Introducing: Terri Tiffany, Inspirational Writer and Book Giveaway

Most bloggers will agree that one of the best reasons to blog is meeting wonderful people in blogland.

Terri Tiffany is a fellow writer, blogger and now a published novelist.  Her book, "The Mulligan," was released last month and contracted by Pelican Book Group.

She is even offering a free copy of her book to readers of this post. All you have to do is make a comment and your name will be placed in the hat for a drawing.

The winner will be announced tomorrow!

Ever since discovering her writing blog,  (Terri Tiffany, Inspirational Writer---Writing Stories that leave a Fingerprint on the Heart),  which she started in 2006, I have loved following her.

She's down-to-earth, genuine, encouraging, and extremely honest. It wasn't surprising  to find out she has been a counselor and social worker since she really cares about people.

She's also been a bookstore and construction company owner and a real estate agent. 

A wife, mother and grandmother, Terri loves photography and these days she's taking some absolutely amazing photographs.

The past few years, she and her husband, Curt, faced some truly difficult times of unemployment, loneliness, budget-stretching and soul-searching.  Their experiences were faith-building but took quite a bit of endurance.  Through it all, Terri kept in touch with her readers and shared her pain and her joy.

Bobbi, the main character in "The Mulligan,"  struggles with wanting to take her own path and not wait for God to show His plans for her life. Terri said that, in many ways, she's like that, too.

Terri, an inspirational writer of women's fiction, was kind enough to answer several questions for Writing Straight from the Heart.

So, without further delay, here is an interview with Terri Tiffany:

1) Terri, what does it feel like to have your book for sale in bookstores, through Amazon and so forth? 

It's really strange to see your name on Amazon. I think I had to pinch myself a few times. 

2) You had some deep personal struggles the past few years. Did those painful experiences influence the writing of this book?

 I believe all writers use their personal struggles in their books. When I started "The Mulligan," my husband was in golf school so we felt we more stable. I then stopped writing it when we moved to Texas that next year and didn't complete it until I was back in PA. So a lot of the homesickness that Bobbi felt, I did as well. 

3) Do you consider yourself a Christian writer? 

I do but I try not to write the kind of books that are the in-your-face religious books. I tend to be more inspirational as my start was with Chicken Soup for the Soul. 

4) You write primarily fiction, right? 

Now I do but I wrote non fiction for years. I occasionally will write an article for a magazine still. It's important to keep up all your writing skills. 

5) When you do write? Do you have a specific time of day that is your favorite to write? 

I'm a morning writer. Actually I start in the morning, break for lunch and then go again until about 4. 

6) Do you always write in the same place? At a desk? In a chair? In bed? Where? 

I used to write at my desk but since coming to Florida, I left my desk behind. I now sit at the table we bought and also because it is much better for my neck. 

7) Have you begun work on a new book? 

My agent has a book she is shopping right now. I'm editing another book this month. 

8) How do you want to be remembered as a writer?

Great question! I guess I want people to feel that I always wrote from my heart, the truth and with as much reality as possible. I want readers to remember me as a writer who inspired them in their walk in life. 

9) When, in your life, did you first feel the tug to write? Were you very young? 

Like most writers, I started in fifth grade. I loved to read and loved telling stories to my friends. By high school, I wrote for the school paper a few times. 

10) What does your husband think of your published book? 

He finally read it when I gave him the finished copy and he cried. He said he cried because he was holding my work in his hands and it meant that much to him. 

11) If you could have one wish, as a writer, come true, what would it be? 

That someone would tell me their life was changed for good because of something I wrote. That's my hope. 

p.s. Don't forget to leave a comment so your name can be placed in the hat for a drawing of Terri's book, "The Mulligan."

READERS:  DO YOU ENJOY READING FICTION?