Without further ado, allow me to introduce this wonderful author..
Delia Latham is a born-and-bred California gal, currently living in East Texas with her husband Johnny. She’s a Christian wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend—but above all, she treasures her role as princess daughter to the King of Kings. Find out more about this author on her website, Facebook Author Page, or Twitter. She loves hearing from her readers, so drop in and say hello—you’ll make her day!
Let's get to know her better!
1. What was your inspiration for this story?
This is a Pure Amore novel. Pure Amore Annual Book-of-the-Month Subscription Club (through Pelican Book Group) was initiated a year ago in October. This is a book club that promotes chastity—purity—before marriage. I’m so excited about this program and its message. Find more information regarding the book club here. Several authors, as well as our publisher, Nicola Martinez, have short videos on YouTube talking about Pure Amore and its purpose. If you’d like to check them out, you’ll find them here.
I’ve always loved romances with a love-at-first-sight theme, and wanted to give it a whirl. That’s what inspired AT FIRST SIGHT. I also incorporated the fictional town of Riverbend, which is based a bit loosely on the beautiful little town of Three Rivers, California. I had such a great time working out this storyline! I hope readers get as much pleasure from the reading as I did in the writing.
2. What is its take-away message?
Purity is always the running theme in the Pure Amore books—which doesn’t mean we “preach” chastity. Our storylines simply include a hero or heroine (or sometimes both) who are virgins, and have chosen to remain virgins until they marry, as the Bible dictates. So purity would be one of the take-aways. The other, in this book, is surrendering to God’s plan, as well as staying out of His way while He works out that plan. Sometimes we want to “help” Him along so badly that we impede the progress of His master plan. I know I’m guilty of that…
3. Tell us a bit about your writing routine. Do you have set hours? Do you get dressed first? Do you travel for research? Where and when do you do your best work?
My writing routine has gone a little haywire in the past six months. Hubby and I moved from California to Texas in late February, to be near our children and grandchildren. We lived with our daughter while finding a house, and then endured the longest escrow ever. My routine was shot, and remains a little worse for the wear. That said, when things return to normal, I will (hopefully) return to my practice of doing most of my writing late at night, when the rest of the world is sleeping. No phone calls. No one knocking at the door, or dropping in to say hello. No distractions! It also allows me to write in my comfy pajamas. I don’t travel a lot, but when I do, I always watch for nuggets I can use in my books. I did go to Yosemite to research the setting for my first novel, YESTERDAY’S PROMISE. At the time, though, I lived only a few hours from that location.
4. What’s your next writing project?
SUMMER DREAMS. It’s the second novel in the Paradise Pines series, which is based around a fictional lodge in the lovely seaside community of Cambria, California. Each of the four books is set in a different season of the year, and the heroine is the seasonal guest at the Paradise Pines Lodge, which is operated by Angelina Love. Miss Love is a sweet, but mysterious, lady who may…or may not…be an angel of love. The first book in the series, SPRING RAINE, is already written and in the hands of my publisher, but I don’t have a release date just yet. Watch for it!
Sounds great, Delia. I will certainly watch for it!
And now, just for fun:
1. Coffee or Tea?
Neither. I’m a Dr. Pepper-aholic. Yes, even first thing in the morning. I savor that first drink of the day…mmmm! J
2. Snacks: Sweet or Salty?
Definitely salty. Even as a child, I preferred a second helping of mashed potatoes to a slice of cake or pie.
3. Dream vacation
Ireland. My mother had Irish roots, and I’ve always longed to go there. Every photo I’ve ever seen of Ireland has been absolutely gorgeous—and, of course, there’s that lovely Irish brogue…!
4. #1 on your Bucket List
I’d love to rent a glass igloo in Finland and sleep beneath the Northern Lights. Of course, I’d have to get rich and famous so I could afford it. That means I need lots of readers to rush right out and buy my books!
Fascinating, Delia! Thanks so much.
I'll bet you all want to know more about Delia's book At First Sight. You get your wish!
