Delia's Heart (an interview with author Delia Latham)

Hi, Delia! Thank you for visiting and letting me pick your brain on this new book series of yours. Where did the idea for Heart’s Haven come from?

Dare I say it was God-sent?  :-)

Some ideas I have to almost scrape off my poor brain, cell by painful cell. But with Heart’s Haven, it was almost too easy. One moment, the idea wasn’t there, and the next, it was. True stuff!

I got this bright idea for White Rose Publishing to get in on the whole “collection” thing, kinda like Barbour does with their Christmas books. Didn’t want to copycat them, of course, but I thought we could maybe do something similar for Valentine’s Day. Once I arrived at that place in my mind, the Heart’s Haven idea was simply…born. I really don’t know how else to explain it. It was wonderful! (It has never happened to me in exactly that way before, but I sure hope it does again.)

I reached out to three other White Rose Publishing authors, hoping they’d be interested in going along for the ride, and they were. We each came up with our own story ideas, put together a combined proposal, zipped it off to our editor, and…the rest, as they say, is history.

What an awesome experience for a an author to have it all come together like that. I definitely relate more to the scraping ideas off my poor brain! This isn't the first time I've read supernatural elements in your stories and I gotta wonder...have you had personal experience with an angelic/spiritual presence?

I’ve had those odd moments when you just have to wonder…you know, the tingle down the spine, the inexplicable events that can’t be explained. But I’ve never actually seen an angel.

I do believe in them, absolutely and without a doubt. I believe we each have at least one—guarding us, guiding us, helping us get through the ups and downs and highs and lows of life.

Don’t believe it? Well, that’s your call, but please, don’t try to convince me to see things your way. I choose to believe. I want to. I need to believe in my angel.

I love it! Your faith is inspiring to me as it sometimes seems there are fewer Christians these days who believe that the spiritual realm interacts with us. Okay, so on to writing. What advice would you give to budding authors who have published a book and now ask, "What next?"?

Start writing your next one! That said, it’s so important to learn everything you can about marketing a book, because you should be doing that even before yours is released. If you don’t already have a platform of followers/fans, start building one—yesterday! Use as many social networking tools as you can efficiently handle, and work them. If you don’t have a website, get one. This will be crucial to your publicity, and if you can’t afford to have one done professionally, there are numerous free web hosting companies online. Webs.com is a good one. Above all, place your career in the hands of God and follow His lead. He sees the bumps in the road ahead that are not within your line of sight yet, and He knows how to guide you through, around, under or over them…whichever is best for your situation. Trust Him!

Do you have a favorite verse of scripture?

I actually have two, and it’s impossible for me to choose one over the other.

This first one is my daily plea, because I need a new, clean heart every day—and only God can keep my spirit right and steadfast!

Psalm 51:10—Create in me a clean heart, O God,And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

And this one I like to read every morning, because it reminds me where my mind should be channeled. :-)

Philippians 4:8— ⁸Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Those are great! I've always encouraged my kids with Philippians 4:8, whenever they get the "Eeyore syndrome." It's one of my favorites for fighting off depression. Okay, not tell me what’s your favorite part of a day?

That first drink of Dr. Pepper of the day—whatever time of day that happens to happen. J It’s sensational! If I have to wait several hours after rising before I get my D.P. fix, I can actually feel the liquid sliding all…the…way…down. (((Sigh))) Like I said…sensational! LOL

Oh my sweet friend, you make me laugh! Now I know what to get you for Christmas! lol (You know, after I had my first child in November 1995, I actually did get a cube of Dr. Pepper under the tree. hehe) Thank you for visiting with me. You are such a treasure! Good luck and blessings on your recent release!

Delia's Bio:

Born and raised in Weedpatch, California, Delia Latham moved to Oklahoma in '08, making her a self-proclaimed California Okie. She loves to read and write in her country home, and gets a kick out of watching her husband play Farmer John. She's a Christian wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, but especially loves being a princess daughter to the King of Kings. She loves Dr. Pepper and hearing from her readers. Contact her through her website (www.delialatham.net), send an e-mail, or “Like” her on Facebook.

Delia writes inspirational romance and women's fiction, and is currently contracted through White Rose Publishing and Vinspire Publishing.