Hello everyone! Please welcome Valerie Bodden in for coffee with me today, plus she is giving away a $5.00 Amazon Gift Card AND an ebook version of her newest novel, see how to enter below!
PM: I am so thrilled to get to know you better, thank you so much for sitting down with me today of coffee! What are you reading for fun right now?
VB: Thanks for having me on the blog—I always love to talk books! I just started reading Elizabeth Maddrey’s Courage to Change, and I’m loving it so far!
PM: I have to say that is one of my favorite books by Elizabeth! What is one thing about you that your readers would be shocked to know?
VB: Oh, this is a hard one. I’m not sure there’s too much that’s shocking about me, lol! Maybe that I started out as a computer science major in college. Though I enjoyed it, I quickly realized it wasn’t where my passion was—that had always been writing. Some things never change!
PM: Do you write stories more from your own experiences, or do you spend a lot time doing research on the type of characters your creating?
VB: A little bit of each. In all my books, there are at least some things taken from my own life. For example, in Not Until Forever, there’s a park bench that plays a significant role. And that’s because my husband proposed to me on a bench at “our” park. For our anniversary a few years ago, he made me a park bench for our front porch, with our initials carved in it. I know…aww. But other parts of my books are definitely researched. My newest release involves a character dealing with PTSD, and a veteran from church was kind enough to give me insights into his experiences with that.
PM: That was one of my favorite scenes in your book, the park bench, yes, so “aww, romantic” lol! I have had a love for all things Wisconsin since reading a story set in Door County many years ago, what is your favorite part of loving in there?
VB: The little towns of Door County are the inspiration for Hope Springs! And all of Wisconsin is a beautiful place! We don’t have mountains or oceans, but we do have rolling hills, lots of trees, and the Mississippi River on one side of the state and Lake Michigan on the other. I think my favorite part of life here is the changing seasons. And for the first time in my life, I can even include winter in that. I’ve always been resistant to the snow and cold, but this year, for whatever reason, God has worked on my heart, and I now appreciate winter too.
PM: If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?
VB: I am so bad at choosing superpowers, lol. I’m not sure how far this would go toward saving the world, but I’d love to have the power to know exactly the right thing to say at the right time, especially as a parent.
PM: Wow, that is awesome, I can honestly say I needed that super power many times while raising my son….! One of my great love’s is chocolate as well! What is your favorite? I adore dark chocolate the best!
VB: I’m definitely a dark chocolate girl, too! I love Dove dark chocolate with almonds. Also, pretty much any variety of M & Ms.
PM: Do you have any family pets that currently own you?
VB: Oh boy! We have a zoo here, with one dog, two cats, a tank full of fish, and also a bowl of sea monkeys (that were supposed to last six months but are going on six years).
PM: Oh my goodness, I never heard of sea monkeys! So….. I naturally Googled them, wow! What fun! You mention wishing to live in a warmer climate, any particular dream place in mind?
VB: I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately because my family went to Florida this summer in the middle of a heat wave—and our vehicle’s air conditioning chose that time to die. My northern babies (and my husband and I) just about melted. So maybe somewhere with a little less heat and humidity than that. Even more than the warmth, I think what I’m looking for is sunshine. Days and days of sunshine!
PM: As a Floridian of many years now, yes, i definitely feel the melting every summer, sigh…I’d love to move to a cooler place! If you could have dinner with anyone from history, other than Jesus, who would it be, and why?
VB: I have such a hard time choosing one answer for questions like this—there are just so many people I’d love to talk to! But I’ll make myself stick to one. I’m a huge Jane Austen fan, and I think it would be a blast to have dinner with her—or better yet, attend a ball with her and see it through her eyes.
PM: That is a wonderful answer! I wouldn’t mind joining you, lol! What is your favorite go to snack, midnight or any time?
VB: I love popcorn popped on the stove.
PM: I’d love to know more about your non fiction children’s books, can you elaborate on them a little?