Blurb:
Reagan Massey has gone through a great deal of trouble to make her cousin irresistible to the visiting single minister but things get a little sticky when Reagan falls in love with Cord Phillips herself.
Cord doesn’t believe in marital bliss after seeing the mockery his parents made of their vows. He’s promised himself he’ll live as the Apostle Paul lived, dedicating himself solely to God. When his heart turns traitor, Cord has to completely rethink his position on love.
Things around Riverbend House of Worship take on some humorous, heart-touching, soul-stirring twists and turns, with Reagan and Cord so busy getting in God’s way that they can’t see the path He has laid out for them to travel—together.
Excerpt:
“Good morning.” A deep, pleasant voice shattered the silence with the force of an explosion.
Sucking in a sharp breath that caught like a too-big chunk of meat in her throat, Reagan sprang out of her chair, instinctively hurling her pencil toward the source of her reaction. Her other hand, flailing wildly, caught the financial ledger and sent it flying off the desk to skid across the floor. Frustrated, and focused on trying to perform yet another accounting miracle, Reagan hadn’t heard the door open.
“Oops! Didn’t mean to startle you. I’m truly sorry!”
He didn’t sound “truly sorry.” Barely restrained amusement is what Reagan heard in the intruder’s well-modulated tones.
She swallowed the strangling breath, but did not immediately reply. Instead she scooped the ledger off the floor and slammed it onto the desk. Without even pausing, she set off in search of her pencil, which was nowhere to be found—until it appeared right in front of her face, held by long, tanned fingers that see-sawed it playfully back and forth. Reagan jerked the Ticonderoga number two out of the offending hand and into her own. The familiar shape and weight of the writing instrument somehow restored a modicum of balance, and she turned a simultaneously embarrassed and heated gaze on the source of her unsettled state.
That’s when it happened.
Her heart performed a strange little bouncing dance that forced a gasp on her part, and then…simply threw itself at his feet.
Oh, puh-leeze, stop it! Uncle Stephen’s right. You read too many romance novels. That stops—right here, right now.
She swallowed hard, ignored the stuttering vacuum in her chest, and made herself make eye contact.
Wrong move.
Surely no other man in the entire universe possessed eyes like those. Blue…no, gray. A combination of both—blue-gray, and almost translucent against the dark olive of his complexion and beneath longish, sun-streaked, dark brown hair that skimmed the collar of a short-sleeved polo shirt. Even as she gazed in stunned silence, the stranger pushed a shiny strand of the stuff off his face.
The gesture reminded Reagan of the garish streaks in her own hair. Her hand jerked instinctively upward, but she caught herself and tucked that arm close against her side. Why draw attention to her unlovely locks? A slim chance remained that this tall drink of water hadn’t noticed the disaster on top of her head.
She gave herself a mental slap on the wrist and stood to her full height—which wasn’t unimpressive, at five feet and a full seven inches, but still seemed inadequate since she had to look up to meet the eyes of the impossibly perfect visitor. His cocky grin made her want to throw something far heavier than a pencil at him. Still, she managed to stretch her swollen lips into something she hoped resembled a smile and forced herself to appear cool (even as she longed for a super-duper-dandy fan to lower her raging temperature), calm (which she was not, as her hammering heart made it impossible to deny) and collected (ha!)
Ooh, that sounds marvelous! How can we purchase At First Sight?
Pure Amore books are available exclusively through Pelican Book Group’s “Pure Amore Annual Book-of-the-Month” subscription program. You’ll love all the sweet romances written with purity in mind.
ALL RIGHT, HERE'S DELIA LATHAM'S QUESTION FOR YOU, DEAR READER:
FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A PRINT COPY OF AT FIRST SIGHT (US only, PDF elsewhere) PLUS A PDF COPY OF TREEHOUSE (also by Delia Latham), WE WANT TO KNOW,
Do you believe in love at first sight? Answer with a comment, including your email address using (at) and (dot) to prevent spamming, and your name will be entered in the draw.
And readers, don't forget to check out Delia's website and other links.
Thank you, Delia, for visiting with us today and allowing us to get to know you better. It's been fun!