A Love Like Ours about Thoroughbred horse racing. Did you learn something about horse racing you didn’t know before while doing research for the book?

        Jake is a Thoroughbred trainer, and Lyndie is an exercise jockey. I had a wonderful time researching Thoroughbred racing for this novel! I read two books by trainers from cover to cover, as well as numerous online articles. I visited our local horse track and took a tour of the backstretch. I communicated with a woman who spent the bulk of her career in the horse-racing world. I watched a season of the reality show Jockeys set at Santa Anita. And I listened to the audio book of Seabiscuit.
        Just about everything I learned was new to me! One fun fact: Great Thoroughbreds often have companion horses they stable next to, travel with and that act as their lead ponies before races. The two horses seem to form a deep and calming attachment to each other. The idea of that caught my imagination, and I immediately wrote a companion horse into the book.


Q: Has bonding with and caring for horses proven to be therapeutic for those who have experienced trauma?

Absolutely. I live in Dallas, and there’s a fabulous therapeutic riding stable here called Equest that has programs for a wide range of people, including veterans. Riding seems to empower, lessen anxiety, bolster confidence and build bonds of trust between animal and human.


Q: Lyndie’s sister has cerebral palsy and needs constant care. How did that help shape the person she became?

Life with her sister gave Lyndie a tender heart toward people who are different and who have challenges. She’s doggedly hopeful, and she’s not easily dissuaded. All qualities that come in handy in her relationship with Jake!


Q: Can you tell us about the family on which you based much of this story?

A few years back, my daughter had a pre-school teacher named Kari. Kari is the kindest, warmest, most fun and most tender-hearted woman I could have hoped for my daughter to have as her teacher. In getting to know Kari, I got to know her family. Kari has two daughters. Her oldest is a completely healthy eighth grader. Her youngest was born with severe cerebral palsy due in part to her skull being shattered at birth by the use of forceps. Kari’s younger daughter is blind and non-verbal and requires round-the-clock care. Yet, in spite of their challenges, this family blew me away with their joy and energy and positivity. I knew from the time I met them I wanted to base a fictional family on them.


Q: In what way do you hope A Love Like Ours encourages its readers?

I hope the novel reminds readers that in God, there’s always reason to hope! He has the power to redeem all things in His time.


Learn more about Becky Wade and A Love Like Ours at www.beckywade.com, on Facebook, or by following her on Twitter or Pinterest.


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GIVEAWAY

To enter the drawing for A Love Like Ours . . .

1) If you're on Facebook, please go here and share about this giveaway
2) Answer the following fun question or leave a comment for Becky:


What do you enjoy most about summer? Any trips planned?

BE SURE TO LEAVE YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS in a safe format - [at] and [dot] - for the drawing.

If you'd like to receive e-mail notifications of reviews, author interviews and giveaways, please subscribe to my blog in the upper right corner. "Likes" on my Facebook page, ThePowerofWordsBookReviews, are also greatly appreciated, as are followers on Google+, Pinterest, Twitter, and this blog.

E-mail required for entry in the drawing. Contest ends at midnight PST on Sunday, May 24. Winner will be chosen by Random.org and contacted by e-mail. Respond within 48 hours of notification or another winner will be chosen.

Eligibility: US residents, 18 and older

Shared on Cozy Reading Spot

35 comments:

  1. We used to have a garden, and while I wasn't a fan of working in it, I really did enjoy the fresh veggies. I got your e-mail and deleted the 2nd post. As always, thanks for visiting, Kate.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oops! Forgot my email! cyndilou83(at)gmail(dot)com

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  3. I enjoy being able to get out and take the kids to the park with friends. After a messy winter, I look forward to that. We have no trips planned as we will be trying to sell our home this summer. :)
    campbellamyd at gmail dot com

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    1. Amy, I don't enjoy the humidity we have in the south, but it sure is fun to do things outside. I pray that the sale of your home goes quickly and smoothly. Thanks for visiting today!

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  4. I enjoy the summer, because it is always a time to have a vacation and spend quality time with family. I also enjoy all the luscious fruits that are bountiful during this season. They always perk up any picnic basket. We will be going camping and spending time with our sons who are scattered throughout Texas. Thanks for the chance to win the book . It will be s great addition to take on my trip as I eat wonderful fruits of summertime, spending time with family and being thankful for God's beauty.
    Email is:
    Jhdwayne(at) peoplepc(dot)com

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    1. I love your summer plans, Deana! My children are grown now - our daughter is even in Germany - but I have tons of treasured memories from family vacations. Thanks for visiting, and good luck in the drawing.

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  5. I love the warm weather and seeing my plants grow. No big trip planned.
    Thereadmaster@me.com

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    Replies
    1. Virginia, you're making me miss our garden! Good luck in the drawing.

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  6. Summer is usually when I get to go visit my grandchildren. Oh.. so fun summer activities :)
    dkstevensne AToutlook(dot)CoM

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    1. Deanna, I hope you some great quality time with your grandchildren this summer, and store lots of treasured memories. It's always good to see you here.