VB: Yes! I actually got my start in publishing 15 years ago working as an editor for a children’s publisher called The Creative Company. While working there, I started writing nonfiction books for them, and even after we moved away, I continued to write for them and for several other publishers as well. Over the years, I’ve written more than 300 nonfiction books about everything from animals to history to literature. But my favorite of my nonfiction books is one called Understanding Christianity. Writing that book showed me what a blessing it was to spend every day writing about God’s Word—which sparked my desire to write Christian fiction.
PM: How can readers keep up with you and your new releases?
VB: The best way to keep up with me is by subscribing to my newsletter. All subscribers get a free Hope Springs story (that just happens to be a Christmas story)! You can sign up on my website at https://www.valeriembodden.com/. Or, if you prefer to stay in touch on social media, you can follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ValerieMBodden.
PM: Finally, coffee or tea? Cream, sugar?
VB: Decaf coffee with skim milk (it’s what we always have in the fridge) and plenty of sugar. Not in the morning, though—after lunch!
We’d love to hear your comments on meeting Valerie Bodden, and you could win a $5.00 Amazon Gift Card PLUS an ebook copy of her newest release! Tell us about any family pets you have – or have had – to enter! Contest will run for one week and winner will be notified via email!
This sounds like a fun game that I would enjoy reading. I used to have a cat named Cuddles. He was a stray kitten that adopted us.
It’s funny how animals adopt us sometimes, instead of the other way around, isn’t it? That’s what happened with our older cat, who was also a stray and is now 15!
What a sweet name, Lori! Sounds like he picked a winner family 😁
Thank you Paula.
Hi Valerie! Wow! What a resume. I can’t Eve imagine writing one book, much less over three hundred.
I have seen people who actually have a passion for their career, and ones who do not. I think it’s awesome you do. You had very good answers. Thank you!
Paula, thank you for this article of visiting Valerie. It’s very good. As always. 😉
Blessings to both of you!
Thank you so much, Kathy! You’re right–I truly do love my career. I feel blessed every day that I get to do what I love for a living!
Thank you for visiting with us, Kathy, it is always a pleasure seeing your comments!
Hi Paula Marie and Valerie, thanks for an amazing interview. I knew Valerie loves to write but she sure has had an adventurous journey to get where she is.
I wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.
Thank you, Betty! I love how you put that–an adventurous journey! It’s always amazing to me to reflect on how God has worked things out according to his will in my life. Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year to you as well!
Thank you, Betty and same to you and your family!
Hi Valerie and Paula Marie,
Merry Christmas to all! I have been discovering so many fantastic authors! This has been so much fun. Valerie and I have connected in another group and are both from the great state of Wisconsin.
As to pets, my daughter has a little hamster so I am affectionately known as Grandma. If he wasn’t so cute, I would get upset with him when he urinates on furniture or me. No hamster size diapers!
I am always reading when I’m not at work or doing stuff at home. Happy Reading!
Hi again, Lori! So good to see you here! Speaking of the great state of Wisconsin, my kids were lamenting that it doesn’t look like we’re going to have a white Christmas in the southern part of the state this year…and then we woke up to a dusting of snow this morning. Not sure it will last, but still, it’s something. 🙂
Being a hamster grandma sounds fun! My kids occasionally ask for one, but I think we’re about full up on pets right now (not to mention that the cats and dog might terrorize the poor critter!).
Enjoy your reading! Merry Christmas!
That’s so cute, Lori, a hamster grandma!! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for having me on the blog today, Paula! I had so much fun with your great questions! And I always love to talk reading, writing…and chocolate! Merry Christmas!
It has been a pleasure getting to know you better! I am looking forward to reading more of your stories! Merry Christmas to you and your family and Happy New Year!
I LOVED this book!! I’ve signed up for your newsletter, too, Valerie. I’m looking forward to reading more of your books!! You can’t go wrong with dark chocolate and any kind of nut!!
Thank you, Trudy! I love getting to know readers through my newsletter!
Also, I’m tempted to reach for the dark chocolate right now (fortunately, I keep it a few feet away on the bookshelf instead of on the desk right next to me, lol)!
You are awesome, Trudy!
I have a little dog Josie she’s a rescue. This part of Wisconsin has a lot of snow! My dog doesn’t like it. Thank you for the chance
It’s crazy, isn’t it? As we’re hoping for a white Christmas in the southern part of Wisconsin, I know there’s been more than enough snow up north! Sorry Josie doesn’t like it!
