Fiction Full of Faith

Coffee with Alexa Verde..PLUS an Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!!

July 1, 2019 in coffee with paula marie

I am thrilled to have my very first Coffee with Paula Marie author interview back with us today – one year later – to catch up and see what has been happening in the last 12 months! Please join me in welcoming back Alexa Verde.

PM: Alexa, first off, thank you for taking the time to allow me to pester you once again! I hope this year has been wonderful for you, I know you have written several more stories, and I have had the pleasure of reading them all! I can’t name my favorites, as they have all been amazing, but I can say how excited I am for the series taking place in Chapel Cove! The intersecting characters all living in one small town is wonderful, and having two other authors (Autumn Macarthur & Marion Ueckermann) writing stories with the same cast of characters has been so much fun for us readers! How challenging is it writing a series collaborating with other authors?

AV: I love talking to you, so no pestering at all! And it was such a privilege to be the first interview on your wonderful blog. Writing Chapel Cove Romances with Autumn and Marion is a lot of fun. We help each other with ideas and feedback. We build the new storyworld together, and we all love Chapel Cove already. If it was a real place, I’d probably consider moving there! Marion kindly designed covers for all the books in the series, and I think they are beautiful. So much better than anything I could’ve done myself. The biggest challenge for me was the same timeline for the first three books in the series. I wrote Love Me the way it flowed, without thinking what other characters did at the time, and boy, did it require a lot if fixing later! But really, it’s a great pleasure working with Autumn and Marion.

PM: Aw, thank you so much, you are such a dear! I can only imagine the challenge that the time line presented! As a reader of all three books, I can tell you that you all did an amazing job of it!

What’s your favorite color? Any reason why?

AV: Light-blue. Color of the sky on a sunny day.

PM: Will you be doing any more Potter’s House books in the coming year? Curious minds want to know, lol!

AV: I hope I won’t disappoint anybody if I say no. I’m grateful for the experience and for the amazing support readers showed this series. But I got involved in so many upcoming projects, and there are only so many hours in the day. I need to learn to sleep fast. 🙂

PM: As long as you keep writing your amazing stories, I don’t think people will be too disappointed <grins>! I admit I did not read ALL of the Potter’s House series authors, but did find a couple of new authors I liked from being introduced that way!

What has been the most surprising event that happened to you in the last year?

AV: I hope it won’t be considered as bragging, but having #1 releases in their category.

PM: Bragging?? LOL, that is awesome, and so deserving – definitely not bragging!

Tell us what you enjoy doing the most when you are not writing or reading?

AV: Talking to God.

PM: Amen to that! I just love talking to God like an everyday friend, I did not have that growing up. ANd I love to sing along to worship music (as long as no one else can hear me, hehehe). What kind of music do you enjoy listening to?

AV: Mostly pop music. Sometimes country. I do like good lyrics, too.

PM: I love when you add pets in a story. Do you have a lot of personal experience with animals? You always give them such great personalities!

AV: Thank you so much for your kind words! I wish I had a lot of personal experience with pets. I love them, and they always love us unconditionally. One day I hope to have a dog. Alaskan Huskies are such gorgeous dogs.

PM: I am not trying to embarrass you here or anything, but I want to take this opportunity to just try and tell you how grateful I am for your mentorship this past year while I was getting this little blog of mine launched! You mean so much to me, and it had me wondering who some of your mentor’s might have been when you started writing Christian Fiction. Can you share – without specifics, if need be – who has been influential on your journey?

AV: I believe this blog was a gift from God to you. It shows your talents and your love for Christian fiction. I’m tremendously grateful for your friendship and treasure it. As for my mentor, I pray to be guided by God. It probably won’t come as a surprise to anyone if I say that I think Autumn Macarthur was the answer to my prayers years ago, even unspoken ones. She’s a true Christian and an amazing author. A lot of different authors helped me on the way, but if I have to name one person, this is it.

PM: That is so sweet of you to say…I feel that your friendship has definitely been a gift from God to me! I love Autumn as well, she is amazing!

So, you have departed Rios Azules for a time and are currently writing about a small town on the Oregon Coast. How different has that been for you? Have you ever had the opportunity to visit Oregon?

AV: It’s much colder! I’m used to the fact that it’s nearly always warm in south Texas, so I tended to dress my characters too lightly for Oregon weather! Chapel Cove is a lovely town with a great community, and I’m already getting attached to many characters there. I haven’t had an opportunity to visit Oregon. Hopefully, one of these days. A wonderful reader of ours, Marylin Furumasu, was incredibly helpful to us to get facts about Oregon right. And she created graphics for the series that I absolutely love!

