Pamela S. Thibodeaux talks about her writing and her latest release 'The Inheritance'

It's my great pleasure to welcome Pamela S. Thibodeaux to the Flightdeck today.

Award-winning author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder and a lifetime member of Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Multi-published in romantic fiction as well as creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ and reviewed as “steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.” 

Help yourself to something refreshing from the replicator unit, Pam,  Before we find out more about your book, to you mind if I ask you a few questions about yourself - first of all can you tell us What do you do for fun when not writing? 

PST: When not writing (and even when writing) I absolutely love to read! Although I enjoy a great romance, I’m finding myself more and more drawn into reading spiritual non-fiction. Authors such as Dr. Wayne Dyer, Marianne Williamson, and Doreen Virtue along with numerous others encourage me to open my mind, heart, and spirit and cultivate a much larger perception of God and this magnificent universe He created. Dancing is also a favorite pastime of mine. There is not much more energizing to my heart and soul than a two-step or waltz across a sawdust covered floor in the arms of a gentleman.

What a wonderful answer, Pam. In your own writing, what comes first: the plot or the characters? 

PST: Hmmm…. That’s not easy to say. I’ve had stories begin with a single thought (they say life begins at forty but for Rebecca Sinclair that’s far from the truth – The Inheritance), a statement I make to someone, a dream or when people pop into my brain and start talking.

So what’s you’re writing process? Has it changed since writing your first book? 

PST: Many authors interview their characters and plot the story but me? I just started writing one day the book I’d want to read and this hasn’t changed in over thirty years.

I have to say that's pretty much how I write too Pam. Do you listen to music when you write and if so, what kind of music – or do you find it distracts you?

PST: Having a little background noise (tv from another room) doesn’t always bother me but with music, I either get irritated or so caught up in it that I’m up out of my chair and dancing so I don’t listen while I’m trying to write.

What is your personal definition of success? 

PST: Success is very personal to each individual and therefore as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so is success. Personally I feel successful when I finish a project, whether that is an article, essay, short story, novel or non-fiction book.

Isn't that the truth, Pam! I couldn't agree more, to finish a project is an achievement that everyone who creates something, from an essay to a full length novel, should be justly proud of. Is there any advice, as a new writer, that you were either given, or wish you had been given? 

PST: Writing is writing…whether nonfiction article or essay, short story or full novel, you ARE a writer! Sometimes life will get in the way and you may want to quit, need to take a break or even a long hiatus from writing but that’s OK; it doesn’t make you less of a writer. Don’t worry about the rules, forget about the market, write the kind of book you want to read, and never give up!

Excellent advice Pam, Lastly, is there a question you really, really wish someone would ask, but they never do?  If so what would be your reply?

       PST: Yes, Q: To what or whom do you credit your success?

        A: Many people have a love/hate relationship with their muse. My muse is the Holy Spirit and I accredit every ounce of success to the grace of God because without HIM I seriously doubt I could write a single word, much less stories that bring hope and healing to so many.

Another great and insightful answer.  Thank you so much for being my guest today, Pam, now let's have a look at your book, which I have on my wishlist and look forward to reading.

Blurb for The Inheritance:

The Inheritance is about the chance we all long for…the chance to start over. Widowed at age thirty-nine and suffering from empty nest syndrome, Rebecca Sinclair is overshadowed by grief and loneliness.  Her husband has been deceased for a year, her oldest child has moved to New York in pursuit of an acting career and her youngest child is attending college in France. Having spent over half of her life as a wife and mother, she has no idea what God has in store for her now.  Will an unexpected inheritance in the wine country of New York bring meaning and purpose to her life and give her the courage to love again? 

US Postal worker Raymond Jacobey has been in love with the little widow since he first set eyes on her.  A wanderer searching for the ever-illusive soul mate, Ray has never stayed in one place too long. Raised by self-centered, high-power executives, he’s longed for the idyllic life of residing in a cozy house in a small town with the love of his life. Will he gain the heart of the lovely widow or will he lose her to the wine country of New York?

Excerpt for The Inheritance:

Rebecca shook her head, “But, surely it’s wrong for me to feel so much more for you than I ever felt for him. He was my husband yet I never wanted to touch him theway I want to touch you, to caress you, to feel you tremble beneath my hand. Why is it that I never felt that way about him? What does that make me?”

Raising her hand to his lips, he kissed the palm. “It makes you a woman, Rebecca, nothing more, nothing less than a beautiful, desirable woman with needs and feelings. And there’s not a single thing wrong in that,” he insisted in an achingly tender voice. “Touch me all you want,” he whispered, placing her hand over his heart. “Feel what you do to me.”

Rebecca closed her eyes, marveling at the way his heart thundered against her palm, matching rhythm with the blood thrumming through her veins. Mesmerized she slipped her hand inside his shirt, felt him shudder, and heard his soft moan of pleasure. Before she could jerk away, he covered her hand with his.

“It’s all right,” he whispered. “Don’t be shy or afraid.”

She lifted wide, pleading eyes to his.

“But I am afraid, Ray. Afraid of where all this will end, afraid that I’ll forget every scrap of morality I ever taught my children and even more afraid that I won’t care if I do.”

“I promise it won’t go that far. I’ll let you know when it’s time to stop,” Ray insisted.

Purchase Links for The Inheritance:

Kindle: http://amzn.to/19J6Dxf

Pelican Book Group

Ebook http://pelink.us/1cvBm29

Printhttp://bit.ly/1scLTVf

Connect with Pam by visiting her Websitehttp://www.pamelathibodeaux.com  

Blog: http://pamswildroseblog.blogspot.com

through Face Book: http://facebook.com/pamelasthibodeaux

or Twitter: http://twitter.com/psthib@psthib