Interview with Christian Romance Author Stephenia McGee

Thanks so much for dropping by, Stephenia. Congratulations on the release of Legacy of Lies. It sounds like a very interesting read and I've added it to my TBR list. Now to learn a little more about you.

[Anne] Before we were writers, we were all readers. Tell us what your favorite book was as a child.

[Stephenia] I used to go to the library with a paper sack, fill it up, and return all the read books two weeks later. My favorites were the House of Winslow series by Gilbert Norris and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.

[Anne] Other than writing, what do you enjoy doing?

[Stephenia] I love to paint. I do most of my artwork to sell as a fundraiser for my ministry. (I am the chairman for Spirit Horse Ministries, a MS non-profit youth outreach program). Most of my paintings feature sunsets, farm life and horses. I also like decorating my house with custom pieces. I can get exactly the size and colors I want, and it’s much less expensive!

[Anne] What was the most interesting research you did for a book?

[Stephenia] I went to a plantation they were auctioning off in North Mississippi. Because it was for sale, we got to go everywhere. On most plantation tours you are very restricted, but this time I got to explore everything. The kitchen, the potato house and the slave quarters. It was fascinating. I had been mulling over a new book idea, and this place really got my mind going. I talked to one of the grandchildren that owned it, and she gave me some history on the plantation. It had been in her family since before the civil war. I gathered up as much information on it as I could and now it is now the center of my new work in progress.

[Anne] What are you working on now?

[Stephenia] This new book is about a girl that grows up as an orphan, but inherits a plantation in Mississippi from a long-lost great-aunt. In the house she finds a hidden diary from an ancestor that lived in the house during the civil war. The diary holds clues to the secrets of Ironwood plantation and a mystery she longs to solve. When she hires the local contractor, and surprisingly the local preacher as well, she finally starts to let someone touch the deep scars in her heart. Will Emily sell the place, take the money and run? Or will she find both her past and her future in a small town in Mississippi?

[Anne] You’ve just landed a multi-book contract with a major publisher! Which vehicle would we be more likely to see you driving after you’ve collected your huge advance: a Hummer, RV, truck, muscle car, or BMW?

[Stephenia] A muscle car! When I was in high school I had a 1986 black Ford Mustang convertible. Custom all the way! I put in a 302 boss engine with 60 over bored pistons (lost yet?), chrome side pipes, Leather bucket seats and two massive speakers where the backseat used to be. Yeah, those were the days. I can’t tell you how much fun it was to out-car teenage boys! My best friend and I used to cruise Virginia Beach in style! If I had the money, I would go for a ‘69 cherry red mustang convertible or a Corvette stingray.

[Anne] Awesome choice! If given the choice, which would you rather have: A custom closet or a custom kitchen?

[Stephenia] Custom kitchen! I want one with professional appliances and loads of counter space. I love to cook, and it’s something fun my husband and I enjoy doing together. We always joke that if we built our own house 75% of the budget would be in the fancy kitchen and a spa master bath!

[Anne] What’s your favorite television show? Movie?

[Stephenia] Right now I am in love with Once Upon a Time. I love the twist on the fairy tales. My favorite movie of all time, hands down, is The Princess Bride. That movie never gets old. I can quote almost every line, but still laugh each time I watch it. Humm, now that you’ve got me thinking about it, I think I’ll dig it out for tonight!

To learn more about Stephenia, please visit her website: http://www.stepheniamcgee.com/ and be sure to check out her new release Legacy of Lies. You'll find the book blurb and excerpt below.