PM: I just adore Marylin’s work, happy to share her website with everyone! Her graphics can be found at http://www.mfliteraryworks.com!

Finally, I’ll ask you to remind us about your coffee drinking…love it, like, don’t care for it all??

AV: Looooove it! Got to have my coffee in the morning. Preferably with a creamer and a cookie (okay, it’s usually several cookies, but no need to count). Thank you so much for the interview and a virtual cup of coffee, Paula! Always a pleasure to talk to you, and you know I love your blog. Heartfelt thanks for all the support you give Christian authors.

To get your copy of Love me click here:  https://amzn.to/2J3ubTr

Alexa is part of an awesome new series of books coming out with another of my favorite authors –  Autumn Macarthur!

The first one is up for pre-order, get it on line now: https://amzn.to/2RFfTME

You will fall in love with these characters as the journey is romantic, mysterious and suspenseful…..but most of all filled with God’s goodness!

To keep up with Alexa Verde and her news click on the link to follow her on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2X4RHcu

To follow The Chapel Cove stories click here:  https://amzn.to/2RtDTCk

Alexa is being so generous – again – as to offer one of our commenters an Amazon Gift Card for $5.00 (winner must have an Amazon account). Contest will run for one week from today and winner will be notified via email. To enter simply comment here and tell us what you love best about book series / collaboration with authors!

Previous Coffee with Robin Patchen with a ~*free*~ ebook!
Next Coffee with Jen Rodewald!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Many thanks for the interview, Paula! Always a pleasure to be on your blog.

  3. I’m so thrilled that I’ve found Alexa, Autumn, and Marion, and you, too, Paula!! I’m loving the Chapel Cove books, and I adored Brett!!! Can’t wait to read Colt’s story!!

  4. Thanks so much for sharing. I love the Chapel Cove stories and the wonderful authors Alexa, Autumn and Marion. I love their books and hearing them share about themselves and their love of God and how it shows and is incorporated into their stories. I really love Brett’s story and cannot wait to read about Colt and David. God bless you all from a grateful reader.

  6. I can’t wait to read these! Paula, this is such a delightful interview! I agree that Alexa & Autumn are some of my favorite authors also! These covers are stunning!

    • Becky Smith, thrilled to be among your favorite authors! And so glad you like covers. Autumn Macarthur and Marion Ueckermann designed them.

  7. WOW,
    I loved this post!
    Paula and Alexa you two are such wonderful ladies.
    It was fun reading all about Alexa and the things she’s doing. I hope someday you both can come to Oregon and visit for real! I’d love to have you here!

  8. Hi Paula & Alexa!

    I have to say my fav thing about authors collaborating in a series is finding new authors! Interestingly – Autumn is an author that I ARC for – she led me to Alexa’s work. I never really thought I would enjoy romantic suspense until I read Alexa’s work. I was led to Paula’s blog too! And that’s led me to tons of new authors.

    I guess I have Autumn to thank for my ever growing TBR pile! Lol

    • LOL, Erica! Not sure whether to apologize about adding to your TBR or shout “Yay!” 😉
      Gotta love the way God makes all these connections possible.

    • Erica, lol! I’m grateful to Autumn that she led you to my work! And I second Autumn. Love the way God makes all these connections!

  10. Awww, Alexa and Paula! You know I’m blessed to count you both as friends, and I love working with you both!
    It’s been a busy year since that first ever Coffee with Paula, and a good one in so many ways.
    I love seeing how many of our wonderful readers comment here.

  11. I enjoy book series because usually there’s more about the main characters from previous books. I like series that author’s collaborate on because I get introduced to new authors. Paula and Alexa, you’re both a great blessing to me!

  12. I can’t even get my head around anyone being a billionaire, but they seem to be popping up all over the place recently. 😊 The covers are wonderful, and I know the books will be, too. Can’t wait to read them!

    • Grace, you’re so right! I think there are way more billionaires in fiction now than in reality. 🙂 Thank you for your kind words about our covers, and I hope you’ll enjoy reading our books!

  13. I’ll have to make “Love Me” be the next book on my to-read list. I enjoyed “Cherish Me”, so I know I’ll enjoy seeing some of those characters pop up in this one.