How sweet, Donamae! I wish I could be near snow!
I have a 5 months old black labrador that I am totally in love with. He even sleeps in my lap when I’m reading, just adore him❣️❣️
Aww, how sweet! My dog is a lab too. She’s much too big to curl up on our laps anymore…but that doesn’t stop her from trying, lol!
How precious! He is loving every minute too, I bet. Thank you for sharing,Christine!
Hi! Could not drink my coffee like that! Need creamer, but no sugar! Should be drinking decaf, but…
I love cats, but only have 5 cats right now. Thanks for the opportunity to enter your giveaway. Have a great Christmas! 🎄✨🎄
Five cats! That sounds like fun! I bet you never lack for a snuggle buddy!
Wow, Irene, five! That is fantastic! I couldn’t keep up with that many, lol!
We have 2 calico cats, Patches and Callie. They adopted us at different times with Patches being first. We’ve had Callie for about 3 months now, and Patches for close to 2 years. The vets say that they’re close in age.
They sound adorable, Lisa! Thanks for sharing!
Aww, sweet! Our cats are not close in age…and the older one really doesn’t want anything to do with the younger one (maybe because he chases her from time to time, lol).
I can relate to the tank full of fish – that’s our pets 🙂
Easy to take care for and not messy lol
Kids are asking for a dog but ….
Totally agree with you, Natalya, I love fishies!!
Yep, fish are nice and easy! And fun to watch too. 🙂
Hi Valerie, nice to meet you.
I used to have a budgie named Bruce. He would fly around my room free. To warn people he wasnt locked in his cage I would put a note on the door : Bruce on the loose. 😁
That is hilarious, Heylane…Bruce on the loose!! I love it! Thank you for visiting with us today!
Haha, love it! I can see how having a bird would be fun…maybe a little too fun for my cats, though. 🙂
I grew up with a wonderful collie named Laddie. He was the best dog ever. I can still remember his smell whenever I sniffed his forehead. He was so strong, he could drag me around the house with one of his toy rings.
It’s been 40 years since he passed and I still miss him.
Sounds like a sweet dog! Pets really do stay in our hearts!
Aww…Susan….I completely understand, I miss my Shih Tzu, Charlie, the same way, it ha been 20 years,😟
HI Valerie!!!! I am from Michigan, so I understand about Wisconsin. I love the seasons! I now reside in my husband’s beloved West Texas. He has to have his sun! and wants his snow to leave the next day!!!! Looking forward to reading about the people of Hope Springs.
Haha! I can understand your husband’s feelings about the snow…although right about now, we could use just enough for a white Christmas. Not sure it’s going to happen though. I bet Christmas weather in Texas is a little different than in Michigan! I hope you enjoy visiting with the people of Hope Springs!
Wouldn’t that be nice, Jennifer, snow on demand, lol!!
We have had many cats and dogs in the past but cannot afford any now. I’m afraid that I would like a cat and my husband would prefer a dog.
That’s the tough part, when one of you is a cat person and the other a dog person! Fortunately, our cats and dog get along…most of the time!
Oh, wow, that is a tough choice then, Paula! I understand about about affording them though, as much as I would love to have a dog, it is just not doable for me financially either. Praying for you!
I have 2 cats named Mr. Darcy and Mr. Knightley after 2 of my favorite literary characters! I look forward to reading your book!
That’s brilliant! Now I know what I’m going to call my next cats, lol! Hope you enjoy the book!
Veronica, that is absolutely precious! What great names!!
We have two cats, though we’ve always been dog people. I blame the cuteness of kittens for getting us into having two cats.
And I think if we all knew the right (and godly) thing to say to people in hard situations, it just might save the world. Great super power!
I know what you mean, Heather, kittens are the cutest! Wish they’d stay little, lol!
That’s how we ended up with our cats too, lol! Usually one or the other of us is strong enough to say no–but then there are those kittens you just can’t resist.
And knowing the godly thing to say in hard situations–you may be right that it could save the world!