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  7. We haven't been anywhere in a long time, no money, but we don't mind. I love to read outside, when it is cool enough. We are empty nester so now I have two little dogs and we wade in the creek together. I love reading my Bible on our front porch and listen to the creek. One more, I am now into looking for wildflowers, not touch my man, each time I find one new to me I thank God for the beauty he has shared with me. Now I need to figure out what they are called. Oh also lots of canning!
    pam1lunsford ( at ) gmail ( dot ) com

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    1. You make me smile, Miss Pam! Our children are grown also, so we hardly travel at all. Your creek sounds like so much fun, as I love to look at any kind of water. We have a small lake in our subdivision that I enjoy walking to - good exercise and fun to sit on a bench beside it, so very peaceful. It's always good to see you here, Pam.

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  8. I enjoy the warmer weather (but not the hot weather) and the more relaxed time. I usually have even more time for reading. I don't have any trips planned (only through my reading!).

    pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

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    Replies
    1. Reading is a great way to travel, Pam! Good luck in the drawing.

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  9. I love camping in the summer.
    shelffullofbooks(at)agmail(dot)com

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    Replies
    1. My family never went camping when I was growing up, but I think it would be so much fun. Thanks for visiting, Kathryn.

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  10. I hardly ever get to go anywhere, but we are having a family reunion here with my brother's 90th birthday party on June 6th, so will get to see many family members that I never get to see. So really looking forward to that. And, another smaller bbunch from my husbands side coming the next weekend. I do plan a trip to San Antonio before it gets extremely hot with my daughter. I have never been there altho its not far away. Would love to win Becky's book. Thanks Carole.
    Maxie > mac262(at)me(dot)com <

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    Replies
    1. Maxie, what a wonderful family time you're going to have! And 90 years young . . . my best wishes to all of you. I hope you'll share about the reunion afterward. Great to see you, Maxie.

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  11. summertime...hot, sunny days...and catching lightening bugs at night :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Karen, you're bringing back some fun memories for me. My mom and I always had fun catching (and releasing) lightening bugs. Good luck in the drawing.

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  12. When you work full time, sometimes the summer doesn't seem much different than any other time of the year! I do look forward to the longer days and the chance to still get outside and do something in the evenings after work.
    I am taking a few days of in July, hopefully for a long weekend trip at least!

    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  13. I love the fact you wrote about a Marine and PTSD.
    Marines and Ptsd are part of my family too......and cerebral palsy too
    Can I thank you for letting Gods light shine with this book God bless you
    Chris
    granvilleATfrontiernetDOTnet

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  14. Going to the park and the beach with my family.

    dlatany at gmail dot com

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  15. As a child and then once I grew up, as a teacher, my favorite thing about summer is that school's out! I love the sun and warm weather and the slower pace of the summer months. I grew up in Florida but now live in St. Louis so my son and I are heading home to Florida for a couple of weeks to visit my family. We are both so excited! Plus, I hope to get the chance to explore more of Missouri this summer and pack in as much as I can before my son starts kindergarten in the Fall.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Oops- forgot my email. It's jennybug52 (at) hotmail (dot) com

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  17. What I most enjoy about Summer is that it is followed by Fall. Summers are hot in Texas. :)

    psalm103and138[at]gmail[dot]com

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  18. faithhopecherrytea at [gmail.] com
    [which I'm sure you have]

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. showing my reply of 2nd comment , but missing my 1st comment response to the query!... shouldn't have disappeared with moderation turned on...

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    2. Sharon, your first comment must be "out there" somewhere, because it never appeared - either in my e-mail or blog "comments awaiting moderation" page. Sometimes the Blogger program acts up like that, but it's rare. Anyway, I still had you down. Thanks for your patience, Sharon.

      Delete
  19. We homeschool, so my kids are home year round, but I really do enjoy the extra opportunities to take them on field trips. We enjoy visiting some of the local parks and ice cream shops, but we also love to venture a little further away from home. jnjfischer50(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  20. I love summer travel! Just being able to get the camper out and rest, relax and take it easy for a few days here and there are a great blessing.
    connie (dot) randel (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Living in Western Washington, we have milder summers than other areas and less rain than the other seasons. I like that the consistency of nicer weather to get outside and work in the yard and flowerbeds. I also like enjoying our family time outside, as well.

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  22. I'm a teacher so I look forward to sleeping late, staying home, going to the beach and most of all reading!
    douglas(dot)emilee(at)yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Shared : https://www.facebook.com/kelly.blackwell.399/posts/10207093711890553?pnref=story

    I love summer. I live in Arizona but it isn't terribly hot where I live because we are a mile high. The summer is always busy here with tourists who want to be a bit cooler. There are lots of fun activities in our town from the World's Oldest Rodeo to kayaking, hiking and lots of site seeing. We like to do a lot of road trips too. I think road trips are the best things to do in the summer.

    KellysShining(at)gmail(dot)com

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  24. No definite plans for summer except reading!

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