    • Susan, thank you for commenting! I hope you’ll enjoy reading Love Me! That book was so much fun to write and we had great time collaborating on the series!

  14. I love book series because you can get more into a family, a group of friends, a group of people, etc… You just get more details of a store. I love reading a book and trying to see were it is going next and sometimes being completely off track. But it is even better. Oh but after 3 or 4 books you just can not wait for the next one. Series are great.

    • Dorothy, I agree! All those are great thing about the series. Thank you so much for commenting and all your support, and best wishes in the giveaway.

  15. I love series since we get to know the main characters in different books, even when they have passed the main character baton on to someone else. I also love multi author works, like Chapel Cove and a couple others I’ve read, where you meet the same people, even if just briefly, in the different books.

    • Andrea, so glad you enjoyed the Chapel Cove Romances series, and many thanks for all your support! And I agree on those reasons to like the series.

  16. Hi, your books sound really good, and the covers are super nice! I really like series because they keep on adding to the original story, when i read a very good book, and it is a stand alone book , a lot of times it’s pretty sad because it ended, so I am Thankful for series because they keep on adding more to the story! I enjoyed reading this interview and getting to know you and your books better, Thank you. God Bless you both.

    • Hi, Alicia! Thank you so much for sharing! I always feel a little sad when a story ends as well…. especially when a series ends!! Bless you as well, friend!

    • Hi Alicia! I agree, it’s sad sometimes when the book ends. I appreciate your kind words about our books and covers. Thank you very much for stopping by. God bless you!

  17. I want to read your books now!! I love a series because I have something to look forward to when I finish a book.

  18. What I love most about series, is that I get to read about different characters in the community which helps me get to know everyone and their families. Also because I can see how the characters evolve as the series continues with each new character!

    • Hello, Alma! Yes, seeing characters evolve is great. Thank you so much for stopping by. God bless you!

  19. Love books written by Christian authors as they have a different perspective then worldly writers. I loved your answer “talking to God”. It is fine to collaborate with other authors as long as they are of the same mind.

    • Thank you for visiting, Roseann! I agree, talking with God is a beautiful answer – to just about any question, lol! All Iread is Christian authors now!

  20. I love Christian fiction and reading all your books.
    I’ve just purchased Brett and can’t wait to read it.

  21. I love being on pins and needles waiting for the next book to be published so that I can know for certainty who did what and to whom. I love collaborations with other authors because I get to know other authors as well.

  22. Enjoyed reading the interview comments.
    I am always looking for new authors to read. You write the kinds of books i enjoy reading.

  23. This sounds like a great series! This is a new author to me, I think it’s something I’d enjoy.

  25. I’d love to win, to feed my reading habit! I enjoy reading collaborations because people have different styles. I enjoy the differences.

  26. I find it amazing when authors collaborate and everybody keeps all of the details straight!

  28. Enjoyed reading all of the many comments and looking forward to reading some new books I discovered here.

  29. One of the perks of modern technology is the ease to interact with people around the world. So different than in the age of snail mail and ev n emails. As an avid reader I have enjoyed watching new development in writing. From boxed sets to series with a variety of authors. While in the past there have been books Co-authored, the authors were husband and wife, or siblings, or mother and daughter – not authors on different continents with different time zones. I enjoyed reading Brett. Looking forward to the next two releases. Great blog.

    • You are so correct, Rneate, I still marvel at how we can communicate to others all over the world! Thank you for visiting with us today! It is always a pleasure to hear from you!❤️

  30. I love when authors I follow combine their talents into new, exciting adventures! Just like I love bringing in characters from different series to cross and, so far, everyone has loved this change up! I look forward to reading more books and entering giveaways helps me do just that!

  31. I like series that have different authors and different storylines . I especially like the Annie’s Attic series and The Mayflower Brides which traces a genealogy . And several suspense series that are four books each. Those are about different friends or siblings.

  32. Coffee with friends! Thank you, Paula and Alexa, for this kaffeeklatsch.

    I’m privileged to beta read for some of these authors. Love being in on the development – even if my part is minuscule. Have posted the review of Brett and mentioned that I’ll read it again when I’m able to purchase a finished copy.

  33. Heartfelt thanks to all who commented! Loved reading your comments. The winner will be announced soon.

  34. Randomly chosen winner is Deborah D! Congratulations! Amazon gift card was gifted.

    • Congratulations, Deborah D and a huge thank you to Alexa for this amazing gift!

      I appreciate each and every one of you that participated!❤️❤️❤️