Hi, No coffee for me unless it’s iced. But I do love tea. N we currently have 5 outside cats n kittens. 3 of the kittens were taking care of for friends who went out of town for Christmas. And you can’t go wrong with any kind of Chocolate. I’m learning to like dark Chocolate. But with nuts can’t be beat.
Five kitties! That would be fun! We often pet sit a friend’s dog, and our dog just loves having her playmate over!
Ah, Sharon, yes to all you said, lol! I bet the cats are enjoying their company too! Dark chocolate was an acquired taste for me too, and now I just love it! Thank you for sharing!
Hi, very nice interview, I loved learning more about you Valerie. We have had different kinds of pets. We have had canaries, Green winged Macaws, parakeets a gerbil, a gold fish that our daughter loved so much, and 2 dogs, only 1 dog at a time though. Now it’s just my husband and I so we only have 1 dog who is half Schnauzer and half ??? Actually my husband got him when he was like a week from being able to leave his mama, his previous owner was giving away the whole litter because the puppies were not full Schnauzers, all I can say is his loss and our Great and most Awesomest gain. He is such a joy and we love him very much. Merry Christmas to you all and your families. I enjoyed reading this post. God Bless you.
Hi Alicia! Thanks for reading! Sounds like you’ve had a little bit of every kind of pet. I’ve always thought it would be neat to have a bird–though I’m afraid my cats and dogs might think it was a little too neat too, lol. Sounds like you have a sweetie of a pooch! Merry Christmas!
What a sweet story about your beloved pup! I bet the birds were a lot of fun! Thank you for visiting with us!
Loved the interview and would love to read some of Valerie’s non-fiction children’s books. I will have to look for them. We have always had pets. Right now we have four cats, we had two and they each had one kitten. We have Sassy, mother to Whitey, and Shyanne, mother to Ginger. I am not good with choosing names as you can tell. We also have a dog named Puppy. We love them all and they love us. As a side note, my husband proposed to me in a local covered bridge. He came up with a “tale” that if you didn’t kiss your girlfriend in the bridge, it would fall in. lol Then later proposed there.
Aww…love that sweet story your husband made up for you. And that he proposed on the bridge. 🙂 How sweet that you have two mommy kitties and their babies–and I like the names, actually (I have a dog named Tony in one of my books, lol).
How sweet, Sarah! Your husband sounds like a real romantic!❤️ I love your pets names! Thank you so much for sharing with us!
Nice interview.
Thank you, Kim! Merry Christmas!
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Nice to meet another new author! No pets due to allergies. I miss having cats
It’s sad not to be able to have pets because of allergies (but also miserable to have them with allergies). We’re fortunate that somehow none of the six of us have them. Merry Christmas!
Aw, sorry about your allergies, Beverly!
Merry Christmas to you all! We had a Newfie who we list about a month ago. She was over 9 years old and just died in her sleep. Her name was Ebony Moon, we called her Moonie.
I’m sorry to hear you lost your sweet Moonie, Kathy. That’s always hard to go through. I’m sure you have wonderful memories of your time with her, though.
So sorry for your loss, Kathy! They really are family members 😟
I have 2 dogs, 1 chicken and 2 cats. The dogs are outside and so is the chicken. The chicken likes to sleep in the dog house with the dogs! They dont bother her and she does it completely on her own. I dont know where she came from but I’m thankful shes here.
How cute! I just bet the chicken and dogs love each other then! So nice to visit with you here, Amanda!
Haha! I have a friend who wants chickens and has a dog…I’ll have to tell her they can get along! So sweet!
We have had several pets over the years. The latest on is our black and white cat named Princess!
Princess sounds like a fitting name for a cat–at least if your cat is anything like ours, lol!
How lovely, Rose, I bet you treat her like a princess too!
We have had many pets over the years. Dogs, cats, hamsters, fish. Our latest pet is a black and white cat named Princess.
Hi everyone! Just wanted to pop in to say Kathy won the giveaway! She has received an ebook of Not Until Christmas Morning as well as a $5 Amazon gift card. Congrats, Kathy! And thanks to everyone who read and commented–it was great to get to know you all. Happy New Year!
Thank you, Valerie, and thank you to all who have participated!