Books & Writing -- Hello From Pamela Meyers

Welcome Pamela.

It's a pleasure to have you with us 

here at Books & Writing.

Pamela is a native of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and now lives in suburban Chicago. She served on the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) operating board for five years and has also served her local ACFW chapter in various leadership roles.

Her debut novel Thyme for Love released November 2011 and its sequel Love Will Find a Way released March 2013. Her historical romance that is set in her hometown, Love Finds You in Lake Geneva Wisconsin releases in April 2013. She has published many magazine articles and is a contributor in a non-fiction compilation book.

You can often find her nosing around Midwestern small towns looking for story ideas or coordinating the ACFW Genesis writing contest. She leads a women's life group in her church and enjoys reading and cooking. 

If you could use one word to describe yourself what would it be?

Loyal 

A trait I highly admire.  : )

You've stepped into a variety of different writing genres--magazine articles, non-fiction books and more recently novels. You have two novels releasing this year (You've been busy). How did you find your way to novel writing? Is it something you've always wanted to do? And do you prefer one genre over another?

I wasn't called to write in early childhood like some, although I always had to write in a journal and did some editorials for a church newsletter for singles. I returned to college in my forties to get my elusive bachelors degree and ended up taking quite a few writing courses as electives. My prof put a bug in my ear that I could be paid for my words. I began dabbling in short stories and took one to the Write to Publish Writer's Conference that takes place in my area every year. Author Gayle Roper read the story and suggested I turn it into a book. I was stunned. Me? Write a novel? But she put the bug in my ear and I gave it a shot.

I started out writing contemporaries and it was only when the editor at Summerside suggested I write a historical for my Lake Geneva setting that I ventured into the historical genre. Writing in the 1930's was really fun and I'd like to write more stories in the 30's and 40's. Right now, I'm drafting a novel in the 1870's, but contemporaries are fun to write too. I can have characters use cell phones and computers and I don't have to worry whether or not they had peanut butter back then. (Note: They did have peanut butter in 1933.)

Yay for peanut butter!

Your bio said that you served as a sign language interpreter in your church. That's special. Can you tell us about the ministry and how you became involved?

When I first came to the church, I presently attend, I took a membership class and the members included several deaf attendees. I became fascinated watching the interpreter. I decided to take a sign language class to learn how to speak to the deaf. One thing led to another and I ended up in an interpreter training program. When the church interpreter had to step down I became it. 

That was eons ago and I was the main Sunday morning interpreter for over twenty years. My church no longer has a deaf ministry as we lost our deaf members through death and attrition, but right about the same time the interpreting ended I was getting more and more involved in other things, including fiction publication. My season as a sign language interpreter was over, but I never have missed it, except for signing music. That, I love to do.

Years ago, I attended a church that had an interpreter. 

I always felt it added depth to the worship. I loved it.

It is clear that you're a busy woman, but even the busiest among us need down time. What do you like to do for fun?

Hah! Down time? What's that? You're asking me this at a very busy time of year. I oversee the ACFW Genesis writing contest for unpublished authors, and we are in the midst of judging the first round. At the same time, I'm full-speed ahead on marketing and presentations related to Love Finds You In Lake Geneva Wisconsin. But when I do have down time, I enjoy reading, cooking and going to rodeos with good friends who introduced me to the sport.

Can you tell us a little about the new book, Love Finds You In Lake Geneva Wisconsin? And how you came up with the story idea?

I grew up in Lake Geneva, a very special small town in Southeastern Wisconsin. Geneva Lake is a rather large spring-fed lake that has drawn visitors and summer residents from the Chicago area since the time of the Great Chicago Fire. It's known both for its beauty and its clear waters. 

When Rachel Meisel from Summer Press spoke at my local ACFW chapter meeting about three or so years ago, she mentioned they were looking for resort areas for their Love Finds You line and I piped up, saying I had been raised in Lake Geneva. Her eyes lit up and she wanted to hear more. I soon brainstormed my story and spent most of the summer camped out at the Lake Geneva library pouring over microfilms from 1933 when the town's recreational building and ballroom were built next to the water. The building still stands today and is a historical landmark and an icon of the town. Through my research on the town I came to love it even more and am blessed to have had the opportunity to write the story.

Will she lose her heart to the man who stole her job?

A young woman wants to work in a man's world. It's 1933, the height of the Big-Band era, and beautiful Lake Geneva is already well established as a summertime playground for Chicago's elite. Local girl, Meg Alden, works at the town newspaper, but she aspires to be a reporter--a job given only to men. When a position opens up, Meg spies an opportunity to break into the business. That is until Jack Wallace, the son of a big-city newspaper magnate, is hired instead. Jack is drawn to Meg and suggests they combine forces to uncover a local scandal. But how will Meg be able to work with the man who stole her job . . . and makes her pulse race?

This sounds like fun and a great read. 

I can't wait to get my hands on it.

Is there anything you'd like to share with readers?

My cup overflows. A week or so before LFY in Lake Geneva released, the sequel to my debut novel, Love Will Find a Way, released. Both of these books are from Oak Tara Publishing and are contemporary romantic mysteries. The stories are also set in southeastern Wisconsin in a fictional small town, a place about ten minutes east of Lake Geneva. A 180 degree turn from historical fiction, the stories are somewhat humorous, but also serious. The heroine's name is April Love. April is a chef and I had a blast testing recipes for her to make in the story. The book contains three recipes for my readers to try out.

What fun!

Where can we find you online?

My blog: http://www.pamelasmeyers.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.compamelameyers

Twitter: https://twitter.com/pamelameyers

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/531929

Pamela has offered to give away one FREE copy of her new book, Love Finds You In Lake Geneva!

All you have to do for a chance to win is leave a comment along with your email address so she can contact you. I'll be drawing for the winner one week from today!